Vegetarian – Page 61 – The Celiathlete

July 27, 2013

Annie May’s Sweet Café gives Louisville amazing Maple Caramel Blondies

Product: Annie May’s Sweet Café Maple Caramel Blondies – $3.00

I have to give another huge shout-out to my favorite place in Louisville. Whenever I am out of town, I miss arriving on Saturday morning to get a delicious vegan/allergen-free breakfast sandwich. I miss talking to the owners and employees behind the counter. I miss hearing my roommate talk about how many miles I just finished running and how now it was time to indulge in some allergen-free doughnuts and breakfast!

Annie May’s Sweet Café is my happy place. I make a habit to frequent their little spot on Frankfort Avenue whenever I am in town. I have never had anything there that I didn’t care for. In fact, my eyes have been opened to the amazing gluten-free baked goods that continue to churn out. And, every now and again, they introduce something new and spectacular…and if I happen to be around for it…you better believe I am going to purchase it to try.

This past weekend, Annie May’s Sweet Café rolled out Maple Caramel Blondies. I saw them post about them on their Facebook page. I had been out of town the two weekends prior, so now that I was back, I was hitting up the café for breakfast after an 18 mile run…then going out to a Gluten-Free Fair and Fundraiser later that afternoon. While they had the Maple Caramel Blondies at the café that morning…I saved that purchase for the fair.

After feasting on an amazing gluten-free crepe from Sweet ‘N’ Savory food truck, I bounced over to say “HI” to Annie May and Kenna, who were manning the table at the Gluten-Free Fair and Fundraiser. While there, I made a purchase of one of their gluten-free Maple Caramel Blondies ($3.00). They chose me to find one with lots of maple swirled in there…and I was more than happy to oblige. YUM YUM!

But…the weekend was a busy one…and I had a gluten-free sponge cake to polish off. Then my roomie had her last wisdom tooth removed…so the Maple Caramel Blondie sat on my kitchen counter until Wednesday. But…that didn’t affect it one bit.

Over the entire weekend and into half the week, this blondie was still very light and moist. I sliced it in half…eager to get a sample of this bar. Trust me…I think I started drooling when they posted about them. And I had been thinking about it all weekend…and up until dessert on Wednesday. The moment of truth was here.

I handed Cathy her half…then settled in with mine.

FLAVOR TOWN!! I mean…wow. First of all…this is exactly how I like my brownies/blondies. It had more of a cake-like texture. I totally prefer a cake-like brownie to a fudge-like brownie any day. They are lighter, fluffier, and not as dense or heavy. The blondie itself was really good. Not overly sweet, which is good, because swirled throughout it was this fantastic caramel and maple flavor. I mean…WOW!! You can see it blended into the baked blondie. Yes…this was simply awesome. Cathy thought so too, because she eating another one tonight, but stupid shoppers that we are…we had only bought the one.

So…here is hoping that Annie May’s keeps these in the bake case for awhile. TOTALLY yummy!

No one would ever guess they were allergen-free…unless you told them.

So…thank you once again, Annie May’s…for making gluten-free look and taste so, so damn good!

Annie May's Sweet Café Maple Caramel Blondie (unwrapped) — Annie May’s Sweet Café Maple Caramel Blondie (unwrapped)

July 27, 2013

Dark Chocolate Dream adds sweet raspberry to vegan dark chocolate bars

Product: Dark Chocolate Dream Raspberry Dark Chocolate Bar – $3.59+

Dark chocolate. It is, honestly, my favorite thing in this world. Honestly.

I mean…it has this rich, deep flavor. And the bittersweet taste means you don’t really overindulge. That’s the beauty of dark chocolate. It sort of provides a serving size, because it can be rich…so a little goes a long way.

Now…enter the realm of the vegan dark chocolate bar. Yes. You read that right. VEGAN!

Okay, so vegan chocolate really isn’t anything new. But…the problem I have with vegan chocolate is that it can be hard and chalky…instead of smooth and rich like regular dark chocolate. So, vegan chocolate bars can be disappointing.

Enter…Dark Chocolate Dream. Aptly named, mind you. Dark Chocolate Dream is the chocolate bar segment of the umbrella company responsible for Rice Dream rice milk, Almond Dream almond milk, Soy Dream soy milk, and so on…

I think you get the picture. Now, I’ve many products from Imagine Foods, the company responsible for the “Dream” products. And I love them. Even the Almond Dream almond milk was good. In fact…it was really, really good. So, this company is no stranger to vegan products that focus on ingredients. I like when a company takes pride in the products they put out on the shelf.

But chocolate? Dark chocolate? Dark chocolate candy bars? That are also vegan?

Oh yes…and this one in partucular has an added burst of sweetness because the Dark Chocolate Dream Raspberry Dark Chocolate Bar adds a hit of sweetness from freeze dried raspberries to the bittersweet chocolate that forms the rest of the bar. And…honestly…dark chocolate and fruit always pair well. Dark chocolate with some sort of berry…even better.

