The Celiathlete

February 28, 2015

Product Review: Lotus Foods Heirloom Forbidden Rice

Product: Lotus Foods Heirloom Forbidden Rice – $4.69+

You know, it only seems appropriate that in the February Cuisine Cube (aka: Happy V-Day 2015), a package of Forbidden Black Rice was included. Nothing compliments the month of L-O-V-E like something that starts with the word forbidden. Sounds exotic and exciting and…tasty. Tasty because, well, it’s followed by the word rice!

February is all about love. And one thing that I love is receiving my Cuisine Cube each month. I mean, nothing says love quite like a box full of exciting, new, and enticing foods that are new to me and you. But that’s what Cuisine Cube is all about. This small group of foodies are searching high and low for gluten free products that aren’t highly processed, that are made by the smaller businesses and companies…and then…they ship these to you…each month. This subscription is one of the best things I have ever done. I mean…5-6 items for a month (breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack, dessert…and sometimes an added bonus!)…that’s a fantastic deal. Seriously, you’ll fall in love with this service as quickly as I did. I certainly encourage you to give them a try. With subscriptions starting as low as $29.99…how can you turn that down?

Now, Lotus Foods is not a company that I am unfamiliar with anymore. A few Cuisine Cube boxes ago, I received two pouches of the Lotus Foods Rice Ramen…and I loved them. The products produced by Lotus Foods are recognized for their exceptional cooking quality, taste, texture, and superb nutritional value. The ancient and new rices that compose their products are grown on family farms in limited quantities, on healthy, chemical-free soils. The rice and rice products that are produced by Lotus Foods are found in specialty gourmet, natural food markets, grocery stores, white tablecloth restaurants throughout the United States, becoming a fast favorite of consumers who are seeking healthier options, as well as chefs and foodies across the country.

How’s that for a recommendation, eh? So, last time it was noodles…this time…

Lotus Foods Heirloom Forbidden Rice.

Legend has it that heirloom forbidden rice was once eaten exclusively by the Emporors of China. It is said to enrich health and ensuire longevity. Forbidden rice is known for it’s beautiful, rich, deep purple color. It has a soft texture and a slightly nutty taste. This rice is high in a class of flavonoid antioxidants called anthocyanins, which is rich in iron and considered to be a blood tonifier. A recent study also shows that a spoonful of black rice brown, or 10 spoonfuls of cooked black rice contains the same amount of antioxidants as a spoonful of fresh blueberries. How’s that for a healthy powerhouse? But, let’s not stop there…forbidden rice provides the richest nutritional value, providing higher levels of vitamins and minerals and fiber than any other bran rice, as well as a comprehensive range of amino acids, proteins, vegetable fats, and essential trace elements that are necessary for the body. It is called “tribute rice” or “longevity rice” and was reserved for the Emperors of the Ming Dynasty to ensure their good health and long life.

This rice is super easy to prepare. As I was being a bit nontraditional (shocker, I know) with mine, I ended up soaking my rice for about 30 minutes in water. And then, I got to cooking it. I turned on the stove and brought it up to a boil. Once I had the rice rocking and rolling in the boiling water, I covered the pan and lowered the heat, letting the grain cook for 30 minutes. When the rice was done, I removed it from the heat and let it sit another 10 minutes.

From there…I fluffed it with a fork and gave it a try. Because, I had to taste it before it was messed with, yes? Yes. LOVE. I would eat this rice however it was prepared. On its own, even without any seasoning, it was honestly really good. There is this great flavor to it. Yes…the rich nuttiness that they mention above is there. The rice is soft and just has this great flavor to it. Don’t let the color dissuade you. It’s amazing.

So, once I knew what it tasted like, I went and added a bit of sugar, some rice vinegar, and salt. And BAMMO! SUSHI RICE! I let it sit while I was at work and then…tonight…dinner was vegetarian sushi! Vegetarian sushi made with the Lotus Food Heirloom Forbidden Rice. It was AMAZING! The forbidden rice actually did great as the sushi rice. It held together gorgeously and really made for a pretty sushi roll. It wasn’t your standard white or brown rice roll. This gave it, not only a great flavor, but also a fantastic look on the plate. It tasted amazing. I have enough to do another two rolls as well, so this makes me super happy!

The Lotus Foods Heirloom Forbidden Rice is simply made up of black rice. It is gluten-free and wheat-free, non-GMO and vegan. It is love.

As far as nutrition goes, the Lotus Foods Heirloom Forbidden Rice is a powerhouse of nutrients and a great addition to your diet. One serving is 1/3 cup dry rice. This serving will give you 200 calories and 2 grams of fat. A serving of this amazing rice will also give you 0 mg sodium, 175 mg potassium, and 1 gram of sugar. This rice also gives you 3 grams of fiber and 6 grams of protein. Filling, tasty, and delicious. What more could you want?

I was excited that I started seeing some of the Lotus Foods products in my local grocery store. I haven’t spotted the actual rices like the Lotus Foods Heirloom Forbidden Rice, but this was certainly a great introduction to this product. And, I have Cuisine Cube to thank for it!

Vegetarian Sushi made with Lotus Foods Heirloom Forbidden Rice

February 27, 2015

Product Review: Earth’s Best Gluten Free Sweet Potato Nuggets

Product: Earth’s Best Gluten Free Sweet Potato Nuggets – $4.99+

We are all young at heart, right? Right!

At least, that’s what I’m telling myself as I sit here with a box of frozen nuggets that are geared toward, and honestly meant, for children. HA! I don’t care.

(You will note I am eating off of Wonder Woman plates so…)

You see, I’ve been craving the hell out of some vegetarian chickenless nuggets. But, sadly, the only gluten-free and vegan chickenless nuggets I have ever found…are no longer produced by that company. Which…is really too bad, because they were awesome. I wish, out of things I’ve stocked in my freezer, had I known those would stop being made, I had stocked my freezer full of them. For when that weird craving hits.

