Vegetarian – Page 56 – The Celiathlete

October 7, 2013February 18, 2014

Recipe: Broccoli Pizza Crust

Yes…you read that title right. This is a pizza crust…made out of broccoli. Hey…I’m doing this whole clean eating thing, and while I love a real (gluten-free) pizza crust as much as anyone else, sometimes you just want to think outside the pizza box and try something new. And since it’s getting to the point where I always have broccoli in my CSA bin…well…instead of doing a typical cauliflower crust (if you can call that typical)…I decided to give it a go with one of my favorite veggies…broccoli.

It’s a little bit of work, but it’s a beautiful and nutritious alternative to standard pizza crust. I make mine with vegan cheese do to lactose intolerance, but regular cheese works just as well. Don’t mock it until you try it:

Recipe: Broccoli Pizza Crust

Servings: 2
Time: Prep 10 minutes; Cook 25 minutes

Ingredients:

1 medium head of broccoli
1 cup grated mozzarella cheese (I use Daiya mozzarella shreds)
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon nutritional yeast (optional…but I highly recommend it)
1 large egg

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 450°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Chop the broccoli into florets (try to remove the stems) and place them in the large bowl of a food processor. Pulse for about 30 seconds, just until all of the florets have been cut down into very fine crumbs. You should have about 3 cups of crumbs.

Transfer to a microwave safe bowl, cover, and microwave on high for 4 minutes. Remove and let cool slightly.

Transfer to a clean tea towel (not paper towels because they will shred). Wrap the broccoli bits up tightly in the towel and wring all the water out over the sink. There is actually quite a bit of water in the broccoli, so keep wringing to get out as much water as you can. This will help keep the crust from crumbling.

Combine dried broccoli with the cheese, basil, oregano, salt, pepper, nutritional yeast, and egg. Use your hands (that’s it…get a little dirty) to mix everything together.

Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking sheet and form into a 10-inch thin circle. Bake in preheated oven for 10-11 minutes.

Once crust has precooked, remove from the oven and top with whatever toppings you like. For this particular pizza, I topped mine off with slices of fresh red tomato, caramelized onion, chopped yellow pepper, chopped avocado and topped it off with goat cheese.

Return to oven and bake for another 15-20 minutes.

Remove from oven and serve.

~*~*~

As you can imagine, this crust doesn’t keep very well so you’ll want to eat the entire thing that day. So either share with a friend of come to dinner hungry. Cheese, herbs and fresh veggies made up my entire pizza and it was super delicious. You won’t even miss the actual crust. Honestly! This has become one of the meals my roommate begs me to make. It’s a good thing we get lots of broccoli.

Give it a try…I dare you!

October 6, 2013October 7, 2013

Product Review: Nuovo Gluten-Free Basil Potato Gnocchi

Product: Nuovo Gluten-Free Basil Potato Gnocchi – $5.99+

I know…I’ve been blogging a lot lately. And even more so…I’ve been blogging a lot about gnocchi. And can you blame me? I mean…if you’ve ever had a properly cooked gnocchi, you know that there is nothing more rustic and traditional than that in Italian food. It’s one of the first pastas ever prepared by Italians…and probably my absolute favorite.

But gluten-free…that makes it difficult.

You will recall from a few blog entries prior to this one…I was at my local Earth Fare when I stumbled across (did a happy dance and a few frolicking laps of joy around the store) Nuovo Gluten-Free Gnocchi in the fridge/freezer pasta area. Fresh…gluten-free…pasta. Not just any pasta…gnocchi. *DROOL* There were three different flavors to choose from. And I decided I didn’t want to make decisions that day…I wanted gluten-free gnocchi. So all three flavors came home with me and spent a little time in my freezer.

But…when the pantry and fridge are becoming bare and you’re waiting on the next paycheck and your next CSA bin…you make do with what you have. And I happened to have some marinara in the fridge and some gnocchi in the freezer. Dinner…simply served. It only took a little bit of boiling water, some salt, and a little warm on the stove.

Nuovo Gluten-Free Basil Potato Gnocchi (boiled and drained)

I started with the classic…and moved to the next natural choice…Basil Potato Gnocchi. Just one step above Classic Potato. This one, the little potato-pasta clouds are seasoned with flecks of basil. You can see them. They look amazing. They smell amazing as they boil away in the big pot of water. Trust me…I was so happy that the sauce was warming because it helped me keep from sneaking a taste. These were coming from frozen, so they took a bit longer to float to the top water and show they were done. But when they all were floating happily at the top of a rolling boil, I switched off the stove, drained the gnocchi, and then tossed them in with the sauce. And yes…I used only one serving of sauce this time…and it still felt like too much. I have one more chance to get it right.