The Dark Chocolate Dream Raspberry Dark Chocolate Bar is fabulous. It really is. No fake and unpleasing raspberry gel inside. Nothing sticky or unappealing. Just real ingredients. The pieces of fresh raspberries that are freeze dried and added to the dark chocolate just elevate this particular candy bar to the next level. Bittersweet meets sweet…and it just works. It meshes together well. Even better, this vegan dark chocolate bar doesn’t have that chalky flavor. And it isn’t tough to bite into. It’s smooth. It’s sweet. It’s very pleasing to the palate. And the chocolate is rich, and melt-in-your-mouth good. No strange aftertaste. A dark chocolate lover’s dream…

Let’s talk about ingredients and nutrition. First of all, keep in mind this is a chocolate bar. Just because it’s vegan and gluten-free doesn’t mean that it is better for you than other chocolate out on the market. It’s not. A serving of the Dark Chocolate Dream Raspberry Dark Chocolate Bar is 1/2 of the bar. This will set you back 240 calories and 15 grams of fat. YIKES, right? Luckily, this bar comes in break-away squares of 8. This means, you can certainly just take a square (trust me it’s enough) and get 8 days worth of treats. That’s what I’d do. But I’m frugal like that. Anyway…in addition to the calories and fat, you are ingesting 15 mg of sodium and then a whopping 24 grams of sugar. YIKES! Half of the candy bar contains 1 gram of fiber and 2 grams of protein.

As far as the ingredients that go into this dark chocolate bar, this list is short and recognizable. The ingredients in the Dark Chocolate Dream Raspberry Dark Chocolate Bar are: evaporated cane juice, unsweetened chocolate, cocoa butter, freeze dried raspberries, roasted soy flour, soy lecithin, and pure vanilla extract.

That’s it. It’s nice to see such a short list when it comes to ingredients.

If you love the taste of raspberries. If you love dark chocolate. Then I encourage you to find and try Dark Chocolate Dream Raspberry Dark Chocolate Bar. It’s a sweet bite of rich, smooth, vegan dark chocolate. So…break off a piece…and devour! Then take a moment to savor. Trust me…you’ll thank me later.

Dark Chocolate Dreams Raspberry Dark Chocolate Bar (unwrapped)

July 27, 2013

Tasty Bite’s Vegetable Korma a palate-pleasing favorite for Indian food

Product: Tasty Bite Vegetable Korma – $3.29+

You will find this dish on pretty much every Indian restaurant menu you go into. Why? Because it is just one amazing meal that is so full of different flavors and textures, it’s actually exciting to eat. This is no exaggeration. Welcome…to my Monday tradition of easy, fast food…so I can get across the river and go running.

Thank goodness for meals for the busy people in this world. Tasty Bite has mastered the art of creating not only meals that are ethnic, interesting, and super-tasty…but that are also quick and easy to prepare. A simple warming in the microwave for 90 seconds and you’re set and ready to eat. Make it into more of a meal by pairing it with rice or a protein…and dinner/lunch/whatever…is served.

This Monday was like every other Monday prior. I have a running group I adore and always want to make the Monday fun runs that are hosted from my favorite local running store. LOVE the people who work there, who run there, and who just come in there. These are good people. And missing a run always bums me out. Therefore, in the limited amount of time I have after getting off work, getting home, getting ready to run…it leaves very little time to actually prepare and eat a dinner. Besides, before running for at least 3 miles…I don’t want anything too heavy. Carbs are a must. Protein is a must. Time is of the essence.

Tasty Bite seems to fit the description.

And lucky me…I have a pantry full of these easy, quick, and very flavorful pouches of awesomeness.

This Monday…the next flavor on the tasting menu was…Vegetable Korma.

Vegetable Korma is one of the most popular dishes on Indian menus everywhere. And why wouldn’t it be? For one thing, it is packed with fresh and delicious varieties of vegetables. In this case, onion, corn, carrots, potatoes, and spinach. Lots of vegetables, because they are the star of the meal. But, with Indian food especially, you have to flavor it…season it…get that right balance of spice in each bite. And this little meal was heightened by the addition of coconut milk, yogurt, sunflower oil, garlic, chickpea flour, salt, chilies, spices, and turmeric. Are you drooling yet?

You will be. What emerges after a short 90 second zap in the microwave is a steaming pouch that contains what has become my favorite Tasty Bite meal to date. It isn’t much to look at…not really. The sauce is sort of this light green color (the spinach), and it’s laden with chunks of vegetables (LOVE IT). But…it’s not always what it looks like that is any indication of what food tastes like. And that is especially true with ethnic foods. Indian foods more often than others. Take it from me…you can’t just a food simply by its looks. What is hidden inside is what makes each meal sing.

So why did Vegetable Korma overtake every other Tasty Bite meal I have tried to become my favorite? Well…it has this warming curry flavor to it…and it has the savory taste of the garlic and onion and spices. Top that off with the earthiness of the vegetables that make up the dish itself. But what really sets it apart…is that addition of the corn. You get this fantastic pop of sweet flavor with each bite.

It’s simple. It’s easy. And it’s amazing. I don’t just say that about anything. As I normally do, I served this over some freshly cooked jasmine rice. It was just filling enough that I didn’t feel like I’d have it still in my stomach when I went running, but didn’t leave me still feeling hungry.

Perfection.

With that being said, let’s take a quick glance at the nutrition offered up by Tasty Bite’s Vegetable Korma. A serving is 1/2 of the pouch. This serving will provide you with 130 calories and 6 grams of fat. You will also 430 mg of sodium, which isn’t bad for a pre-packaged, shelf-stable meal. This serving also gives you 4 grams of sugar. Aside from that, you feel satisfied after eating it thanks to the 5 grams of fiber and 3 grams of protein each serving provides. It’s a nutrient powerhouse. Even better, this particular product is also gluten-free, vegetarian, and kosher.

LOVE IT!