That being said, the other snowy day while cruising the aisles of Target, I started walking the refrigerator aisles. In truth, I was searching for the gluten-free Eggo waffles. Which…I know is all Monsanto, but…I kinda want to find them and try them just once. Don’t hate. They didn’t have those, but the bright blue box of Earth’s Best caught my eye. They had LOTS of great options for children, from gluten-free nuggets (real ones with the clucking chickens and all) to gluten-free French toast sticks (I need to try those too!). But the box labled “Sweet Potato Nuggets” caught my eye. I pointed to it…”Those don’t have chicken, do they?” My roommate opened up the freezer and checked. Sure enough…made from sweet potato. No chicken.

Welcome to my freezer little potato nuggets.

And as I’m marathoning (not the running kind…not right now!) Game of Thrones currently as much as possible (halfway through Season 4!), and am without my CSA bin because I was supposed to be out of town last weekend…I’m making due with what I have in my pantry, fridge, and freezer. And these were in my freezer. And as I’m trying to move more processed food out, this seemed like a good day to do this (most of what is left is easy breakfast fixings…so…be prepared for easy morning meal time!).

These are so easy to prepare. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and place all the nuggets on a pan. Cook for 15 minutes, turning the nuggets over halfway through. Let sit for a minute before serving.

I divided the entire box of Earth’s Best Gluten Free Sweet Potato Nuggets between my roomie and I as three nuggets each would not do! Nope. It’s okay though…and you’ll see why when you hit that nutrition information below. What I ended up with was a plate of food…that children will love. Me, as an adult with a more developed palate…liked these well enough. But love…nah. Not quite love. The breading is really good. It doesn’t get crispy in the oven, but it does toast up nicely. Inside the nuggets is this deliciously sweet filling that is primarily sweet potato. It’s rich and soft and just…flavorful. My roommate said that they tasted “like those nuggets you would get in TV dinners.” I didn’t eat TV dinners growing up, so I can’t vouch for that…but if I had eaten TV dinner nuggets…this is probably what they would taste like. Not bad. Just…not what I was expecting. Like I said…the little ones in your life will LOVE these. I might purchase them again if a nugget craving hits unexpectedly. Maybe.

The Earth’s Best Gluten Free Sweet Potato Nuggets are made by the Hain Celestial Group. The sweet potato filling is made from sweet potatoes, egg whites, evaporated cane syrup, rice starch, corn starch, expeller pressed canola oil, non fat milk, sea salt, organic maltodextrin, organic natural butter flavor, spices, dehydrated onion, garlic powder, vitamins & minerals. The breading around these little potato nuggets is made from dried potatoes, rice flour, salt, spices, dried garlic, dried onion, maltodextrin, natural flavors, expeller pressed canola oil and water. The batter mix is made from corn starch, yellow corn flour, rice flour, xanthan gum, and spices. That’s a lot to go into these little nuggets. I think anyway. That being said, these nuggets are gluten-free, an excellent source of Vitamin A and beta carotene, fortified with iron, zinc, and 6 B vitamins, and contain no artificial flavors or preservatives.

Let’s talk nutrition. I am a growing woman, not a child…so my roomie and I ended up splitting the entire box, which is about 18 nuggets in total. That being said, a serving size is normally 3 of these nuggets. A regular serving of Earth’s Best Gluten Free Sweet Potato Nuggets will dish up only 120 calories and 4 grams of fat. A serving will also provide 140 mg sodium and 2 grams of sugar. These nuggets are cholesterol free. A serving will also give you 1 gram of fiber and 2 grams of protein. So, not made to be super filling either.

So, overall…these were…okay. Not brilliant, but not bad either. A great way to get children to eat their veggies and get some important nutrients, for sure. Oh…and they pair well with ketchup. Just sayin’.

February 25, 2015

Product Review: Katz Gluten Free Triple Chocolate Donuts

Product: Katz Gluten Free Triple Chocolate Donuts – $6.99

I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking that I’ve been blogging a lot about chocolate things. Donuts, cookies, donut holes. And…honestly, you’d be absolutely correct. I won’t deny it. I have nothing to deny. Because, you see, I’m clearing things out. I’m making better decisions, but, for the sake of my budget and my pride, I’m going through the items I have…devouring them…then replacing them with better choices.

Hence…the massive blogging on all things…totally not good for me.

That being said, I am certainly enjoying each and every tasting thus far. Because, I won’t lie, I love donuts and cookies and all that stuff. It is no secret that I have a sweet tooth…and an addiction to all things delicious…like peanut butter.

And chocolate.

So, what better way to enjoy things like…chocolate…than tripling it?

And that’s what the amazing Katz Gluten Free does with these donuts. Katz Gluten Free, as many of you know, is one of my favorite gluten-free food providers. With a line-up of completely gluten free breads, pies, cookies, muffins, cupcakes, pastries, pizza crusts, and yes…donuts…it seems like that have a little bit of everything at a very high standard and quality. I have never not liked a Katz Gluten Free product. And, one thing I totally love about Katz Gluten Free is that they offer to send you a free sample pack of their products (you just pay shipping) so you can try out a little bit of what they have to offer. No, donuts and pies are not included, but other goodies are. Trust me…it’s worth checking out, if you haven’t already. And if you have, I believe you can order one sample pack a year…so…feel like revisiting some of Katz Gluten Free standards…reorder!

Now…where was I?

Ah yes…donuts.

Awhile back, I realized that Katz Gluten Free had put out some new donut flavors without me knowing about it. How I missed this announcement, I don’t know. So, naturally, I did what any Katz Gluten Free lover does. I ordered a box of each of them. And, since then, I have been slowly making my way through them. The new flavors are all fantastic…and the donuts, as always, are what I expect from Katz. But…you throw the words Triple Chocolate on there…and…you know you’re going to be WINNING!