So…let’s discuss the Gluten-Free Basil Potato Gnocchi from Nuovo for a moment. Not only did this version smell delicious, it totally topped the Classic Potato as far as flavor goes. It’s amazing what a little basil can do. Not that the Classic Potato Gnocchi was bad, but…this one had a little more flavor…and all it had was some fresh basil chopped and added into the dough. I happen to love the smell and taste of fresh basil. Once again…these gnocchi boiled up and cooked through to that soft perfection that you want. Where you still have some give, but it almost melts in your mouth. Ahhhh…sweet gnocchi goodness. I loved the addition of basil to this version. It just gave it that added…oomph. And I liked the Classic Potato well enough. This just turned the volume up to 11. It even paired well with the marinara sauce. In fact…it was a perfect match. I was sad to gobble up the last little morsel in my bowl. I need to buy stock in these…seriously.

Let’s talk nutrition, shall we? A serving of Nuovo Gluten-Free Basil Potato Gnocchi is half of the packet. This dishes up 240 calories and 1.5 grams of fat. You also will be consuming 210 mg of sodium and 2 grams of sugar. Love how low it is in both of those. In addition, each serving provides you with 4 grams of fiber and 6 grams of protein, making you feel full and satisfied.

Not bad for a dinner, right? RIGHT! And it’s super tender, super delicious, and so versatile. Eat it with any sauce of your choice, but I highly recommend an amazing marinara. It just really meshed well. YUM!

Nuovo…I hope your gluten-free gnocchi goodness never leaves me. Because, while I know I am capable of making my own gluten-free gnocchi…sometimes it’s nice to have someone take over that task for you.

These…are amazing.

Nuovo Gluten-Free Basil Potato Gnocchi in Mezzetta Napa Valley Bistro Homemade Style Marinara

October 6, 2013

Product Review: Tasty Bite Aloo Palak

Product: Tasty Bite Aloo Palak – $3.29+

Indian food is love, yes?

Of course it is. In fact, this coming Friday I’m heading out to my favorite Indian restaurant here in town with my roomie and my friend Jenn because we are prepping for the trip to Chicago early Saturday morning for my marathon. Pardon me while I freak out a wee tiny bit here. Or a lot. Take your pick.

Ahem.

Unfortunately, I don’t make enough money to afford to feed (see what I did there?) my Indian food habit. Nope. I’m a poor, starving, soon-to-be marathoner who loves to eat but can’t always justify the means. And, I grew up eating Indian food thanks to my neighbors who were from India. I loved being invited to eat dinner with them because the food was so different and seasoned so different than what I was used to. It was love at first bite…and continues that path.

So, when I get a hankering for Indian food…or it happens to be a Monday when I need a quick bite before speeding over to my fun run group after work, well, I turn to Tasty Bite. Because they bring Indian food to my kitchen in the easiest form possible. Yep. A microwavable pouch.

Don’t turn your nose up at the microwave. It has its uses…aside from blowing things up or making butter get everywhere when you’re just trying to soften it…

You can’t mock something until you try it. And you’ll want to give Tasty Bite a chance. Especially if you like Indian food. The flavors are so authentic. And all the ingredients…they’re natural, not over processed or made of chemicals. You will recognize every single one of them printed on that little yellow pouch of curried goodness in your grocery store. Peace of mind…and delicious food? Yep…it is possible. Very possible.

Two weeks ago…because I’m behind…yes…two weeks ago, I used the magical microwave powers to heat up and create a delicious pre-run meal…with the help of Tasty Bite. And this week’s flavor…Aloo Palak.

Those of you unfamiliar with Indian cuisine, Aloo Palak is simply potatoes and spinach that are simmered together with onions, tomatoes and spices. What might these spices be? Well…ginger, garlic, sugar, chilies, and turmeric. That’s not so scary, right? Exactly! And the best part is…it all comes together beautifully.

Now, don’t judge me, because I admit I double-starched this meal. I cooked up two servings of jasmine rice to serve this entree over. It’s not necessary, but I do love having rice with my Indian food. So…potatoes and rice. Consider it…carbing up for the 3 mile run I was going to be doing.