No, honestly…I do. As I said, one bite and I was certain this would be my new favorite. It’s amazing. It’s incredible. It’s beyond delicious. It once again proves that Tasty Bite knows what they are doing when they put these meals together and sell them to the masses. I keep going back for more, wanting to try the different varieties that I can on a gluten-free, vegetarian diet. And the best part is…that doesn’t eliminate too many of Tasty Bite’s meals. Love that.

So, if you have a busy night ahead of you and are in need of something good, yummy, and just awesome to eat…go to your grocery store…find the Tasty Bite packs and pick up one or a couple. But…if you are choosing just to do one…I highly recommend the Vegetable Korma. It exceeds all expectations by leaps and bounds. Honestly good food…one tasty bite after another!

Tasty Bite Vegetable Korma over jasmine rice

July 27, 2013

A love letter to Louisville, Kentucky’s Sweet ‘N’ Savory Food Truck

Restaurant: Sweet ‘N’ Savory Food Truck, Louisville, Kentucky

Dear Sweet ‘N’ Savory Food Truck:

Let me start by saying how very fortunate we, the residents of the Louisville area, are to have you in our neighborhoods and at our public events. Honestly, if it weren’t for you, most food trucks would be a bust for me. In fact, I had never had the chance to actually eat from a food truck until you rolled into my life. And, since then, I find myself clearing up my busy schedule just so I can come out to an event or hit up wherever you might be parked and serving on any particular weekend.

But you don’t just put out your typical street food and food truck fare. No…you cooked yourself in a different direction and have set yourself apart from the sorts of trucks (sandwiches, burgers, tacos) that frequent the streets of cities.

But you didn’t stop there with a unique product. Nope. You also made a conscious decision to make your products gluten-free. This is no easy task and it can be quite costly. Not to mention, there are certain stigmas that come with the term “gluten-free” so you already had to get over that hump. But you built your truck, you brought it out to the streets…and that was where I found you.

And my hope is that I never have to let you go.

From my first crepe from your truck…I tested first the sweet ones. I wasn’t too sure how to take those savory crepes…so the ones with chocolate and fruit were my first choices. But…then…one very warm day at a festival in Louisville, I branched out. I tried my first savory crepe…and it was love. It was delicious, heavenly love. And now…the savory crepes seem to be my choice each time.

This past Saturday at the Gluten-Free Fair held at Apocalypse Brew Works in Louisville…not only did I get to indulge in another (savory) crepe, but talked my roommate and our friend Greg into trying them as well. My roomie had actually wanted tacos…but in the end went with a crepe. As for Greg…he can sometimes be a bit picky…but he seemed set on the same crepe I was getting. So…orders were in.

Sweet 'N' Savory Food Truck's Veggie Caponata Crepe — Sweet ‘N’ Savory Food Truck’s Veggie Caponata Crepe

The Veggie Caponata Crepe ($6.00) was my choice this time…although I was so tempted to get your delicious, rich Caprese Crepe again. But…this one caught my eye. This one not only sounded super-delicious, but it was made with local, fresh vegetables. Therefore…I had to have it. The Veggie Caponata Crepe was stuffed full with amazing Kentucky eggplant, zucchini, tomatoes, onions, and roasted red peppers. But the star…the ingredient that made all of these fresh vegetables shine…was the Parmesan cheese. Complete and total love at first bite. It was like eating a delicious gluten-free, veggie pizza. The flavors sang. The vegetables were fresh and their flavor, after being roasted, really became elevated. And that crepe…it is never overdone, never burned, never mushy. It’s always perfect.

Then…on a perfectly hot summer afternoon, you gave to me the greatest gift of all. Gluten-free gelato. I can’t thank you enough for finding a dedicated gluten-free base for your gelato. I can’t wait to indulge in it more frequently. And…you offered a Salted Caramel flavor. Salted Caramel is my favorite flavor…for real. Nothing tops it. It’s what I crave…perhaps because, in and of itself, it is both sweet and savory. That sweet with the hint of salt. It’s the best combination out there…and you…you gave me my favorite without even being aware of that. You must have just known…

I bought one scoop of your Salted Caramel Gelato ($2.50) and was blown away. One of the best salted caramel items I have ever tasted…and trust me…I have had many. I even make my own. You made it to perfection. The right creaminess and richness to warrant a gelato…and the flavor was outstanding. Salty…caramely…refreshing. It was the perfect way to end my food truck feast.

No love letter would be complete, however, without a lot of praise and love going out to the owners and operators of Sweet ‘N’ Savory Food Truck. Much love, much appreciation, and respect go out to Richard and Ashley Giannini. I know this can be quite a costly venture…and one that you have put a lot of your own hard-earned time and money into…but from the heart of someone like me, I can’t thank you enough for not just building a better food truck, but for giving a gluten-free (and vegetarian) girl a place to come and eat at these fun little gatherings and festivals. I never have to worry about the food I purchase from you. I hope to continue to follow you around this beautiful city and give you not just my business, but more business from my roommate (Cathy) and my friends who happen to come along with us.

By the way…Cathy completely loved the Limoncello Gelato.

I count myself one of the lucky residents in this amazing foodie town of Louisville, Kentucky, who have discovered just how beautiful and delicious your products are. But when you take such great care with ingredients and you prepare them to perfection, it’s hard to imagine anything else.

Basically…the point I am trying to make here is…I love you.

And I can’t wait to indulge in more of that Salted Caramel gelato.

Love…food truck style…defined as Sweet ‘N’ Savory.