The Katz Gluten Free Triple Chocolate Donuts are rich, soft, and gooey (if you warm them up for 20 seconds in the microwave like I do!). There is nothing a true chocolate lover wouldn’t like about this. The cake donut is so soft. I mean, my fork (yes…I eat donuts with a fork…I’m a princess!) sliced right through it. And it was moist and soft. Not heavy and dense…and with gluten-free baked goods, that density can be a killer. This was light and airy and just amazing. The cake had this rich chocolate decadence to it. Then, it’s topped off with a dark chocolate frosting…like a smooth ganache. And…WOW. Chocolate utopia. And then…just to add to the awesomeness of this already chocolate-y treat…chocolate chips are sprinkled over the top. Chocolate euphoria. It reminded me of the chocolate pudding cake I used to beg my mom to make for me every birthday I had. Just a chocolate lover’s dream. I mean…love in every bite. I’m sad I only have two more days before they are gone from my life. But…this one was worth saving until last.

Let’s talk about ingredients! The Katz Gluten Free Triple Chocolate Donuts are made from the Katz Gluten Free Flour Blend (tapioca starch, white rice flour, corn starch), water, palm oil, sugar, eggs, chocolate chips, confection sugar, cocoa, canola oil, baking powder, natural vanilla extract, salt, xanthan gum, agar, calcium carbonate, and calcium sulfate. These are gluten free, dairy free, and soy free.

Now…the hard part. Nutrition facts. Nutrition facts on goodies like donuts never look good when put out there. But…it does help to know what you are putting in your body. A serving of the Katz Gluten Free Triple Chocolate Donuts is 1 donut. You might be tempted to eat all 6. I know I was. But don’t. Trust me…don’t. You’ll regret it in the end. Stick with one, which…I did. One donut will provide you with 250 calories and 14 chocolate covered grams of fat. This one donut will also provide 20 mg cholesterol, 240 mg sodium, and 16 grams of sugar. It is a definite sugar-laden treat. Which is why I don’t eat these very often. And, finally, you will be devouring 1 gram of fiber and 2 grams of protein. Trust me…this donut will not make you feel full. I was ready for my snack (an apple, mind you!) at 10 a.m.

Donuts are not evil. Nope. In moderation, they make for a fantastic treat. As I don’t get donuts very often with my dietary restrictions…but when I do, I always hope that it’s a delicious treat that is worth the indulgence. Let me tell you, Katz Gluten Free always makes it worth the indulgence. Especially with these. Triple threat of triple chocolate. If I revisit any of the new flavors, the Katz Gluten Free Triple Chocolate Donuts will be my choice for sure.

February 23, 2015

Product Review: Good Girl Gluten Free Mint Slim Cookies

Product: Goodie Girl Gluten Free Mint Slim Cookies – $4.99+

I feel cheated.

This past winter, my holiday Swiss Colony catalog came in…and with it, their Gluten Free and Sugar Free catalog as well. I usually never purchase anything for myself from Swiss Colony…but I was paging through and saw these new cookies they were offering…Gluten Free Mint Slims. The photograph looked all the world like what was, once, my favorite Girl Scout Cookie – the Thin Mints.

The description in the catalog read: Refreshing mint cookies with a chocolatey coating are sure to be a family favorite!

I said, “OHMYGODGLUTENFREETHINMINTS!” And I placed an order. 12 ounces of cookies…for $19.95+tax.

*sigh*

They weren’t going to ship until January 19…so I had a bit of a wait…but one day, my beloved Swiss Colony box arrived at my office and I tore into it…finding two bags (each 6 ounces) of Mint Slims from a company called Goodie Girl Cookies.

Hmmm…

Well, regardless, I ripped into the first bag and dug in. And then shared some with a select number of people in my office. And that was that. I think it wasn’t what I was expecting to arrive. And now that I am getting around to a review (as I opened up bag #2 yesterday), I find out that these bags are available on the Good Girl Cookies Website for $4.99/bag. So, yeah…I feel a bit cheated. Not by Goodie Girl…but by Swiss Colony.

However, what is done is done. And now you have the long and rather unfortunate tale of Swiss Colony’s betrayal and cheat tactics. So, let’s get down to the Goodie Girl Gluten Free Mint Slim Cookies, shall we?

Goodie Girl Cookies is based out of Tribeca, New York, specializing in creating gluten-free cookies with surprising flavors, as well as exciting twists on cookie classics to evoke memories of childhood. Founder, Shira Berk, also a mom and native New Yorker, began her journey to create an all-natural, super-delicious line of cookies that are all gluten-free back in 2010. Her intention was to create cookies that were intended for anyone to eat, but still be accessible to the 30%-and-growing number of population who had to avoid gluten. What began in a home kitchen soon grew to be made in a kitchen incubator in Queens, then to another one in Brooklyn, until now, where Goodie Girl Cookies now produces their gluten-free cookies at a contract bakery in Long Island, New York. An interesting aspect, I would like to point out, is that neither Berk, nor anyone in her family is Celiac, gluten-intolerant, or in need of a gluten-free diet. Berk And they not only loves to bake, but has created serious buzz around these cookies.

Specifically…the Mint Slims…or their take on the infamous Thin Mint Cookie from those little Girl Scouts.

Growing up, Thin Mint Cookies were my favorite treat. And as a Girl Scout, we ordered a bunch of boxes all the time for my family. It was the only flavor of Girl Scout Cookie you would find in my house. Ever. There were no others. So, for the past three years, since going gluten-free, having to bypass the Girl Scouts at the local grocery store has been heart-wrenching. I see that green box and it’s all I want. And thanks to Goodie Girl Gluten-Free Cookies…(and for Swiss Colony for now introducing me to Goodie Girl)…they’re back in my life.

