Not in my world. I could eat soup, yes even hot soups, even in the heat of summer. Why? Because I grew up doing that. And some nights, you don’t want to slave over a stove or toil over something in an oven when there are better things to do…like getting in a run before it gets dark or polishing off another episode of that show you’ve been trying to catch up on. You know…life’s little important things that make your day just…right.
So dinner shouldn’t stress you out.
And that’s why Pacific Natural Foods is once again on the scene with another stunning, simple, organic soup that takes a favorite and makes it a classic.
That is no overstatement of the truth. It is exactly how I felt with every spoonful of the Organic Creamy Tomato Soup that I heated up for dinner tonight.
Soup is an amazing thing. It’s light, yet filling and it pairs well with crackers or a sandwich…or even a salad. But in all honesty, tomato soup was meant to go with a grilled cheese sandwich. So, I made up one of my gluten-free and dairy-free grilled cheese sandwiches to pair off with this soup, poured it into bowls and settled in for my dinner.
What I found was this soup more than delivered on flavor. It was flavored to perfection. I could have closed my eyes and sworn it was homemade, left to simmer on the stove, instead of coming out of a box and just simply being warmed for a few minutes over a burner. It really rivals the real, homemade stuff. And that’s what I fell in love with immediately. It was light, yet rich, and packed with that classic tomato soup flavor. The sweetness of the tomato isn’t too much but it still has that robust flavor you comes to expect from a tomato soup.
I ate it on its own…I dipped my sandwich into it. I, personally, loved it down to the last bit in my bowl. I cleaned it up as best I could and made a promise to get more of this kind as soon as I could. I never would have picked this one up on my own, as I tend to steer clear, though I don’t know why, of the classics. But this one came in my “Don’t Be A Gluten” gift basket of gluten-free goodness and wonder…and today just felt like a soup and sammie kind of day.
This soup…certainly hit the spot. If you love the classics, don’t overlook Pacific Natural Foods Organic Creamy Tomato Soup. It’s perfection and almost instant gratification. All you have to do is open the container, pour into a pan, heat, and enjoy. Let me tell you…it won’t get much better than this one.
Dave's Gourmet Organic Red Heirloom Tomato Pasta Sauce
Product: Dave’s Gourmet Organic Red Heirloom Pasta Sauce – $7.99+
You know…sometimes shelling out a few extra dollars for a quality product is well worth it. The most difficult part is justifying trying that product in the first place.
Luckily, my roommate and I familiarized ourselves with Dave’s Gourmet pasta sauces back when we found them on sale at our local natural foods store. Yes…these are quite pricey. But as we discovered after our first taste of the Butternut Squash pasta sauce…the flavors, texture, and taste all stand up for themselves. So yeah…the price tag…worth it.
With the epicness of the Butternut Squash pasta sauce still in our minds, we set out to try another one of Dave’s Gourmet pasta sauces. Why not? We were blown away by our first try. Why not tempt the foodie gods a little and give another flavor a go. The difficult part was deciding on what sauce to coat our spaghetti with.
We finally opted for the Organic Red Heirloom Pasta Sauce.
This time, the decision was to simply dress up some gluten-free rice noodles. Nothing fancy. No lasagna or stuffed shells. Nothing full of other flavors. We wanted to taste the simplicity. That’s the best way to tell the standard of a sauce. Eat it as it is meant to be.
And this sauce is nothing short of stunning. It has a very fresh taste that allows you to really get the hints of garlic, fresh herbs and, the star feature…the organic heirloom tomatoes. It has a very mild flavor to it and it isn’t heavy like the butternut squash version of Dave’s Gourmet sauces. This one is just a simple tomato sauce that is bursting with flavor. It’s light and pairs perfectly with a sprinkling of fresh Parmigiano-Reggiano, gently sauced over simple pasta noodles. It’s not too thick and not too thin, but shows evidence of the bits of onion and tomato that are incorporated into it.
For a light tomato sauce to stand up on its own and really just wow you, there has to be something special about it. With a short list of ingredients, there doesn’t seem to be anything wow-worthy in this sauce. The fact of the matter is, Dave’s Gourmet is doing everything right with their sauces and something this simple to resonate on the palate speaks volumes.