Love Always,
Karen
(Veggie Food Lover)

A scoop of Sweet 'N' Savory Food Truck's Salted Caramel Gelato — A scoop of Sweet ‘N’ Savory Food Truck’s Salted Caramel Gelato

July 27, 2013July 28, 2013

El’s Gluten-Free Snacks gives great flavor and crunch in Cinnamon & Sugar Snaps

Product: El’s Gluten Free Snacks Cinnamon & Sugar Snaps – $4.49+

I’ve noticed these little brown bags of gluten-free snacks on the shelf of one of my local grocery store. I noticed them immediately because I had never seen them before. They are El’s Gluten Free Snacks…and there are two different varieties…Medleys and Snaps.

Well, while frequenting a couple of my favorite blogs, a giveaway was happening for the chance to win a bag of El’s Gluten Free Snacks Cinnamon and Sugar Snaps. So, since I was there…and reading…I figured why not enter? I do this all the time, actually…I just never win.

But then, Anna from the Gluten Free? Give Me Three blog sent me an e-mail. I had actually won the giveaway. So, she was going to wing a bag of El’s Gluten Free Snacks Cinnamon and Sugar Snaps. I was thrilled. I never win these things…but here…here I had actually won. WOOHOO!! I provided my shipping address…and a couple of days later, a box arrived containing a bag of El’s Gluten Free Cinnamon & Sugar Snaps.

I was so excited about these. But…I had a few more snacks ahead of this one…so I set this in my pantry and worked my way through the other items first.

But…this past week…the big day arrived.

So, here is the thing about gluten-free snacks. They can either be really, really amazing…or not be good at all. And these, at first glance, look as though they might be in the latter category. After all, they are little bagel crisps (think of the highly off-limits Gardetto’s snack mix…the rye chips that people usually love the most) that are lightly dusted with cinnamon and sugar. I normally have my roommate try my snacks…but she just had her last wisdom tooth out, so this time…the opinion rested all on my shoulders.

Based on feel alone, I noticed that these weren’t heavy like Gardetto’s rye chips were. These were very light and airy. I loved that. I hate when gluten-free snacks are dense and hard and…bland. I haven’t gotten to that yet. These are very light and it makes you feel good about the snack as you dole out a serving.

Snack time arrived at work and I popped open the lid of my container holding a serving of this product. The moment of truth had arrived. One bite. A crunchy, crispy, delicious bite. The texture was awesome. You get this great snap with each bite. And the cinnamon and sugar that is lightly dusted over these doesn’t overpower the rest of the crisp itself. In fact, the taste and crunch is identical to the bagel chips I used to be able to eat. Not to mention, these are baked, which help keep them light, airy, and savory. It’s hard to not devour the entire serving in one quick flick of the wrist. These are honestly that good.

So…let’s talk ingredients and nutrition. As far as what these snaps are made from…its a gluten-free flour base, water, non-GMO canola oil, flax seed, cane sugar, and cinnamon. It’s that simple. Not a whole lot going into this, which I appreciate as I’m trying to cut back on processed foods…and when I do eat them, I try to limit the number of ingredients. Speaking of ingredients, not only are these products gluten-free, but they are also free of eggs, milk, soy, peanuts, and nuts. Love the allergy-friendly snacks!! This means I could share them with my nephews if I so choose. I think they’d like them.

Nutritionally speaking, a serving is 1 ounce (28 grams). From this serving, you will be receiving 100 calories and 2.5 grams of fat. These crisps are low in sodium, with a serving only providing 240 mg. There are 9 grams of sugar in one serving of the Cinnamon & Sugar Snaps, so it’s not too bad. That’s better than most cereals on the market. And you will also be given 2 grams of fiber and 1 gram of protein.

If you are a fan of chips, but don’t want to snack and feel guilty…I highly recommend replacing those chips with these Cinnamon & Sugar Snaps from El’s Gluten Free. Trust me…they go above and beyond as a replacement. I was already looking forward to snack today when I helped myself to another serving of them. Honestly…one of the best gluten-free snacks out on the market. Why? Because at El’s…they believe that good taste matters.

I believe they have created the ultimate gluten-free snack foods…and with their focus on taste, texture, and flavor…it’s no wonder I fell in love with them.

July 26, 2013

Katz Gluten Free once again sets the standard with moist, fluffy Sponge Cake

Product: Katz Gluten Free Sponge Cake – $5.79

A long while back, I purchased a Gluten-Free Saver deal (sort of like Groupon for the gluten-free) that gave me more than half off a certain dollar amount of products ordered from Katz Gluten Free. If you have never tried Katz Gluten Free…get thee to their Web site now and order their sampler pack. It’s a great way to get introduced to their products. And if you don’t think that’s for you…trust me…order the doughnuts. Especially the powdered sugar and cinnamon ones. You can’t go wrong.

The thing is…I have yet to eat something that Katz shipped to me that I haven’t liked. There are some products I have liked better than others, but when it all comes down to it, Katz is honestly the top-of-the-line when it comes to baked goods. And, thanks to the magic of Internet ordering…you can have their amazing products shipped right to your door.

Well, as I said, awhile back I latched on to this deal. And as I was pressed for time, I gave my roomie carte blanche to log onto Katz Gluten Free and to go ahead and pick out some items for us. So…she went for a few of our favorites (hello doughnuts, doughnut holes, English muffins, and pizza crusts) and then put in a few surprises. One of these surprises was none other than…their newly introduced Gluten Free Sponge Cake.