So, these aren’t perfect. The main difference being that the Girl Scout variety is coated in a rich, amazing dark chocolate. And I LOVE dark chocolate. The Goodie Girl Gluten Free Mint Slim Cookies are…coated in milk chocolate. They aren’t quite as rich and sinfully good because of this…but…they are close enough. Even the people at the office thought so. And that being said…here’s a bit more on the flavor of these cookies…

The Goodie Girl Mint Slims are crunchy, just like the Girl Scout counterpart. They have this amazing mint flavor that may rival that of the Girl Scouts for sure. The coating, for me, however, just was wrong. It didn’t have the richness that the Girl Scout Thin Mints have. But, that’s also me, who prefers dark chocolate to mint chocolate any day, so…it’s more of a personal thing than anything. Other than that…these are spot on. I had one co-worker wrinkle up her nose when I offered for her to try one, and when she did, she admitted that they tasted just like the Girl Scout Cookies. Never count a gluten-free copycat out. EVER! Sometimes…they are just as good if not better as the original. I count these as just as good. Seriously…it hits all the right notes.

The Goodie Girl Gluten Free Mint Slim Cookies are made from chocolate coating (made of sugar, palm kernel, palm oil, cocoa processed with alkali, nonfat dry milk, soy lechithin), sugar, butter, the Goodie Girl Flour Blend (white rice flour, corn starch, tapioca flour, brown rice flour, powdered milk, potato starch, and xanthan gum), cocoa, whole milk, vanilla extract, pure peppermint flavor, baking soda, and salt. They are…just the right amount of wrong. In a good way. A very rock ‘n roll way.

As for nutriton, let’s keep in mind that these are cookies, shall we? The Goodie Girl Gluten Free Mint Slim Cookies come in a serving of 2 cookies (with 6 servings per bag). Each serving will give you 160 calories and 9 grams of fat. These two cookies will also provide you with 10 mg cholesterol, 35 mg sodium, and 12 grams of sugar. These cookies also provide 1 gram of fiber and 1 gram of protein, meaning they make a perfect non-filling dessert or snack. Granted, with Girl Scout cookies you get to eat 4 cookies for almost a perfect match in the nutrition area…but beggars can’t be choosers, can we? I just think the Girl Scout cookies are a bit thinner, maybe less dense on the filling as, weight-wise, a serving of 2 Goodie Girl Mint Slims is 30 grams and 4 Thin Mints from the Girl Scouts is 32 grams. Light bulb!

If you are a gluten-free cookie monster…er…lover…like me, and if you have been missing those Girl Scout Cookies something fierce, I urge you to hop over to the Goody Girl Web site (not Swiss Colony!) and place an order for the Mint Slims…stat. Trust me…you won’t regret it. You’ll never regret cookies. Especially these.

February 23, 2015

Product Review: Sonny Marie’s Gluten Free Chocolate Glazed Donut Holes

Product: Sonny Marie’s Gluten Free Chocolate Glazed Donut Holes – $5.99+

It was a long journey home that day from an afternoon event in Dayton, Ohio. But, if there is one thing there is always time for, it is a stop into Foodie Heaven (aka: Jungle Jim’s) on the way through Cincinnati, Ohio. This is one of the most impressive stores you will ever enter. And you will leave a changed foodie, for sure.

One thing I will hand to Jungle Jim’s…they carry some gluten free products, on shelves and in the freezer, that I haven’t seen anywhere else. Reason for that – they are often from local Ohio companies. Love seeing a business help out the little local ones. For sure.

And, for some reason, that very afternoon, I really, really, really needed to have donut holes in my freezer at home. I didn’t know this, mind you, until I strolled past the gluten-free freezer area in Jungle Jim’s and saw the little plastic cup that was piled high with the little chocolate balls of cake donut goodness. Oh…I had to have them. So…I bought them. Even though I was doing everything in my power to not purchase items (such as snacks and donuts) on that trip…it happened regardless. And they made it home and into my freezer…where they remained.

Until this morning.

You see, I’m having a rough weekend. This is not me being a drama queen. I really am. I was supposed to be in Birmingham, Alabama, with good friends of mine, participating in the Mercedes Marathon Weekend. I knew a few running the half marathon and I was running the full with my training partner, Matthew. Except winter storms blew through, and while everyone else risked the roads and the weather, I stayed put. I missed seeing my nephew run in the Kid’s Marathon on Saturday (which meant more to me than anything else), and I’ve just been down and out all weekend. Seeing my friend’s Facebook feed flooded with pictures of the event hasn’t helped with my mood either.

So it was totally a donut kind of a morning. And lucky for me…I had a cup full of Sonny Marie’s Gluten Free Chocolate Glazed Donut Holes.

The world might be safe from me yet today…

Sonny Marie’s was created by Christine Coleman, whose son, Danny, was diagnosed with Celiac Disease at the age of 11. This brought about drastic changes to the family’s lifestyle as they chose to join Danny in his fight against gluten. It was hard for Coleman to see her son missing out on pizza, cake, donuts and all the other goodies his friends were sharing, which is what inspired her to develop her own donut recipe, so delicious, that even Danny wouldn’t know the difference. And she crushed it. Since then, Coleman has worked on expanding on their line of gluten-free products to help others have that “I can’t believe it’s gluten free” moment and not be deprived of the joy of food.

For me…the joy of food this morning was inside this little plastic cup that held 10 little glazed chocolate donut holes. That, my friends, was bliss this morning.