Trust me, while it’s not always easy to justify the price tag for a product, when you find something that really stands up and smacks your taste buds around…then…it’s worth the extra cost. For me, Dave’s Gourmet is always worth a few extra dollars. It’s ramping up pasta to a new level…and it’s all in the sauce.
Dave's Gourmet Organic Red Heirloom Pasta Sauce over gluten-free elbow pasta
Me crossing the finish line at the Tomorrow's Children 5K Fun Run/Walk - Frankfort, Kentucky
Race: Tomorrow’s Children 5K Fun Run/Walk
Place: Frankfort, KY
Date: April 14, 2012
Time: 25:32
Races are supposed to be fun. No pressure. No expectations. Just get out there and run.
That being said…this was the first race I ever revisited to date…although it won’t be the last. Of course, this was also a race that I showed really well at the first time I ran it, so expectations were actually there. In my head. No one was putting them on me. But, I wanted to prove that I rightfully placed last year and the bad weather wasn’t the reason I won first in my division (30-39).
No pressure. That’s a joke.
I woke up that morning and got dressed for the race. It was going to be a perfect 54 degrees out at race time, so I was in my shorts and a short sleeve t-shirt…and opted for fun rainbow socks. I don’t know why. I was just feeling all Skittle-ish that morning, I suppose.
The drive to Frankfort always seems longer than it is. It’s not really all that far, but I didn’t eat breakfast at home. I saved my cereal for the ride and broke into it around 7:30 a.m. as we were heading into the Frankfort area. I didn’t want to eat too soon and risk being hungry during the race, but I didn’t want to eat too late either. As it was, I think I got the timing down perfectly.
The drive in got a bit stressful as my roommate never can quite remember where to go. I race in Frankfort often enough, but it seems she always turns too soon and we end up getting lost. This did happen. And then once we got turned around, the bridge we were supposed to take was closed. So we followed some detour signs, spotted some runners, parked the car on the street and found our way to packet pickup via “Eye of the Tiger” blaring up the streets of Frankfort via a stereo system.
I got my packet. Then got my number pinned on me…and went to use the bathroom once more before the race. As there was a pancake breakfast (not gluten-free…so sad!) afterwards, we had access to the church’s bathrooms (huzzah for plumbing). Then, it was time to stretch it out. And I really wanted to stretch well as my Achilles tendon on my left foot has been giving me troubles since my roommate accidentally stepped on it and did some minor damage. So stretching was very, very important that morning. My tendon was a little tender as it was so I wanted to warm it up without putting any strain on it. I’d be doing enough of that with the run.
And before I knew it, the runners were getting into the road to line up for the start. There was nothing really to indicate the start line, so one of the organizers got out there and waved her arms to indicate where we should line up. And so…we moved forward and took our spots. And somehow…I ended up where I never do…the front.
I went ahead and started my iPod because it would be one less thing to worry about as the race started. It was down low so I could talk to people if I wanted and could clearly hear the announcements. They had a prayer just before the race and then once the Frankfort police that were assisting gave the thumbs up…they got us on our marks, getting set…and we were off.
To say that I was up front for the entire thing is a stretch of the truth. Considering the winner finished 9 minutes before I did means that while I was up at the front, I was nowhere near the lead pack. Between the start of the race and mile one, which included a steep little hill, I was the second female within range. The only other one was just ahead of me and just after mile 1, I passed her…only to be passed by two other women running together. One I recognized as the overall winner of this exact race last year. As I came up toward the capital, the other woman I passed went by me on the uphill part as well as two other females, who I ended up passing and never saw again as soon as it leveled out. Damn, time to work on hill repeats. I have got to get stronger on those hills.
I passed up the other woman again on the downhill and managed to stay ahead of her heading into mile 2. At mile 2 I was even closing the gap on the two other women who were just ahead of me. I was struggling a little because I knew that I went out really fast on this race. I always tell myself not to, and to save it for the end, but I really got caught up in this one. Probably because I felt like I really had something to prove. Not to anyone else…but to myself. I felt good as I ran down the hill and headed back through the city toward the finish line. As I turned a corner, I could see the finish line clock and I did my best to pick up the speed…but I really just couldn’t.