I was elated when I received the box via UPS. But…as it goes in this apartment…there is always something else that needs to move out ahead of the item I’m dying to try. So, for months now, the Katz Gluten Free Sponge Cake has sat in my freezer…just begging me to make something with it. To eat it. To just try it. It was silently vowing not to let me down.

Katz Gluten Free Sponge Cake (unwrapped)

After a very busy winter and spring, the perfect opportunity to dig it out finally came around when our good friend, Greg, had space in his calendar to head this way and visit for the weekend. I had a plan…I’d make gluten-free baked ravioli with my gluten-free cheesy onion pull-apart bread…and then for dessert…I’d whip up some Vegan whipped topping, use some fresh blueberries provided to me by a good friend of mine, and put all of that over some of the Sponge Cake from Katz Gluten Free.

It sounded like a plan to me. Now…time to put it into action.

Dinner went well. The ravioli was a huge hit, but the bread still needs to be paired with the perfect cheese as it tends to get a little lost. But now I’m digressing. The fact was…dessert time was nigh.

While I do love cooking and baking and even just bringing out gluten-free goodies for guests, I always get nervous that they won’t like it. And this was a new product. I had no idea what it would be like. All I knew was that it was made by Katz Gluten Free. And, that was actually a relief. Because, if I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a trillion times…I TRUST KATZ GLUTEN FREE!!

But…there are just some people you don’t know how they will take to something that they know is gluten-free. There are so many preconceived (and often correct) notions about gluten-free food. And when people are unfamiliar with it, they automatically assume that it will be heavy, dense, and probably taste like cardboard.

Let Katz Gluten Free Sponge Cake prove all of that wrong. It was love at first slice. I mean, despite the fact that this loaf had been chilling in the freezer for months now…after I set it out to thaw, it didn’t dry up, nor did it become hard, brittle, or just fall apart. It was beautifully moist. My knife slid through the cake easily, and I could tell how soft it was with texture. Just like any moist sponge cake, I pressed my fingers against the center and it bounced back. Beautiful.

So…it was passing on texture and looks alone. I mean, beautiful golden crust with a gorgeous creamy white center that was moist, fluffy, soft…and just perfect to gaze upon. But…it was time for dessert. So, I sliced the three of us up a serving and topped it off with some of the vegan whipped topping. Then, fresh blueberries were scattered over the top and voila…dessert was served.

And…oh…it lived up to expectations. One bite and it was like eating a lightened up version of a shortcake. Airy, fresh, and just beautiful. It had this great flavor on top of it all…vanilla with a hit of citrus. It was a fluffy, filling dessert and one that I returned to in the nights following until the entire cake was used up. I even experimented with it slightly on a couple of nights, tossing the slice into the microwave for about 20 seconds and then topping it off with the vegan whip and berries. And, it was like taking a bite out of a freshly baked sponge cake. If you didn’t tell someone this was gluten-free, they would never know. Honestly.

Let’s talk nutrition on this baby, shall we? The Katz Gluten Free Sponge Cake serves 8 people. One sizable slice will serve you up only 90 calories and 4 grams of fat! Loving those numbers so far, aren’t you? In addition, this fluffy cake will provide you with 40 mg of sodium, 7 grams of sugar, and 1 gram of protein. It’s a lightened up version of a regular sponge cake. And I’m loving these nutritional facts. You almost don’t feel guilty about indulging a little.

As for the ingredients used to make this amazing dessert…it’s a combination of Katz Gluten Free Four (a mix of white rice flour, corn flour, and tapioca flour), sugar, eggs, canola oil, orange juice, water, baking powder, xanthan gum, and vanilla. That’s it. And the end result is one of the finest, softest, lightest sponge cakes you will find out there. I’d stack it against any regular sponge cake and still believe this one would come out on top.

Katz Gluten Free puts quality at the head of their business and it honestly shows with their products. I’m proud to say that I would be more than happy to order this from Katz again. And I intend to. In the very, very near future.

Katz Gluten Free Sponge Cake (topped with vegan whipped topping and fresh blueberries)

July 26, 2013

Arctic Zero Mint Chocolate Cookie another epic frozen dessert fail

Product: Arctic Zero Mint Chocolate Cookie Frozen Dessert – $4.99+

You know, when I first heard about Arctic Zero, I was elated. I mean, how could you not like the idea of eating an entire pint of “ice cream” for 150 calories. Yep. One pint…150 calories. It sounded too good to be true. And when I finally started to see it crop up on shelves at various local grocery stores that I frequent, I couldn’t wait to work it into the budget and try it.

I think, at first, the hype got to me. Because when I first reviewed the Chocolate Peanut Butter variety, I was all about it. Thinking back, I realize it really wasn’t all I made it out to be. Even worse…it only went downhill from there.

Welcome to the land of epic frozen dessert fails.

In concept, it’s great. Especially if you are dieting and still want a little sweet, cold, ice cream-like treats in your food regimen. However…I want you to know cast aside any preconceived notions of just how amazing this dessert could be…because the fact of the matter is…it’s not. It’s not amazing at all. It’s a little…sickening actually.

First of all, it’s sickening that I bought three pints of three different flavors without first trying it and making sure it was…you know…actually consumable. That means I was out over $15. Live and learn, I suppose. Secondly, it is sickening because it just doesn’t pan out. It doesn’t work. It isn’t what it seems. Not at all. The flavor…the texture…the taste…the mouthfeel…it’s just all wrong. COMPLETELY WRONG!