The Sonny Marie’s Gluten Free Glazed Chocolate Donut Holes are…exactly…as I remember the chocolate glazed Munchkins from Dunkin’ Donuts to taste. I used to eat the hell out of those, so when I pulled half of these out for me and half for my roommate, I was already feeling better. They were the perfect size (no skimping) and felt like the perfect density. After spilling coffee on myself…I returned to finally dig in…

Without even a warmup in the microwave (I let them thaw overnight to get to room temperature), I was hooked with one bite. Yes…one bite. First of all…the cake donut was the perfect consistency. Not heavy and dense. Not light either. But cakey through-and-through. So many gluten-free cake donuts are heavy and intimidating…not these. Not one bit. The chocolate flavor was rich and delicious and the glaze was melt-in-your-mouth perfection. Seriously. Perfection. I was sad I only had 5 of these to devour. I probably could have eaten the whole cup on a morning like today. Good thing I have friends who help keep me from over-indulging on treats. Oh, but these were so good. Mighty tasty. I didn’t even care that my breakfast was mostly sweetness and sugar…and then…I still didn’t care. Chocolate is a girl’s best friend on days like today…and this one just comforted me. For the moments of breakfast…I was content. I even licked the glaze off my fingers when I was done. Good to the very last bite.

Sonny Marie’s Gluten Free Chocolate Glazed Donuts are produced in her Coleman’s home. It is even labeled as such. That being said, they are made in a facility that uses peanuts and pecans, so if you have a hyperactive nut allergy…these might not be for you. Nuts are one of the few things I happen to not be allergic to.

The Sonny Marie’s Gluten Free Chocolate Glazed Donuts are made from sugar, rice drink, molasses, white flour, mechanically pressed organic palm oil, egg, potato starch, cocoa, tapioca flour, sweet rice flour, baking powder, vanilla bean extractives in water, alcohol (35%) salt, apple cider vinegar, xanthan gum, and cinnamon.

As these are produced at home, I cannot give you nutritional information as none is provided on the packaging. But, I’d say close to what the Chocolate Glazed Munchkin’s run at Dunkin’ Donuts. Give or take a few calories and fat. Hey…they’re donuts. Indulge or don’t.

My theory in life is…every now and again, you have to treat yourself. I was having a bad morning…so, I treated myself. I don’t eat donuts or donut holes every day…but these were beyond worth the splurge. Sonny Marie’s products are available in many local shops in and around the Cincinnati area, including Jungle Jim’s. Make the journey…because these are totally worth eating. I wish I had purchased another cup of them.

WOW!

February 22, 2015

Product Review: CraveRight Gluten Free Jumbo Sesame Crunch Cookie

CraveRight Gluten Free Sesame Crunch Cookie

Product: CraveRight Gluten Free Jumbo Sesame Crunch Cookie – $3.99

I was so lucky this past Christmas, to be given one of my favorite gifts – a $50 Whole Foods Gift Card. I vowed to only purchase products I have been meaning to try and just haven’t been able to “justify” for my tight weekly budget. So, soon after the New Year passed, I decided to do a first round of product sweeping.

Now, naturally gluten free foods (fruits and veggies) I get delivered to my door. Unless I have cancelled my CSA bin that week, I am pretty set on those. And while I am doing much more clean eating these days, I decided to venture over to all those snack foods that are what all gluten-free people get stuck with. Cookies, chips, candy…

Whoever said eating gluten-free will make you lose weight has never walked through the gluten-free sections of their local grocery or natural food stores. Just sayin’.

And with that being said…we also know that the women in my family have quite the sweet tooth. Oh yes…we all do come by it honestly. And while for some people it’s cakes and cupcakes that they want…for me, it’s always been the simple, yet ultimately delicious…COOKIE. Call me cookie monster, because I love cookies. All types of cookies. I have my favorites, sure, but…cookies are my kryptonite.

Well, there I was, perusing the aisles I had been skipping whenever in Whole Foods, when the giant cookies near the bottom shelf sort of just…sang to me. It was a brand I was unfamiliar with – CraveRight. So, I leaned down and picked one up…noting that these were not just gluten free, but also dairy free, soy free, egg free, nut free, and corn free. They used no flours or starches, and actually was billing itself as a “natural meal replacement.” Really? A cookie? There were three flavors of the jumbo cookies – Sesame Crunch, Chocolate Chunk, and Brownie Chocolate Chunk. Next to them were cookie packs of the same cookies, smaller scale, more inside. My roommate said, “get one of the big ones…just in case we don’t like them.” Okay…good point. I was all set for that Brownie Chocolate Chunk and I somehow let her talk me into the Sesame Crunch. “You don’t often see sesame cookies!” That was her thoughts on that matter. And…I went along with it. And this CraveRight Gluten Free Jumbo Sesame Crunch Cookie…made it home with me.

CraveRight was created in 2009, creating “crave-worthy cookies that don’t sabotage wellness goals but reinforce them.” Tired of seeing so-called “healthy snacks” that weren’t really that good for you being sold on the market – many of which could not be eaten by people with food allergies and intolerances, and the taste all wrong – Roya S. came up with the idea of creating delicious, healthy treats – specifically their specialty – their 100% vegan, gluten-free, and nut-free cookies. All of the cookies are baked and prepared in a dedicated gluten-free and nut-free facility so cross-contamination is not a problem. CraveRight cookies are baked up being packaed with antioxidants and essential amino acids. Not only that, they are proud that their cookies contain no empty-calorie ingredients – no flours, starches or fillers. The CraveRight cookies are rich in iron and calcium, and low in sodium as well. And, the company sources their ingredients from nearby, making sure that the ingredients are minimally processed (without chemicals) and made with only the finest of ingredients, free of contaminants.

Which, all sounds really good on paper, right? But how do they taste?

I can only vouch for the CraveRight Gluten Free Jumbo Sesame Crunch Cookie…which I split with my roommate last night for dessert. You know, I was having a bad day…I just ate an amazing comfort food dinner and was all set for dessert. I grabbed the CraveRight Gluten Free Jumbo Sesame Crunch Cookie off my counter and declared it to be dessert. If anything could make me feel better, it would be a cookie, right?