Double starch or not…Tasty Bite’s Aloo Palak is delicious. It’s filling. It’s mild…meaning it won’t bother your tummy if you eat and run like I do. I love my spicy food, believe me…but not 30 minutes before I go for a 3 or more mile run. Yeah…not good. But…this one…the potatoes beef it up. The spinach is creamy and just makes a great sauce for the potatoes to bed in. The tomatoes and onions give it a sweet and savory feel. The spices…they give it that Indian flare. When you eat Indian food, you want it to taste ethnic. You want to feel like you are in India. This little pouch of gluten-free, vegan, kosher, culinary goodness delivers that flavor. No questions asked. It’s a little taste of India…straight out of your microwave. No passport required. Just a spoon. Or a fork. Whatever you wish.

I loved this. I wish I had eaten the whole pouch myself. But…I don’t want the roomie to starve either…so I share.

Let’s talk nutrition, since I already covered ingredients. A serving is 1/2 of the pouch of Tasty Bite Aloo Palak. This dishes up 100 calories and 3 grams of fat. Each serving will give you 400 mg of sodium and 3 grams of sugar. That’s not bad for something packaged. And you get dished up 3 grams of fiber and 3 grams of protein as well. In addition, this meal is cholesterol free and trans-fat free. Love it.

If you are unfamiliar with Indian food and don’t want to risk a trial with a local restaurant…make Tasty Bite your first stop. If you love Indian food, but just can’t justify yet another meal out at your favorite place…make Tasty Bite your next option. Honestly, Tasty Bite is one of the best heat and eat meals out there…and they do Indian food right. Transport yourself to Indian food awesomeness in just 90 seconds. Grab a spoon…and dig in.

October 6, 2013

Product Review: Mezzetta Napa Valley Bistro Homemade Style Marinara

Product: Mezzetta Napa Valley Bistro Homemade Style Marinara – $4.49+

We all know that I am no stranger to making my own marinara sauce for my pasta dishes. But when a deal hits…and when there just isn’t enough time and tomatoes in the world or kitchen…sometimes purchasing one from the store isn’t such a bad thing. Especially when it is made with real ingredients and promises home-style flavor.

That’s how I stumbled across Mezetta Homemade Style Marinara, part of the Napa Valley Bistro line. I was walking the aisles of my local grocery store, and a there were jars of this marinara sauce on Manager’s Special. I couldn’t pass up the discounted price, and as it is labeled gluten-free, and all ingredients were recognizable…I figured I would give it a try.

But I had to have a dish to prepare for it. And after returning from a long vacation away from home and not having all the fresh produce from my CSA bins to create meals with, I turned to my pantry, freezer, and fridge. I had some gluten-free gnocchi in the fridge, so I figured…why not pair it with this marinara. What was the worst that could happen?

The answer…nothing. No bad could come from this at all.

I got the gnocchi working in the boiling water and while they cooked, I heated up two servings (one for me and one for my roomie) in a saucepan on the stove. I loved the way this marinara sauce looked. It wasn’t too thick and you could see that sheen of olive oil as it was added to the pan. Love that healthy fat. It had little chunks of tomato throughout it and it smelled so amazing as it came to a gentle simmer on the stove. When the gnocchi was done and drained, I tossed it right into the sauce and coated each and every little pasta dumpling with the sauce. I noticed then that for gnocchi, I had made too much sauce. So the next time I made the gnocchi…I halved the sauce…and it still felt like too much.

That being said…WOW!! What great flavor. The tomatoes are the absolute star. This sauce is seasoned to perfection, has the perfect texture, isn’t too rich or too runny…it’s just right. Perfect. And I was actually surprised. Because, when I see jars of something on Manager’s Special I have to wonder what may be the reason for the dramatic price cut-back. And I had two jars of it. Now I think…YES!! I HAVE TWO JARS OF THIS!! It is jarred pasta sauce at it’s homemade finest. It tastes like homemade, which is the point. But…it is just culinary perfection in a jar. I was beyond impressed. The reason for this fantastic flavor? Mezzetta Homemade Style Marinara is made in the traditional Italian way, with wine to enhance the taste and richness. It is slow cooked in small batches with only natural ingredients. And, honestly, that can make all the difference in the world. And it did in this case.

So, let’s talk about the ingredients for a moment. This pasta sauce is simply composed of imported Italian plum tomatoes from the San Marzano region, imported olive oil, fresh onions, sea salt, fresh garlic, Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon wine, fresh basil, black pepper, oregano. The label itself declares that this product is gluten-free. I can look at the ingredients and see that, but it’s nice to have confirmation. I am more likely to buy a product that is labeled than one that is not.