I understand that Arctic Zero is not ice cream. When heavy cream is not in your ingredients, you really can’t call yourself ice cream, right? Right. And they don’t. They call themselves a frozen dessert. But the look, the packaging…it all equates in your mind as…ice cream. So…it should at least be close…oh so close to that. Yes? Of course.

First of all…you have to let this thaw for about 10 minutes before even dreaming of being able to get a decent scoop out of this container. That’s fine. I’m sort of used to that, being that I eat a lot of non-dairy based, ice cream-like frozen desserts. No problem. But once it gets beyond that…that’s where the trouble begins…and never seems to end.

Let’s talk flavor first. Once it’s scooped and in your bowl…ready to eat…you take a bite. And…YES…you actually get the flavors of chocolate and mint. It’s amazing. It’s as advertised. It’s not quite like eating a Thin Mint cookie…but…it might be close. It just might be.

But once it starts to melt…it all goes terribly wrong. Already you’ve let the Arctic Zero frozen dessert thaw to be able to scoop. You’ll probably notice this frothy film forming on the product. You ignore it, thinking it’s just the melting ice cream. No product should froth…and here’s why…

Arctic Zero Mint Chocolate Cookie frozen dessert begins to take on this slimy consistency. And it’s not just in the bowl. It’s in your mouth. Even if you are eating the more solid parts of this dessert, the moment it hits your tongue and starts to melt, you get this slimy film. It’s unappetizing. It’s disgusting. And no amount of mint or chocolate flavor can keep that texture away. It’s unappealing to look at and even more so to taste. It really turned me off. I had so many high hopes for Arctic Zero’s frozen desserts, but none of them have been any good. They’ve had issues with flavor. Texture. Taste. And now…SLIME! I’m sorry, but no dessert should be slimy. No food should ever be slimy. While this one might have won me over with the flavor…the rest of it was so unappealing and such a turn off, eating the 1/2 cup serving was hard enough to stomach.

So let’s talk about the ingredients and nutrition for a moment. A serving size of Arctic Zero Mint Chocolate Cookie Frozen Dessert is 1/2 cup. From this serving, you will be taking in only 37 calories. You will also be ingesting 80 mg of sodium and 5 grams of sugar. You will also be consuming 2 grams of fiber and 3 grams of protein. This dessert is fat free, safe for the lactose intolerant, and gluten-free. The ingredients include purified water, whey protein concentrate organic cane sugar, chicory root, dutch processed cocoa powder with alkali, guar gum, xantham gum, natural flavors, sea salt, and monk fruit concentrate. It all looks good in print…

…but once you taste it…you’ll wish you had just splurged on an actual dessert that tastes good.

Do NOT waste your money on these products. None of the three flavors have impressed me at all with flavor, with taste, with texture…and I’m now out over $15 that I could have spent on something much more appetizing. It’s dessert. Spurge and get something worth treating yourself to eating. Don’t waste it on a product that gets everything wrong. Trust me. DO NOT BUY THESE!

July 23, 2013July 26, 2013

A healthy, sweet and savory snack made possible by The Good Bean’s Sweet Cinnamon chickpea snacks

Product: The Good Bean Sweet Cinnamon Chickpea Snacks – $2.99+

I love snacking. No really…I do. And, it can be done in a healthy manner too. Oh yes. Snacks don’t have to mean chocolate and chips…not all the time. In fact, one of my favorite snacks these days come in these little 2-serving pouches. They are nothing more than roasted chickpeas. Yep. Roasted chickpeas. You read that right. Made by The Good Bean, these snacks have a lot going for them. And I was not the least bit hesitant to snatch up a couple of different flavors this last time…because the Sea Salt variety I tried a month or so again rocked my world. I was prepared to once again be wowed.

You see, I’m moving into a Clean Eating diet, prescribed by my sports nutritionist. Less processed food, more natural food. It’s an easy balance to strike for me, as I much prefer fresh produce and and fresh ingredients. I don’t even mind making my own snacks. In the past I have baked up my own granola bars and the like. Currently, however, the problem is I don’t have a lot of extra time…between working full time, training, and everything else I’m already trying to squeeze into the time I am awake to the time I go to sleep…well…I’m out of hours before even I know it.

Sometimes…you just have to find the cleanest, healthiest choice out on the market.

When it comes to following a Clean Eating lifestyle, I have discovered that The Good Bean’s products fit the bill. In fact, on their Web site, The Good Bean points out the fact that they use clean ingredients, meaning their products contain ingredients that are non-GMO, Hexane-free, fair trade, and follow good manufacturing practices…so that cross-contamination is not an issue with their products. It’s a snack food I can trust from a company that has high standards and actually cares about the quality of the product they are putting out on the shelves.

With the success I had with The Good Bean Sea Salt chickpea snacks, I was very excited to be giving their Sweet Cinnamon vareity a taste on Friday. After all, everyone benefits not just from the healthy aspect of the chickpeas, but the added health qualities of cinnamon. Nutritionally speaking, this snack is a powerhouse of awesome ingredients that are beneficial to everyone. A serving size is 1/4 cup (or 35 grams if you weigh your food like I do), which is exactly half of the contents of the pouch. In this serving you will be getting 140 calories and 3.5 grams of fat. Not bad for a snack, right? It gets better. This serving also only sets you back 160 mg of sodium and 6 grams of sugar. But, because these are made from actual chickpeas, you get a healthy 6 grams of fiber and a protein punch of 6 grams in each serving.