So, as is typical with huge cookies…I cut it in half and gave one side to my roommate while claiming the other for myself. I climbed back onto the couch, restarted the episode of Game of Thrones I was watching, and took my first bite.

And I think my nose wrinkled up a little bit. But it was only one bite. Maybe my palate just needed cleansing. So, I gave it another taste. Nope. This was not a cookie I was enjoying. The CraveRight Gluten Free Jumbo Sesame Crunch Cookie was everything I didn’t like about a cookie. The texture was crumbly. I’m fine with a bit of crunch on my cookie, but I don’t want it to crumble when I try to eat it. I have no kitchen or dining room table in my apartment, and I don’t want to have to vacuum my couch after dessert, thank you very much. The flavor lacked sweetness. I mean, regardless of whether a cookie is billed as a “healthy meal replacement” or not, I want it to taste like a cookie. And this didn’t. It tasted like…a snack. Like those savory sesame sticks that were put into snack mixes and most people skipped eating. I think I was expecting something like a sunbutter cookie…a little more richness and depth of flavor, but that’s not what I got at all. They were bland and rather…tasteless. That bit of sesame came through in the end, but that’s about all I can say about that. It was not a winning cookie in my book, and we know I eat lots of cookies. The part near the middle was slightly chewy, but everything else was just…wrong. I wasn’t a fan at all.

Neither was my roomie.

As far as what goes into the CraveRight Gluten Free Jumbo Sesame Crunch Cookies…it seems rather basic. So…that is good. These cookies are made from sesame seeds, palm shortening, demerara sugar, tahini, sesame powder, water, chicory extract, flax meal, baking soda, baking powder, and sea salt. Not actually a bad list of ingredients.

It’s just too bad they didn’t come together to form a cohesively delicious cookie.

Since the CraveRight Gluten Free Sesame Crunch Cookie is billed as a “natural meal replacement” and carries the sentiment “Crave One. Eat Two.” on each package, let’s really focus for a moment on these nutritional facts. A serving size of the CraveRight Gluten Free Jumbo Sesame Crunch Cookie is 1/2 of the cookie. Yes…half. This half will deliver 170 calories and 13 grams of fat. These cookies are cholesterol free, have only 90 mg sodium per serving and only 5 grams of sugar. One serving will also give you 3 grams of fiber and 6 grams of protein. I still don’t think I’d eat a cookie instead of my dinner though. Just sayin’.

So, color me unimpressed and highly disappointed. I was not at all craving another bite of the CraveRight Gluten Free Sesame Crunch Cookie. In fact, it was a struggle just to get the half I had finished. It wasn’t what I wanted in a cookie at all, “healthy” or not. Beyond disappointed. I felt cheated out of my dessert last night.

You win some, you lose some.

CraveRight Gluten Free Jumbo Sesame Crunch Cookie

February 20, 2015

Product Review: Element Dark Chocolate Rice Cakes

Product: Element Dark Chocolate Rice Cakes – $1.99+

It came inside the New Year 2015 (aka: January Cube) Cuisine Cube. It is the height of New Year’s Resolutions and it seemed that that box, in particular, was aimed at new beginnings and healthier choices. God, I love that theme. Because I love making healthier decisions about things I do and what I eat. Granted, I do treat myself here and there, but that’s not only human…that’s normal. But with the theme of New Year Resolutions in January, a lot of what was inside was on the healthier side. Love it. Yes…even dessert.

But…I’m jumping ahead. Because first I need to tell you a thing of two about Cuisine Cube! Cuisine Cube is a subscription service that brings a surprise to your doorstep each month. This unassuming brown box arrives and is packed with an assortment of hand-picked gluten-free goodies, featuring imported and local goods, from smaller artisan companies…rather than the larger gluten-free corporations you find on every grocers shelves these days. You will receive treats for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack, dessert…and sometimes…an added bonus. Each month you receive a themed cube of some sort, with only gluten-free items inside. Love it! Subscriptions start as low as $29.99. And, trust me, you’ll wonder what you did before it was in your life.

January = Healthy Life Healthy You…New Year…New Start…so…let’s get healthy, yes? YES!! I stand 100% behind this theme.

Well, what says healthy dessert like…rice cakes? Right? Yes? Excited? No? Why not? You should be. Because in the January Cuisine Cube, I found my dessert choice to be Element Dark Chocolate Rice Cakes. Yep. Dark chocolate covered rice cakes. Now…does that sound a little more like dessert? Yeah…I thought so.

If not…stay with me…

Element Snacks was created by Nadia and Fred, both of whom hail from Europe (Nadia from Italy and Fred from Sweden). They both grew up on real food, no Twinkies or Kool-aid. They believe in feeling great and nurturing our bodies and minds at the same time. They also believe that food should be simple…yet flavorful. It doesn’t mean we have to be 100% all the time. We’re human. But, we can control what we splurge on, and if something tastes like a treat, but carries some healthy benefits with it…well…added bonus.

Enter…Element Dark Chocolate Rice Cakes. These are just what they sound like, rice cakes, made from non-GMO Italian rice, that are coated with premium Italian Chocolate. Everything in this treat is naturally nutritious and good for you. These chocolate coated snack cakes are gluten-free, vegan, contain no hydrogenated oils, no trans fats, no high fructose corn syrup, no yeast, no preservatives and are non-GMO. Oh yeah…loving every word of that, how about you?

So, it all sounds good in theory, yes? But how is it really?

AMAZING!! Yes…I know, I am the girl who gets excited about rice cakes…but even Cathy (the roomie!) liked this one. The rice cake tastes savory, without any salt. But it is that layer of chocolate that just makes these explode with flavor. Cathy said, “drizzle dark chocolate on anything…” HAHA!! Truth. These are so amazing. Delicious. Nutritious. And YUM!! Dark chocolate only sweetenes the deal. SOLD! I only wish I had more.