Nutritionally speaking, a serving of Mezzetta Napa Valley Bistro Homemade Style Marinara is 1/2 cup. In this serving you will receive 90 calories and 5.5 grams of fat. There are 490 mg sodium and 3 grams of sugar in each serving as well. This sauce is cholesterol free. And one serving also dishes up 1 gram of fiber and 1 gram of protein.

Top off your favorite Italian dish with this amazing sauce. Trust me, the flavor profile does wonderful things to whatever it is added to. True Italian flavor right on your local grocery store shelf. Seek it out…and give it a taste. Trust me…you’ll love it.

Mezzetta Napa Valley Bistro Homemade Style Marinara over Nuovo Gluten-Free Classic Potato Gnocchi

October 6, 2013

Product Review: Nuovo Gluten-Free Classic Potato Gnocchi

Product: Nuovo Gluten-Free Classic Potato Gnocchi – $5.99+

Prior to my gluten-free life…I discovered the awesomeness of those delicious potato pasta pillows of awesomeness, known simply as gnocchi. I was addicted. Truly. Completely. 100% in love with these little puffs of potato and flour. There is just something so special and amazing about the way they just sort of melt against your tongue.

Gnocchi rules.

No argument. No disagreement. Gnocchi is tough to beat.

But when you’re gluten-free…anything in the Italian world…especially where one of the major components is flour…becomes a no-go. Off limits. Do. Not. Consume. Or else.

Sadness. Sure, I can make my own…but sometimes you just don’t want to mess with it. Let’s face it, while gnocchi rocks the culinary world of Italian food…it isn’t the easiest dish to make.

Imagine then, my elation, when I was visiting my local Earth Fare one day and spotted three varieties of gluten-free gnocchi in the refrigerator section. Seriously. Please insert happy dance and lap of joy around the store. No…that is not an exaggeration. The gnocchi is part of the gluten-free line by Nuovo Pasta. And, you better believe I grabbed all three varieties and went to store them in my freezer upon returning home from another budget-busting grocery trip. Sometimes I just can’t help myself.

Anyway…with a return from vacation and a lot going on lately, I found myself without much fresh produce to create dishes…but I did have marinara sauce in the pantry and gnocchi in the freezer. Dinner problem…solved.

For the first taste of Nuovo Gluten-Free Gnocchi…I decided to go with the classic – Potato Gnocchi.

If you screw up the original…there isn’t much hope for the rest, right? Right!

Nuovo Gluten-Free Classic Potato Gnocchi (boiled and drained)

First of all, this is such an easy meal to make. Boil water according to package instructions (and yes…do salt the water), add the gnocchi and cook until they float. Drain. Enjoy! It truly is that easy. And it all gets done within 10 minutes if you get your water boiling in good time. So, while I was waiting on the water to boil, I began to heat up a new marinara sauce I was trying. With that going, in went the gnocchi…watching for those potato pasta puffs to start floating. When they did and reached that perfect tenderness, I drained them, then tossed them into the marinara. I actually prepared too much marinara for the serving, but, hey…it’s all good.

I settled in with my roomie and we dug in, quite happy to have dinner without a long wait. I was so impressed with the tenderness and the texture of the gnocchi as I took my first bite. The density was just right. The texture…soft with that bit of melt-in-your-mouth goodness, yet still requiring you sink your teeth into each bite to ensure total satisfaction. Oh yes…Nuovo did good. They did really, really good with these. They have this mild flavor to them that makes them perfect to pair with any tomato sauce or even a cream sauce. Light. Fluffy. Goodness. Honestly, someone would be hard-pressed to call these out as gluten-free. You can’t tell. Not one bit. And that’s entirely the point!

So, let’s get the nitty-gritty details out of the way.

Nuovo Gluten-Free Classic Potato Gnocchi is created by combining potato flour, potato flakes, water, canola oil, salt, and rice flour. Yes…that’s really all that goes into this. Hello clean eats!!

Nutritionally speaking, a serving of Nuovo Gluten-Free Classic Potato Gnocchi is 1/2 of the little plastic pack that it comes in. That’s around 4.5 ounces. This serving gives you 240 calories and 1 gram of fat. Your serving of this gluten-free gnocchi provides a scant 220 mg sodium and 2 grams of sugar. In addition, you will be provided with 4 grams of fiber and 6 grams of protein. So, just just made from real ingredients but really good for you too. These are very impressive nutritional stats.

I fell in love with the lightness of Nuovo Gluten-Free Classic Potato Gnocchi, as well as the mild flavor. It’s so versatile and so delicious. And even better…so easy to prepare. No one would know it was gluten-free unless you told them. How’s that for impressive?