As for ingredients…it’s so easy and basic…no wonder these are clean eating. All that go into The Good Bean Sweet Cinnamon chickpea snacks are roasted chickpeas, brown rice syrup, Sumatra cinnamon, vanilla, coarse salt, gum arabic, and non-GMO expeller-pressed canola oil. Seven ingredients definitely falls into the clean eating profile. All of which are ingredients I recognize and don’t question. Nothing fake. Nothing processed. Just a whole lot of flavor and good ingredients in one small package.

So…how about taste?

Crunchy. Sweet. Savory. It’s everything packed in one very healthy 1/4 cup. Tons of flavor. And it hits every note on the flavor palate. It’s what the ultimate snack should be. Great crunch, fantastic texture, sweet but not too sweet, with the savory note of the chickpeas themselves. It’s like eating cinnamon toast without having to toast, butter, and dust the bread. This snack basically captures the very essence of cinnamon toast, but leaves out the fat, the white flour, the unnecessary carbs, the calories, the gluten, the sugar, and yes…the butter. This low-fat, gluten-free, high in filling fiber, and have less fat than nuts. How can you not like that? Every crunchy bite leaves me reaching for more. As much as I’d love to savor them…they just beg you to keep popping them. Better than popcorn and chips…The Good Bean totally wins with their chickpea snacks. Even more…the sweet cinnamon is a tasty, sweet, but sinless treat that will leaving you returning to your serving and devouring until the very last one is gone.

I am so impressed so far with the two flavors of The Good Bean chickpea snacks. I absolutely fell in love with the Sweet Cinnamon. The spice of the cinnamon and allspice with the sweetness of the vanilla makes this snack everything your taste buds could ask for. Trust me. I’m ready to rush out to the store and buy more.

July 22, 2013May 11, 2015

Enjoy Life’s Boom CHOCO Boom Ricemilk Crunch bar a melt-in-your-mouth, crispy, sweet treat

Product: Enjoy Life Boom CHOCO Boom Ricemilk Crunch Chocolate Bar – $1.99+

Dear Enjoy Life:

You really do make life enjoyable. When food allergies strike…there you are…waving a white flag of sweet goodness. Just when we think we have to eliminate something from our life…you step in with an allergen-free version that makes is okay for people like me to indulge every now and again. You bring products so close to things I used to eat…that I don’t ever have to stare longingly at something in a grocery aisle and remember the days when I could simply snatch it up without a care in the world.

In other words…you take my life that was turned upside down when food allergies and intolerance happened…and you set it right again.

I will always be thankful to have you in my trusted gluten-free brands.

Especially when it comes to…vegan chocolate!

Yes, fellow readers, you read that right. VEGAN. CHOCOLATE. Not only that…but chocolate that is free of the top 8 allergens. Yes. This chocolate bar is gluten-free, wheat free, dairy free, peanut free, tree nut free, egg free, soy free, fish free, and shellfish free.

Loving it.

Enjoy Life Boom CHOCO Boom Ricemilk Crunch Chocolate Bar (unwrapped)

So…remember Nestle Crunch bars? Remember? That sweet taste of chocolate combined with the crispy rice crunch that you got with each bite? This was my second favorite Nestle chocolate bar growing up (Mr. Goodbar being my favorite). And while Nestle doesn’t list gluten in their Crunch bars, the fact that it does have crisped rice and is made on equipment that it shares with other products that do have gluten…it means I have steered clear of this bar for a long while now. It’s sad…but necessary.

And then, while on sale one day, I spotted the gluten-free equivalent…or so I hoped. It was on the top shelf of my local grocery store’s gluten-free section. And it called to me…beckoning to me to try it out. See if it compared. So…for the sake of science, of course, one happened into my shopping cart, was paid for at the register, and taken home.

Last week…it became my 2 p.m. chocolate hit.

Last week…I discovered I no longer have to miss Nestle Crunch bars.

Because Enjoy Life’s Boom CHOCO Boom Ricemilk Crunch is everything a Nestle Crunch bar was…if not even better. Trust me on this one. This candy bar is packed with crispy rice and made with non-dairy rice milk. What this means is you get this great combination of crunchy, creamy, melt-in-your-mouth goodness. And trust me…that’s exactly what this chocolate treat offers. The rice milk is sweet and a great replacement for dairy. You can’t even tell the difference. This bar is sweet and has that savory crunch in each bite thanks to the gluten-free crispy rice that is prominent throughout the entire bar. It looks just like a Nestle Crunch…but it tastes even better than Nestle’s version.

So how does this allergen-friendly chocolate bar stack up in the nutrition department? Really well. A serving is the entire bar, which would give you 170 calories and 10 grams of fat. It is a candy bar, after all. I ended up breaking mine up and spreading it out over four days, cutting that calorie and fat down to 43 calories and 3 grams of fat. I only needed a square for a snack, not the entire bar, after all. But…given that the serving size is the entire bar, the rest of that nutrition info is that you also are getting 25 mg of sodium and 14 grams of sugar. Remember…this is a candy bar after all. The entire bar also gives you just 1 gram of fiber and 1 gram of protein as well.

As far as ingredients go, Enjoy Life seeks out some of the safest and allergen-friendly ingredients out there. It starts with evaporated cane juice for the sweetness. To that it adds non-dairy cocoa butter, natural chocolate liquor (non-alcoholic), rice crisps (rice flour, rice bran, raisin juice concentrate, honey, salt), rice milk powder, and salt. I love that I recognize every ingredient that is listed. No guess work as to what anything might be that is put into this chocolate bar. I love that.