My roommate was standing at the front of the finish, I could see her screaming, then hear her screaming, telling me to push, to dig, to go faster. The two women ahead of me crossed together. My roommate was pointing, flailing her hands, screaming at me to run faster. And I found out why a second before I crossed the finish line. That other woman, the one I battled back and forth with throughout the course, blew right past me and beat me to the finish line.
By one second.
I slowed and went through the finish gate, feeling…a mix of emotions really. The tag of my bib was torn off and I saw my roommate moving toward me. “Shit!” I said, despite being at a church. I wasn’t happy. Not at all. I had nothing left at the end and that was my undoing. The other woman, Heather Drake (a name I will never forget!), proceeded to move to the side and throw up. Well, at least I made her push hard enough to puke up her breakfast, right?
Shit.
Racing has never been about winning medals and placing for me. I do it because I love it. It means getting out to run with other people who love to run. The vibe, the atmosphere…it’s all just amazing. And it keeps me going back to races, no matter how short or how long. And it challenges me…pushes me to do better. But for some reason, being beat out at the last second by someone I passed and didn’t see again…stung. It really, really bothered me.
I languished for a moment on the sidewalk as I drank down a bottle of water. Then I remembered I never stopped my GPS watch, so now my time was all off. So I cussed again, threw a little fit, and then took a few deep breaths and reminded myself that this was supposed to be fun. My roommate helped with this too, telling me that I had a good race, that I ran well, and that while I still haven’t reached that elusive sub-25 minute goal, I ran well and finished. And she was right. Why was I being so petty? Was it because I had placed first in my division last year and just felt I needed to do it again for this race to mean something to me? Probably. But it was the wrong attitude to have.
After taking a moment to reflect on this, I stood up and went into the church bathroom to get changed out of my running clothes. I put one of my Icy-Hot patches on my tendon and headed up to the pancake breakfast, despite not being able to eat anything there. That was okay though, I had brunch plans back in Louisville, so I just sort of took a seat, put my foot up and waited for the awards ceremony to start.
Once people were given time to eat, the awards were handed out. For overall women, there was a tie for first (so it went first and second) and then Heather Drake (dammit!) took third overall.
One second.
Me with my medal for winning first in my age division (30-39) at the Tomorrow's Children 5K Fun Run/Walk - Frankfort, Kentucky
But I knew that this also meant that I had, in fact, defended my title, which was the original goal in the first place. My name was announced…first in my division, and I went to get my medal. I was happy. I really was. I would have been even if I had taken second or third. It was a good race for a good cause, and that was the important thing. Defending my title just put a little extra pressure on me that I probably didn’t need to carry with me…and in the future, I’ll remember that.
I was quite proud of myself for accomplishing my original goal. So, I was one second away from being one of the top female finishers overall. ONE SECOND! *cough* So, I didn’t set a new PR. What I did do, however, was run strong, run fast, and run well. In the future, I’ll pace myself better. I will save some push for the end. And one day…I’ll see the results of this. For now, I will call this a job well done and a race well run.
And I’m okay with that. Even that one second. Okay…maybe I’m not over that yet…but I will get there.
With all that being said, my official results of the Tomorrow’s Children 5K Fun Run/Walk are that I finished the race in 25:32. I was the I was 17/108 finishers overall and 4/42 women. And, of course, I finished 1/22 in my division. All that being said, it was a damn good race with damn good results.
Risotto is one of my most favorite things in this world. Honestly. It’s creamy and al dente all at once. And it’s rich and filling without being too heavy. Even better…it’s so versatile. You can dress it up however you like, add a variety of flavor combinations and proteins and settle in to enjoy a warm dish of something delish.
I admit, it can be labor intensive to make, but the end product is well worth all that stirring and reducing.
I found a simple Asparagus Risotto recipe on Simply Recipes and tweaked it to make it my own. What I ended up with was delicious, filling, and quite healthy. If you aren’t a fan of asparagus, try it with a vegetable that you adore. But…mmmm…asparagus.