Let’s talk ingredients. It doesn’t get more simple than this. The Element Dark Chocolate Rice Cakes are made from 60% dark chocolate, 40% rice cakes (wholegrain brown rice, rice). Yep. That’s it. That easy. Real ingredients. Real food.

How about nutrition? Well, a serving of Element Dark Chocolate Rice Cakes is 1 rice cake. This one chocolate coated delight will serve up 80 calories and 4 grams of fat. This one rice cake will provide you with 20 mg sodium and 5 grams of sugar. Love that. They are cholesterol free. And, finally, you will be taking in 1 gram of fiber and 1 gram of protein. So, these won’t fill you up, but you will have the sweet and savory taste to leave you feeling fulfilled.

I give huge kudos to Element Snacks and to Cuisine Cube for these delightful, and surprisingly delicious treats. As a known lover of rice cakes, this just took them to the next level. I think I’m in love. With a healthy dessert. We all win.

February 20, 2015February 20, 2015

Product Review: Danny Macaroons Plain & Chocolate Macaroons

Product: Danny Macaroons Plain & Chocolate Macaroons – $8.50+

Ah…the battle is real. Me…versus coconut. I sometimes love it. I sometimes hate it. It is all in the context of how it is utilized in whatever it is I am eating. Which means…I have this charming love/hate relationship with anything coconut. And that’s how it is. I will either love it…or hate it.

For me, a lot of where coconut goes wrong is the texture. Some people are okay with it…but if it isn’t baked into something enough, coconut can sort of taste like…your chewing dead bugs. Not that I’ve ever made a habit of chewing dead bugs…that’s just the mouthfeel I get from raw coconut. Or…at times…things with coconut on/in them.

So…enter my latest dessert challenge from Cuisine Cube!

Before I go any further…let me introduce, or for some of you, reacquaint you with Cuisine Cube. Cuisine Cube is a gluten-free subscription box that specializes in pantry and meal items. This is actually a very nice change of pace from other subscription boxes, as those tend to be more snack oriented. With Cuisine Cube, you get 5-6 items in each box…always a breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack, and dessert item. And…at times…a bonus! And we all love bonuses, right? Subscriptions start at $29.99…so head over to their site and check them out. You’ll be glad you did.

I haven’t looked back yet! Loving my monthly box of surprise goodies.

This most recent Cuisine Cube, the Happy V-Day 2015 (aka: February) cube, had a lot to offer. But, naturally, I went straight for dessert. Because…sweet tooth. Hello! And this month, the dessert was brought to us by a local New York City bakery known for…macaroons!! I’m talking about Danny Macaroons, which has been featured in Food & Wine Magazine, ABC News, The Chicago Tribune, Serious Eats, the New York Post, and more! They are the premier coconut macaroon producer in New York City, proud of their “super delicious, gourmet, handmade coconut macaroons.” In fact, Danny Macaroons offers over 45 flavors, so there is bound to be something for someone…even coconut lovers/haters like me.

And they might be right.

This week, with all the snow and sub-zero, my original plan to make my own dairy free ice cream…or raid the two items of dairy free ice cream I have in my freezer…went out the door. Trust me…I can eat ice cream anytime…but…I was cold. Just cold. So I wanted something…not cold. That being said…I went to the pantry and went through items that I had that would make a good dessert. I had a few cookie options, so I went ahead and snagged the little container of four macaroons that came in my recent Cuisine Cube. I’m not the biggest lover of macaroons…but some have won me over. So, it was worth the try. I asked my roomie if she wanted to do the chocolate or the plain ones first. To my surprise, she said chocolate. I figured chocolate would be winning…and said I would have done it the other way around…but went with her decision.

Round 1: Danny Macaroons Chocolate Macaroon – Oh…this was good. This was damn good. While it had that weird coconut texture, I was able to overlook it because of the delicious chocolate. It was decadent and light and fluffy…and just…amazing. The right hit of sweetness from the chocolate and a bit from the toasted coconut. It was soft and made to perfection. I was in love.

Round 2: Danny Macaroons Plain Macaroons – Okay…so this one fell flat for me…and here’s why. It was too much coconut. Yep. Too much. Flavor. Texture. Nothing to really cut it. It was toasted to perfection and light and amazing…but the coconut just took over. And, while I get that macaroons are coconut…it was just too much for me.

So…you win one…you lose one. How’s that?

Danny Macaroons Plain & Chocolate Macaroons are made from sweetened coconut, sweetened condensed milk, chocolate, egg whites, pure bourbon vanilla extract, and salt.

This package did not have any of the nutritional information…but…they are a dessert treat. Treat it as such. Take one now…save the rest for later. BAH…who am I to tell you how to eat your treats?! Right?! What works for me doesn’t work for the macaroon lover who scarfed all four in one sitting. And that’s okay. It is, after all, a sweet treat!

Seriously, if coconut and macaroons are your thing, then you will absolutely fall in love with Danny Macaroons. Honestly, when it comes to the macaroons I have tried…these have been some of the best. Despite the handicap of my love/hate relationship with coconut, they still acted as a fantastic, light dessert after two meals this week. I think if you’re looking for a healthy, coconutty treat…these are for you. And with all the flavors on their site…what’s not to love. Next time…I hope I get Salted Caramel. That being said, this wasn’t a complete flop. Coconut lovers will flock to these…so Cuisine Cube totally has that down in this dessert option. For people like me…well…it wasn’t a throw away for sure. In fact, I actually really enjoyed the chocolate one. Just goes to show…everything is better with chocolate.