And I love the crispy bite that comes with each nibble I gave to this bar. It’s perfectly sweet. It’s perfectly crunchy. And it truly did melt-in-your mouth with this heavenly sweetness. It invites further indulgence…but it gives enough that it leaves you satisfied after just one little square. This was really good. Normally I prefer a dark chocolate…but the rice milk really meshed perfectly with the crispy rice. It was a perfect bite each time.

Enjoy Life definitely makes sweets that make life enjoyable…for everyone.

The crispy view of Enjoy Life Boom CHOCO Boom Ricemilk Crunch Chocolate Bar (unwrapped)

July 22, 2013

Freedom Foods sweetens up breakfast naturally with Maple Crunch cereal

Product: Freedom Foods Maple Crunch Cereal – $2.99+

Eating clean…is not always easy. Especially on those busy, busy, busy mornings when you have a limited amount of time and breakfast has to happen. I am a firm believer in breakfast. Skipping breakfast is, honestly, one of the worst things you can do to your body. It kick starts your metabolism and it gives your body your first real boost in energy.

The difficult part is making sure you make smart decisions when it comes to what you eat for breakfast.

On gym mornings, I start off with just a bowl of cereal. After hitting the gym, I have my main breakfast (usually a breakfast banana split these days) at the office. The key to my cereal these days, however, is less sugar, more natural ingredients. When it comes to cereal…this can be tricky. Even more so when you have to eat a gluten-free cereal. So often the gluten-free products are laden with sugars and fats to compensate for being gluten-free and lacking some natural grains.

Thankfully, Freedom Foods has made its way to the shelves of my local Whole Foods store.

Why does this make me happy? Because, as I stated when I reviewed their TropicO’s cereal, Freedom Foods sets a high standard for themselves. They aim to create delicious food that is free from the “stuff” that your body doesn’t need. Why? Because they believe your body can work better without it. Basically, their goal is to make it easier to eat better food by making their customers more aware of what is actually in the food they are eating. They focus a lot on nutrition, using nothing artificial in their products. Yes…you read that right. Nothing artificial. The company took on the task of crating food that eliminates the bad stuff found in most pre-packaged and processed products. They keep their products free from gluten, free from artificial stuff, free from artificial colors and flavors, using less sugar and salt…which in turns, makes for a healthier, better feeling body. It’s science…and they do it deliciously well.

With my sports nutritionist putting a strong emphasis on moving me more toward Clean Eating…I wanted to find a cereal that would fit the bill. Immediately I thought of Freedom Foods. Their TropicO’s cereal impressed me and I knew my Whole Foods carried other varieties of their cereal. This time…I went with the Maple Crunch.

Let’s start with nutrition. This cereal, living up to their promise, is made with all-natural ingredients. These ingredients include a gluten-free flour mix (containing rice, whole grain sorghum, and non-GMO corn flour), cane sugar, apple juice concentrate, psyllium, salt, palm oil, tricalcium phosphate, natural flavors (maple and butterscotch), as well as natural vitamins from their ingredients. That’s…not too bad on the ingredients although the tricalcium phosphate is a bit…eh…chemical sounding. But it is actually a natural mineral. Believe it or not.

Aside from that, a serving of Freedom Foods is a cup of this cereal. This serving will provide you with 170 calories and only 1 gram of fat. Loving this already. This cereal only contains 120 mg of sodium, which is very low. In addition, there is only 7 grams of sugar per serving of this cereal as well. This cup of Maple Crunch also provides a filling 3 grams of fiber and 3 grams of protein.

So…how does it taste? Really amazing. No, honestly. It sort of reminds me of a maple-y Alphabets Cereal. Remember Alphabets Cereal? I ate the hell out of that as a child. I love that the maple crunch isn’t overly infested with salt. Freedom Foods attests that they only ever put a pinch of salt in their Maple Crunch cereal. The quality of the ingredients they choose really shows because the texture and flavor are spot on. This cereal has a great crunch and that perfect level of sweetness, so that you feel like you are eating a cereal…without it feeling like a sugar-fest. I love the focus they put on their products, because the fact that this cereal tastes amazing, sweet, and crunchy says a lot about the level of focus they put on their products.

It’s like their box says…these days it’s not enough to be health conscious, people also need to be allergen-conscious. And for twenty years, Freedom Foods, based out of Australia, has been amking great-tasting, nutritious, and allergen-free foods. If you say something is gluten-free…immediately people assume that it is going to taste bad. I can say, from experience, this isn’t true. And it is far from true when it comes to Freedom Foods Maple Crunch cereal. In fact, this cereal isn’t just gluten-free, it is also free from soy, lactose, dairy and egg. The psyllium adds a great source of fiber. It’s sweet. It’s tasty. It’s just a really healthy and non-guilt inducing cereal to start off your day.

I’m hooked.

And, for the very near future, it looks like Freedom Foods may be my go-to company for cereal that suits my new eating style. It’s honestly good food that makes quality a top priority. And when you cater to the food allergic…this sort of attention really should be applauded.

I’m offering my round of applause now. Go to Whole Foods. Try Freedom Foods for yourself. The Maple Crunch gives that sweet, healthy start to your day…naturally. After all…who wants to fill their body with chemicals and processed junk when you can get proper nutrition from amazing natural ingredients. Thank you Freedom Foods!