1/2 cup dry white wine (or 1 Tbsp lemon juice and 1/4 cup water)
About 3 1/2 cups vegetable stock (or you can substitute some of the asparagus cooking water for stock)*
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Salt and pepper (I seasoned mine with sea salt and red pepper)
Directions:
Prepare the asparagus by breaking off and discarding the tough ends (about the last inch of the spear).
Cut into 1 to 1 1/2-inch pieces (tips longer, base shorter). If your asparagus are especially large, cut into even smaller (bite-size) pieces.
Bring a saucepan with a quart of water to a boil. Blanch the asparagus pieces for 2 minutes. At the end of two minutes, use a slotted spoon to remove the asparagus pieces to an ice water bath to shock the asparagus into a vibrant green color and to stop the cooking. Drain from the ice water bath and set aside.
In a 3 or 4 quart saucepan, heat 3 tablespoons of butter on medium heat. Add the shallots and cook for a few minutes until translucent. Add the rice and cook for 2 minutes more, stirring until nicely coated.
While the shallots are cooking, bring the stock to a simmer in a saucepan.
Add the wine. Slowly stir, allowing the rice to absorb the wine. Once the wine is almost completely absorbed, add 1/2 cup of stock to the rice. Continue to stir until the liquid is almost completely absorbed, adding more stock in 1/2 cup increments. Stir often to prevent the rice from sticking to the bottom of the pan. Continue cooking and stirring rice, adding a little bit of broth at a time, cooking and stirring until it is absorbed, until the rice is tender, but still firm to the bite, about 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from heat.
*(Note: the stock amount given is approximate. You may need a little more or less. If you end up needing more stock and you find yourself without, just use water or the cooking water from the asparagus).
Gently stir in the Parmesan cheese, the remaining 1 teaspoon butter, and the asparagus. Add salt and pepper (or, in my case, red pepper & red pepper flakes) to taste. Serve immediately.
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Here was the great thing about this risotto. While risotto is best on the day it is made, fresh from the pan itself, this reheated quite nicely the following evening. And once again, a delicious, healthy meal was at my fingertips. So, yes…it can be a bit time consuming to stand around in the kitchen and continually stir, but the end result is always worth it. Play around with it. Choose different vegetables. Season it however you wish. Dig in. Enjoy!
So…here’s the deal. Blue Diamond is the master of all things almond. Let’s face it. They put out the best almond milk, they are tops when it comes to their nut products, and they created Nut Thins, which I have a love-hate relationship with at times, finding some to be full of flavor and some to be quite bland.
So, I wasn’t sure what to think of Nut Chips when I spotted them at the grocery store. But, the fact of the matter was it was a crunchy product that was gluten-free that I haven’t tried yet. My roommate threw it into a cart and said I had to sample them…for the blog, of course.
Well, I can’t argue with that.
And this week brought about my chance to give these things a try. I dished out a serving (15 chips) to take to work with me. I love a good crunchy snack in the afternoon that will see me through until dinner time. I was hoping that these would do the trick. They look like a chip version of their Nut Thin counterparts…but here’s where they differ…
These are really, really delicious. I mean, filled with flavor. It has a chip-like texture that isn’t cardboard-like. And I found them to be rather amazing when all was snacked on and done. I loved the rich crunch, the just-the-right-amount of salt seasoning each wedge. I absolutely thinks these are amazing on their own, but would handle a dip really well.
Here is something else that intrigued me…these chips are baked, not fried. They have no saturated fat, no cholesterol, no MSG, and, naturally, no wheat or gluten. They are made from brown rice and almonds from California. The sea salt is added to bring out the crunchy flavor. And despite the fact that these are a chip, they are a rather healthy alternative to the real thing. One serving only has 130 calories and only 3.5g of fat. Can’t argue with that. Guilt-free, gluten-free yums.
I admit it. My friend Jenn and I totally Top Chef-ed this dinner. And here’s why. Gluten-free large pasta shells are not available in any store I have ever shopped in. Believe me…I have looked. You can get frozen gluten-free stuffed shells, but not just the noodles so you can make your own delicious food. And, honestly, when you can make something, why buy it frozen? However, Tinkyáda does make gluten-free rice pasta large shells, which I found on the internet and ordered.