If you can find Nuovo Gluten-Free Classic Potato Gnocchi at your local grocery store or health food store…buy it and try it for yourself. You will not be disappointed.

Nuovo Gluten-Free Classic Potato Gnocchi in Mezetta Napa Valley Bistro Homemade Style Marinara

October 6, 2013

Product Review: Daiya Deliciously Dairy Free Provolone Style Slices

Product Review: Daiya Deliciously Dairy Free Provolone Style Slices – $4.99+

Grilled cheese sandwiches.

They are one of my favorite go-to comfort foods. Seriously. And so easy to make too. Put anything inside with the cheese of your liking and you have yourself a gourmet sandwich good for breakfast, lunch, and yes…even dinner.

Cheese and I don’t always get along though. But that is where vegan and lactose-free cheeses come into play. Granted, most of the time, these cheese alternatives lack in the stretchy, ooey-gooey nature of cheeses. But, over time, it is something you do get used to. Not saying I don’t miss it…but…you work with what you are given.

That being said, not too long ago, Daiya introduced their slices of vegan cheese, perfect for sandwiches. I mean…perfect. Now, it took awhile for these to hit the market around here, but I spotted them at Whole Foods. And, while I had wanted to start with the cheddar flavor, they were out of that one, so I grabbed the Daiya Deliciously Dairy Free Provolone Style Slices to have on my grilled cheese sandwich I intended to make for dinner on…my birthday. Yes…my birthday. This also means you can tell I am about a month behind on my blogging. Trips and a busy training schedule do that. But I’m catching up…kinda.

First of all, I love that these slices come in a resealable package. YES!! No need to dig out a storage bag to ziplock around the container. Nicely done, Daiya. I also love the promise that these slices will stretch and melt like real cheese. And that they taste like real cheese. It was enticing…and I really wanted to try them. So, on my birthday, with no money in the budget to go out and plenty of food in the pantry, fridge and freezer to use, I did up a gourmet grilled cheese sammie (complete with spinach, tomato, and yes…Diaya Provolone Style Slices) with a heaping side of steamed corn from my CSA bin. Hey…no one said that the birthday dinner had to be fancy. And, I have gotten amazing reviews of my grilled cheese sandwiches. I have finally mastered the art of making them without burning one side. The key…I don’t distract myself with too much else in the kitchen while making them.

While I won’t go as far as to say that the Diaya Provolone Style Slices melted and stretched like real cheese (not even close!), the taste had that nice sweetness that provolone provides. I was so incredibly happy with the way it flavored the sandwich itself. A little buttery golden crust on the outside of my gluten-free bread, some sweet cheese, and healthy vegetables sandwiched in between…gourmet grilled cheese it was. The flavor of the cheese itself once again has that distinctive Daiya cheese flavor. It doesn’t taste plastic-y like some vegan cheese, but it does have that distinctiveness to it that if you take a bite, you know at once you are eating Daiya cheese. And I love Daiya. I wish it had really melted and stretched as the packaging promises, but in the end, all I can ask for is a safe and delicious cheese alternative. And that’s exactly what these slices are.

Daiya Deliciously Dairy Free Provolone Style Slices are made up of filtered water, tapioca starch, palm fruit oil, expeller pressed non-GMO canola and/or safflower oil, coconut oil, pea protein isolate, natural vegan flavors, vegetable glycerine, brown rice syrup, sea salt, xanthan gum, lactic acid (for flavor) carrageenan (NOOOOO!!!!), titanium dioxide (naturally occurring mineral), and vegan enzyme. So…again…not a huge chemistry experiment, but not all-natural either. Then again, it’s vegan cheese…how natural can it be?

Nutritionally speaking, a serving of Daiya Deliciously Dairy Free Provolone Style Slices is one slice of cheese. This one slice will serve you up 70 calories and 5 grams of fat. Each slice is also cholesterol-free, sugar-free, and contains only 85 mg of sodium. One slice does not provide any fiber to your diet and only 1 gram of protein.

These are definitely not a bad option for the lactose intolerant or those who are vegan and gluten-free. These Provolone Style Slices are lactose-free, gluten-free, casein-free, and soy free. They do make a great alternative to cheese if you find your system unable to handle the real stuff, as mine sometimes does. Diaya is one of my favorite companies to turn to for allergen-free vegan cheese alternatives. And I appreciate all the effort they put forth to make sure their products remain top-of-the-line. It’s why I continue to return to their variety of cheese-y good products time and time again. Another win, Diaya!

A gluten-free and dairy-free gourmet grilled cheese made with Daiya Provolone Style Slices!

October 6, 2013

Product Review: Daiya Deliciously Dairy Free Plain Cream Cheese Style Spread

Daiya Deliciously Dairy Free Plain Cream Cheese Spread

Product: Daiya Deliciously Dairy Free Plain Cream Cheese Style Spread – $4.49+

In the previous blog, I reviewed some bagel thins which were made of awesome and happiness. Like butterflies and unicorns.

Well, I also mentioned vegan cream cheese. My usual go-to vegan cream cheese is Tofutti. Which I LOVE so much. It’s just really, really tasty. But, you see, my favorite vegan cheese company, Daiya, had just released some vegan cream cheese of their own…and yes…I really wanted to try it.

It was just a matter of finding it, in stock, here in my area.

It took a little while…but I finally stumbled across it at my local grocery store. The last place I expected to find it…but there it was in all it’s dairy-free glory. So, you bet your bagel-loving butt that I snatched up a container of it. With bagel thins in my freezer…I needed some cream cheese, yes? Of course. Justifying the grocery budget here!

Anyway…having tried two other vegan cream cheese options and loving them…Daiya had a lot to live up to. But…Daiya is a brand that I love and trust, so I wasn’t worried. Not one bit. And when those bagel thins came out of the oven that morning…I was ready to give each half a nice, healthy schmear.

Which…is exactly what happened.

Compared to the other vegan cream cheese spreads I have used, Daiya was definitely not as creamy or as spreadable as the rest. It was a bit clumpy when I dished out a serving to put on each half of the bagel thin. That being said, it did spread out just fine, especially on the toasty top of each bagel, even melting down like regular cream cheese does. And the taste? Well…it tastes like Daiya. That’s about all I can say. Daiya has this distinct flavor to it. But it is the absolute best vegan cheese out there and I found myself enjoying the taste of this the more I ate. Honestly. At first, I wasn’t too sure about it…but then as I kept eating, I liked it…then loved it.

So, let’s talk about Daiya Deliciously Dairy Free Plain Cream Cheese Style Spread, yes? Yes. As with all Daiya products, the Plain Cream Cheese Style Spread is casein free, lactose free, and soy free. It is made up of filtered water, coconut oil, non-GMO expeller pressed canola and/or safflower oil, potato starch, pea protein isolate, sea salt, vegetable glycerin, xanthan gum, lactic acid (for flavor) agave syrup, natural vegan flavors, titanium dioxide (a naturally occurring mineral), vegan enzyme, and cultured sugar. So, it’s not a complete chemistry experiment when it comes to ingredients. Although not everything is all natural either. But, you have to make exceptions sometimes, right?

Nutritionally speaking, Daiya Deliciously Dairy Free Plain Cream Cheese Style Spread is doled out in servings of 2 tablespoons. These two tablespoons contain 90 calories and 7 grams of fat. That’s not too bad. Each serving contains no cholesterol and a scant 190 mg of sodium. A serving of this spread does not contain any fiber and only 1 gram of protein.

So, as it stands, Tofutti Better Than Cream Cheese is a better option, however…it does contain soy. If you are sensitive to soy or limiting your consumption of soy, than Diaya is the way to go. The cream cheese works great on bagels and I hope to dish up a delicious cheese cake with it in the very near future. Maybe for Thanksgiving since I am playing host for the first time. We’ll see.

Give it a try…see what you think!

Daiya Deliciously Dairy Free Plain Cream Cheese Style Spread over O'Doughs Gluten Free Original Flavor Bagel Thins — Daiya Deliciously Dairy Free Plain Cream Cheese Style Spread over O’Doughs Gluten Free Original Flavor Bagel Thins

October 6, 2013

Product Review: O’Doughs Gluten-Free Original Flavor Bagel Thins

Product: O’Doughs Gluten-Free Original Flavor Bagel Thins – $3.99+

I am a bagel zombie.

Mmmmm…bagel…bagel…mmmmm….nom nom nom.

Seriously. I’m a New York girl and I grew up enjoying the carby awesomeness of bagels. Give it a schmear of cream cheese and happiness could be found in each bite. As I got older…my love for bagels continued…but I started to watch the waistline. Bagel thins came out. And I fell in love with the thin, crispy goodness that these offered. All the taste of bagels without all the bread. Nice.

And then…Celiac.