Sadly…they did not make it to my friend Jenn’s in time. And Jenn had this fantastic recipe she found online, for a Three Cheese and Chicken Stuffed Shells dinner we had planned to make, sans chicken for my vegetarianism (or vegetinarianism as my roommate says). This was now a slight problem without our pasta base.
So, we improvise, adapt and overcome. One quick swing by a store and we were in possession of Tinkáda’s brown rice pasta small shells. The rest of the ingredients…we’d work with and make some kitchen magic happen. And that’s what we did.
Jenn got the original recipe online at Taste & Tell. And out of necessity, and my dietary needs, we put our own little spin on it. So, here is how we worked our magic…
Recipe: Gluten-Free Three Cheese “Deconstructed” Stuffed Shells
Gluten-Free Three Cheese "Deconstructed" Stuffed Shells
3 tablespoons dried bread crumbs (I used crusts from Rudi’s Gluten-Free Multigrain Bread and pulsed them in the food processor)
3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
salt and pepper to taste
1 cup spaghetti sauce
Directions:
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Salt water, then add pasta and cook according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
In a large bowl, ricotta cheese, 2 ounces of mozzarella cheese, Monterey Jack cheese, sour cream, bread crumbs, parsley and salt and pepper. Mix well.
Spray a 2-quart baking dish with olive oil (or non-stick spray…but we used olive oil…as it is gluten-free and the PAM is not) and cover the bottom of the dish with a thin layer of spaghetti sauce. Cover the sauce with the cooked noodles. Then, spread the cheese/breadcrumb mixture over the noodles. Cover with the remaining sauce. Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella cheese on top.
Bake in the preheated oven uncovered for 40 minutes; serve warm.
A helping of Gluten-Free Three Cheese "Deconstructed" Stuffed Shells with a Gluten-Free Cheddar Biscuit
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Let me tell you…for basically having to Quickfire Challenge this a la Top Chef…this was a delicious dinner. Very filling. Very yummy. It was like having a lasagna casserole. We devoured most of it and were quite happy with the way it turned out. So…stuffed shells these were not, but it was our own little take on a classic dish. And it worked. And it was delicious. And yes…I would totally make it again…in a heartbeat.
And, in case you were wondering, I left Jenn’s on Sunday and my large gluten-free pasta shells arrived on Monday. Figures. Well, this just means we can try the recipe as intended the next time I go to visit. I’m okay with that.
Tomorrow's Children 5K Fun Run and Walk, Frankfort, KY
It’s difficult, as a runner, not to try to compare races. And normally races do stand on their own. No race is exactly like another. Weather, people, and even how you feel that day can affect performance and overall mood.
But this is a first for me…because I am returning to a race for the first time. Ever.
Last year, I ran in the Tomorrow’s Children 5K race in Frankfort, Kentucky. The race basically benefits people in the Frankfort community who are struggling with infertility. It’s held as a fundraiser and a way to bring awareness of the organization to the community. I have quite a few friends who struggle with infertility…so, this was a good cause to run for.
Back in 2011, this was my second 5K I ever ran. Ever. As in the history of my running career…which at that point consisted of a couple months of running around the track at the YMCA…little runs on the treadmill at the gym…and one 5K race a couple weeks prior. So, I was still quite the newbie to the racing scene. And, the drive out there was interesting as we had s a bit of thunder, some lightning, and a lot of rain. The lightning was gone by the time we got to packet pickup, but the rain was still constant. Up until the race was about to begin. Then…there was a lull.
But that only lasted a moment. No sooner had the race kicked off, but the sky opened up again and down came the rain. But, runners run in rain all the time. This was a new experience for me. And guess what…it was kinda fun too.
Dripping wet, I crossed the finish line in 27:04.
And won first in my division.
In my second 5K race…ever.
So, let’s put it this way…I’m nervous about not living up to that this year. The weather is supposed to be good…during the race. Keeping with tradition of me running in Frankfort, Kentucky…rain is scheduled for that day…just after the race is run. So, the turnout might be better. The runners…might be stronger. And, I feel like I have to prove to myself that winning that division title wasn’t just a fluke of bad weather and a small turn-out. I feel like I need to prove that I rightfully earned it…even with it being my second race ever.