I sampled so many gluten-free bagels at first, having given up even finding something close to a bagel. Most of the ones I tried were shaped like donuts, not bagels. Small, bready, and just all wrong texture-wise. And then…Udi’s came out with bagels that rocked my world. Seriously…amazing.

And then…while out grocery shopping one day at our local Earth Fare, I spotted O’Doughs Gluten-Free Bagel Thins. I did a double-take. I backed up, snatched them from the cooler, and tossed them into my shopping cart. No questions asked…these were coming home with me. I was so thrilled with this discovery without even having tried them yet. I had a great company for bagels…now maybe it was time to let the bagel thins shine.

I hadn’t had anything from O’Doughs yet. So, this was going to be the first product I sampled from this company. I stored these in my freezer for over week while I was out of town, but then…then it was time to have these for breakfast…because I came back into town with little groceries in my fridge and freezer and was trying to make do with what I did have on hand.

That morning, I turned on my oven and put two bagel thins on the pan and let them toast up gently in the oven. You could totally do this in a toaster, but I got rid of mine when I was diagnosed with Celiac, wanting to eliminate any potential for cross-contamination. Now that my roommate eats only gluten-free bread too (for my sake!) I could totally get a new toaster now. I just have nowhere in my kitchen for one at the moment.

Anyway, these bagel thins toasted up beautifully in the oven. Because these are bagel thins…not bagels…I kept a close eye on them to keep them from burning. After removing the golden toasty bagel thins from the oven, I gave each half a schmear of gluten-free and vegan cream cheese. Served them up with some fruit that morning and VIOLA…breakfast was served.

One bite and I knew O’Doughs got these bagel thins right. I was amazed. The Original Flavour variety tastes just like a regular bagel. The outside gets that nice crispness to it, and the thin innards toast to a beautiful golden color and still maintain a bit of that chewy texture you want with a bagel. What this means is that the thin texture provides a base for any topping you want to top it with. Nothing takes away from anything else. The toppings compliment the bagel and vice versa!

So, now that you know they are amazing…let’s talk shop.

These bagel thins are composed of filtered water, soya flour, tapioca starch, chickpea flour, whole grain rice flour, cellulose fiber, glycerine, yeast, sunflower oil, salt, organic evaporated cane juice, xanthan gum, baking powder, and baking soda.

Not too bad as far as ingredients go. Not exactly clean eating…but…better than some other options out there, yes? Yes!

Nutritionally speaking, a serving is one bagel thin. And one bagel thin only contains 100 calories and 1.5 grams of fat. Consuming one bagel thin also means you will be taking in 300 mg sodium and 1 gram of sugar. These bagel thins contain no cholesterol, no trans-fat, no eggs, are non-GMO, and are kosher. One bagel thin also gives you 2 grams of fiber and 2 grams of protein.

And yeah…they are really amazing. O’Doughs makes three varieties of bagel thins. Original, Sprouted Whole Grain Flax, and Apple Cranberry. I finally have found the Sprouted Whole Grain Flax at my local grocery store…but have yet to find the Apple Cranberry out in the wild.

But, if you should spot O’Doughs Gluten-Free Original Flavor Bagel Thins…grab them. Toast them. Top them. And enjoy them. Trust me…you’d never guess it was gluten-free. They taste like the regular thing. Perhaps even better. I am in love.

O'Doughs Gluten-Free Original Flavor Bagel Thins with Daiya Vegan Cream Cheese — O’Doughs Gluten-Free Original Flavor Bagel Thins with Daiya Vegan Cream Cheese

October 4, 2013May 11, 2015

Product Review: Nature’s Path Gluten Free Selections Summer Berries Granola

Product: Nature’s Path Gluten Free Selections Summer Berries Granola – $5.99+

Gluten-free granola is a staple in my apartment and my pantry. Honestly. My roommate and I go through it each week, using it on the breakfast parfaits that are part of the morning rotation every other day. It’s nice to change things up every now and again and have something other than cereal. I often will pair Greek yogurt and granola with fresh berries…or caramelized apples or pears. Sometimes even banana. It just depends on what produce I happen to have in the house.

Recently, while scouting the grocery store for some granola, I had my roommate choose the one she’d like to have. Now, she, like me, has her favorites. But, she chose one we hadn’t tried before. I was actually surprised. Even more as this was actually a newer product from Nature’s Path.

Now, Nature’s Path has a few great gluten-free options. I have eaten their EnviroKidz cereals (and still do!) and have even given some love to their regular cereals and one of their frozen waffle options. So, Nature’s Path is rather consistent on quality products. I don’t think I’ve had a product that I haven’t liked. Which is why I am not ashamed of my EnviroKidz Koala Crisps in my pantry.

But…granola? Why not?

My roomate chose the Gluten Free Selections Summer Berries Granola. This granola is a blend of gluten-free rolled oats, yogurt chips, freeze-dried blueberries, freeze-dried strawberries, and freeze-dried strawberries. Now, I’ve always been a fan of the dehydrated fruits in cereals because I find them to be so packed with flavor. I was actually looking forward to sampling this one.

Well…Nature’s Path really nailed it. The Gluten Free Selections Summer Berries Granola is amazing. While the sweetened and seasoned gluten-free rolled oats make for a great base, and the intensity of the freeze-dried berries brought a great sweet tang to each bite. But the star of this granola…far and away…was the yogurt chips. They really won me over with each bite.

I always sample the granola on its own, and would have been happy eating just this, on its own, for breakfast. But granola hits the Greek yogurt and the fruit in my kitchen, so I caramelized apples and served them up over the Greek yogurt, topping them off with this granola. How would the berries blend with the sweet caramelized apples? Perfectly. Every bite of this granola, whether on its own or in my breakfast parfaits was a burst of flavor. But should you get a bite with a yogurt chip…the magic happens. I commend Nature’s Path for that decision!

Let’s dive deeper into this product, shall we? Nature’s Path upholds its commitment to providing safe, gluten-free products. The ingredients in this granola are organic, non-GMO, and free of synthetic preservatives and additives. I love that.

A serving of this granola is 1/4 cup. This serving will provide you with 140 calories and 4 grams of fat. Impressive, yes? Each serving only has 8 grams of sugar, 55 mg sodium, and is cholesterol free. You also are provided with 2 grams of fiber and 3 grams of protein. Not bad at all.

Nature’s Path Gluten Free Selections Summer Berries Granola is sweet, savory, and so refreshing. Start your day off right with a granola that sings across your taste buds and tastes like summer. Even with fall creeping in, you can still enjoy that sweet taste of summer each morning. And do seek out those yogurt chips…and see why I say they really make the mix.

Nature's Path Gluten Free Selections Summer Berries Granola over a Caramelized Apple and Greek Yogurt Breakfast Parfait — Nature’s Path Gluten Free Selections Summer Berries Granola over a Caramelized Apple and Greek Yogurt Breakfast Parfait

September 29, 2013

Recipe: Gluten-Free and Vegan Cookies & Cream Ice Cream

I love ice cream. The problem is…ice cream doesn’t always love me back. And, more so, some of my favorite flavors from the “pre-gluten-free” days, I am no longer able to consume. Totally bums me out on occasion.

But then…I haul out the ice cream maker and do something about it. In this case…I make my own gluten-free and vegan ice cream. This is actually very simple and uses basic ingredients. Nothing too outlandish or crazy. No dairy either. The base is coconut milk. Seriously. Full fat coconut milk. So good.

I used Glutino sandwich cookies for the “cookie” portion of this recipe and sweetened it with coconut palm sugar. The recipe is super simple…and super good. As my friend Greg said…”This is rich…and delicious!”

YAY!

So, the recipe is below, adapted from Food Babe so that it fit my dietary needs.

Recipe: Gluten-Free and Vegan Cookies & Cream Ice Cream

Ingredients:

Base:

1 can of full fat coconut milk (13.5 ounces)
1 tbsp arrowroot powder (optional thickener)
3frozen bananas or ½ cup coconut palm sugar (I used the coconut palm sugar)
pinch of sea salt

For Cookies & Cream Flavor:

1 tbsp vanilla extract
10 Glutino Chocolate Vanilla Creme Sandwich Cookies broken into pieces (or cookie of your choice)

Instructions:

Combine base ingredients in blender and blend until smooth.

Add vanilla into blender and blend again.

Pour mixture into ice cream machine and turn on.

Mix for at least 20 minutes or until ice cream is formed.

Stir in cookies.

Serve.

Store in an airtight container in the freezer.

~*~*~

Hello delicious ice cream that won’t upset my stomach. Where have you been all my life? I still have some Glutino cookies and just bought more coconut milk. You know what’s going back in my freezer very soon? Yep. Because this recipe is SO easy to make and yes…it really does make a delicious, rich ice cream. You don’t have to be gluten-free or a vegan to enjoy this.

Make some for yourself. I promise…the real ingredients will change the way you think about ice cream.

Besides…I got to have cookies and cream ice cream again. Pardon me while I sit down with a spoon and indulge a little…or a lot.