Yeah, that’s a little bit of pressure weighing on my shoulders. And, of course, I might feel like a little bit of a failure should I not clinch the title this year too. But, you know, I don’t run to win divisions or place. I run because it’s something I enjoy and love to do. But, a part of me feels like I have a crown to defend here. And, despite having been nursing a sore Achilles tendon all week, a part of me wants to run like I’ve never run before tomorrow and just see what comes of it.
In the end, I’ll run a smart race. And whether I place at all won’t matter in the end. What matters is that I finish…be it first or last. And that’s the hardest lesson for some runners to bring to each race…and take home from each race too.
Do I feel like I have something to prove tomorrow? Yes. It’s only natural.
But if I walk away just another finisher…I’m okay with that too. I’m a winner just for taking part and finishing. And if I can do so without limping due to a sore tendon…all the better.
Second verse…same as the first? We’ll find out tomorrow.
This isn’t the first Tasty Bite meal that I’ve had. This is the second. And for the second time, I have been wowed by the simplicity and flavors that have been packed into one microwaveable meal, concealed in a pouch. Yeah…I wouldn’t be expecting much either, but what this meal lacks in packaging it makes up for with intense Indian flavors.
No joke.
I don’t joke about my food. Especially Indian food, which happens to be one of my favorite cuisines to indulge in. Honestly.
I bought a bag of jasmine rice awhile back and find that this is the perfect accompaniment to these dishes. Steaming up a batch of it is easy. Then just reheat the rice with a splash of water before giving this entree a quick zap in the microwave. Honestly, the entire meal is ready in less than five minutes. It’s perfect for those nights where you want something substantial, healthy, and a little bit spicy.
The Punjab Eggplant entree brings the flavor of Indian food with typical spices infused into it for the perfect bite each time. With a delicious blend of salt, coriander, chiles, ginger, cumin, turmeric, and cloves, the heat of this meal is not too intense, but evident. It’s the perfect spice level. I wouldn’t mind more, but I’m a spicy girl who loves a good deal of heat. The eggplant is soft, delicious, and pairs well with the flavors that are incurred with the inclusion of tomatoes, onions and garlic. It’s a tasty bite of Indian goodness with simplicity.
As with most (not all) of Tasty Bite’s entrees, the Punjab Eggplant is gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, and kosher. YAY! This makes it a great go-to choice for an Indian meal that has proven to be far superior to the frozen entrees I’ve had in the past.
As a busy, on-the-go, kind of girl, quick meals are sometimes a necessity. This particular one only sets me back 150 calories. And all it took was about 2 minutes in the microwave and some rice to go with it. It’s that easy, that fast. And yes…it really is that amazing.
Tired of getting your Indian food from the freezer? Look no further than the shelf at your grocery store. Tasty Bite is there. And…for the record…the Punjab Eggplant is phenomenal.
Cheerios. Oh…I have missed them. I grew up eating them. And continued to eat them even as an adult. After all, you’re never too old for Cheerios. Plus…they are delicious and nutritious. And come in a variety of flavors these days.
So, imagine my sadness after having to go gluten-free and realizing this meant never again having my beloved Cheerios for breakfast or lunch or dinner or snack. Never. Not ever again. It was a deep wound, let me tell you. And one that I carried with me…up until recently.
I was at the grocery store just browsing the gluten-free section when this box caught my eye. I almost did a double-take, but there it was…as clear as day on the golden box…Nature’s Path Organic Whole O’s…GLUTEN FREE!
This was the answer the cereal monster craved. It was…like Cheerios…but…but could it take their place? Only one way to find out, yes?
So, at a hefty price…more than I like to pay for cereal, this box came home with me. And after I polished off the current box of gluten-free Chex…this was moved up into the rotation. I was set for disappointment. Nothing could be as good as the original, right?
WRONG!
I won’t say it was love at first bite with this cereal. It took a few to really fall in love with it. I discovered, though, that for the life of me, I couldn’t remember what Cheerios tasted like. I was appalled at myself, but…a bit relieved. This meant that these Whole O’s wouldn’t have to try to live up to something. What I think I remembered of them though, I actually discovered I probably would have liked these better. Yes…these little O’s of goodness were making my gluten-free day a in a big gluten-free way!! I think these are actually sweeter than Cheerios, but after letting my roommate have at a couple (and she still eats Cheerios) she insists that Cheerios are actually sweeter. Fine by me, as I loved the flavor that were in each bite. After a glance at the short list of ingredients, that sweetness seems to stem from the addition of pomegranate juice concentrate. I love pomegranate and pomegranate juice…and it doesn’t taste of pomegranate either.
These little O’s of yumminess are also very crunchy and hold up to my bath of almond milk each morning as well. Not one soggy bite, which is very much appreciated. If I wanted soggy cereal I’d dish out oatmeal in the morning. No, in the morning when I’m usually having a scrambled egg or a soft pancake or something along those lines…I want a crisp bite of cereal to start me off. And that’s exactly what this cereal delivers.
This O connoisseur was more than happy with the taste, texture, and everything else that came along with this cereal. However, it will have to be treated as a treat to myself with the pricetag it comes with, but such is the way with gluten-free goodness. A treat, though, is always well worth it when it is this fantastic.
Product: Love Grown Foods Sweet Cranberry Pecan Granola – $4.99+
Granola is not something that I normally seek out. Just being honest. While I find them to be delicious, and love them, I would rather buy a gluten-free oatmeal for lunch or snack on something that is a bit more substantial. But I came into the possession of a gluten-free granola thanks to a gift pack from my local Fresh Market called “Don’t Be a Gluten.” I loved the name, and as it was intended for the holidays, which had since past, my roommate bought it for me and I got to dig through at the gluten-free treasures that awaited me.
One of the biggest bags in there was a pack of Sweet Cranberry Pecan Granola from a company I never heard of – Love Grown Foods. And with a company name like that…how can you resist at least trying it out?
Here’s the dish from what I can gather via the Web site. Love Grown Foods was created by a couple while attending the University of Denver. Each of the young entrepreneurs brought a knowledge of healthy living, healthy eating and love of an active lifestyle to the kitchen. And why not? What emerged was a perfected recipe for granola that started off with simple sample packs and grew from that into a business. And who can argue with a company that delivers amazing flavor in each handful that isn’t tainted at all by artificial sweeteners or sugar. Their granola is sweetened by either honey or agave.
It’s a great story, but how does it pan out in the product?
Well, let me tell you, the name Love Grown Foods is not misleading at all. Not only can you tell the amount of care and love that went into each and every batch, but the product speaks for itself in nutritional value as well as flavor. The Sweet Cranberry Pecan is the ideal combination of dried cranberries and toasted pecans, served up with perfectly sweetened and seasoned gluten-free rolled oats. It is touched up with some dried coconut and seasoned with honey, cinnamon and vanilla. The play of flavors on your palate just works. It’s fantastic…crunchy with a hint of sweetness that just leaves you wanting to grab a little more and then a little more. It’s probably the best granola I have ever had in my life.
What I appreciate about Love Grown Foods granola is the nutritional value that is packed in each serving. A serving is 1/4 cup, which, when it’s granola, goes a long way. Each serving of the Sweet Cranberry Pecan brings with it only 130 calories and 6g of fat. Not bad. And I promise, a simple serving of that size does stick with you. That’s the wonderful thing about granola. And, it’s easy to transport and take with you, if you are going to be out for the day, on a hike, a jog, or a walk. It’s the ideal snack to pack.
It was love at first crunchy, sweet bite when it came to this granola. Now I’m hooked. And I’m hoping to find one of the other varieties (it also comes in Simply Oats, Apple Walnut Delight, Raisin Almond Crunch, and Cocoa Goodness) in store to give them a taste as well. If it’s anything like the Sweet Cranberry Pecan, then I’d say I’ll be in for a delicious treat.
If you love granola and really want to try one that is made from natural ingredients, no artificial sweeteners, and honestly made with love…then I recommend Love Grown Foods. Yummy doesn’t begin to describe it.
A serving of Love Grown Foods Sweet Cranberry Pecan Granola
The Celiathlete 