February 20, 2015

Product Review: Van’s Gluten Free Blueberry Walnut Soft Baked Whole Grain Granola Clusters

Product: Van’s Gluten Free Blueberry Walnut Soft Baked Whole Grain Granola Clusters – $3.99+

I. HEART. VAN’S.

Honestly…best gluten-free waffles you can find in the freezer section of the grocery store. For real. Best gluten-free French toast sticks too. Some of the best boxed gluten-free pasta meals. Amazing gluten-free crackers. Yes…Van’s has impressed me each and every time they have put out a product for the gluten-free market.

I won’t lie. I have a bit of a Celiac crush on them.

Shhhh.

So, this past week, I was out and about at Target, spending all my money on all the seasons of Game of Thrones (my newest obsession!) on Blu-ray, when it occured to me that my roomie and I didn’t have any gluten-free granola in the house. Considering at least twice a week I make delicious breakfast parfaits that require said granola, this had to be fixed. And, wouldn’t you know it, Target recently started carrying a good amount of gluten-free breakfast things. Technical term…things. So, the two of us meandered over to the grocery section to see if we spotted anything we liked.

Our eyes immediately went to the KIND brand and we snagged a bag of it and then prepared to move on. But my wandering eyes spotted something else. Van’s…granola?! What was this? I didn’t even know that existed. I didn’t know it was out in the wild! And now I really, really wanted to try it. Why? Because Van’s Gluten-Free = OMGYUMMY!

So, without any hesitation, the pack of KIND granola we settled on was back in place and the bag marked NEW carrying that infamous red flag that reads: VAN’S…now made its way into our little shopping basket. Game of Thrones…granola. Do we know how to party or what?!

So, one morning this week, I got everything geared up to make big, big breakfast parfaits. I had the new granola to try…I had kiwi fruit from my CSA bin…I had Greek yogurt. So…the assembly began…but not without me first sneaking a taste of the granola.

Bad idea.

Very, very, very bad idea.

Because one taste of the Van’s Gluten Free Blueberry Walnut Soft Baked Whole Grain Granola Clusters and I was beyond hooked. Holy Moses and the Gluten Free Gods! I mean…think of the most fantastic Rice Krispies treat you have ever had…then multiply it by at least ten. Maybe more. This soft baked granola is exactly what that tastes like. Trust me. I used to devour Rice Krispies treats whenever possible. This is a little bit sticky, very soft and chewy, packed with sweetness, with a hit of the dried fruit and the savory nuts to bring it balance and amazing texture. I wanted to eat the entire bag and not share. Not even put it in a parfait. It was sheer perfection the way it was…straight out of the bag. So much love. One big gooey clump of granola…one very happy Celiathlete. Beyond amazed. Beyond impressed. Simply put…I was blown away. This is one of the only granola I now will have in my pantry.

One of those reasons is how much Van’s actually cares about what they put into their products. And the Van’s Gluten Free Blueberry Walnut Soft Baked Whole Grain Granola Clusters are no exception. They even put on their label: “Ingredients: (That we are proud of!)”. WINNING! So, what goes into the Blueberry Walnut Soft Baked Granola Clusters? Glad you asked! This granola is comprised of gluten-free whole grain oats, brown rice syrup, walnuts, invert cane syrup, non-GMO expeller pressed canola oil, dried blueberries, cane sugar, unsweetened coconut, honey, flax seed, gluten free oat bran, almonds, vanilla extract, sea salt, and mixed tocopherols for freshness. They are gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free, cholesterol-free, kosher, made with whole grains, and contain no artificial flavors or colors.

As far as nutrition goes…loving the stats on the Van’s Gluten Free Blueberry Walnut Soft Baked Whole Grain Granola Clusters. One serving is actually a whopping 1/3 cup. In this serving, you will be taking in 130 calories and 5 grans of fat. You will also be provided with 30 mg sodium and only 6 grams of sugar. This serving will also dish up 2 grans of fiber and 2 grams of protein.

And, trust me…you’ll just eat it straight out of the bag. You won’t want to stop. You’ll wish you had dished out a portion size. And then you won’t care. Because…just wow!! WOW!! Another winner in the Van’s Gluten Free product line up. I’m going back for more of this granola this week. Because, yeah, we polished it.

February 17, 2015February 17, 2015

Product Review: Dear Coco Peppermint Hot Chocolate Spoon

Product: Dear Coco Polar Peppermint Hot Chocolate Spoon – $4.50

Oh, the weather outside is frightful. No…really…it is. For the first time all year, we actually have snow accumulation here. And I’m kind of unhappy about it. While I do love the snow…I don’t like being out in the snow. That being said, my roomie and I braved the slick and unplowed streets to go into work, only to be sent home just before lunch.

And, for some reason, I decided that it would be totally awesome to plant myself in the snow and make a snow angel at my apartment. Snow…down my shirt and jeans. Makes for one very cold Celiathlete! Trust me. My roomie, however, found this incredibly amusing. Go figure.

I think, perhaps, Cuisine Cube knew that winter had one last blow to deal us. Because inside my February 2015 (Happy V-Day 2015) Cube, was one of the most interesting and exciting products ever. It was a bonus item. A beverage. And, as many of us know, Cuisine Cube ships a box off each month to your doorstep that has 5-6 items in it. A breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack and dessert…always. But this time…there was a beverage slot to fill. Cuisine Cube is a subscription service where these amazing gluten-free products from lesser-known, smaller artisan companies make there way to you via the mail once a month. The service starts at $29.99…and it is totally worth the investment. I have fallen in love with this service. You will too, if you give it a try.

So…February…snow…beverage…

Cuisine Cube introduced me to Dear Coco. Dear Coco is a boutique artisan chocolatier specializing in innovative small batch chocolates, which are handcrafted in Maryland and designed to transport around the world. The company, Dear Coco, says that each of their chocolate sis a journey and they invite everyone to explore every destination, whether familiar, exotic, or unexpected. By that, they mean they have a variety of different flavors of chocolates that you are sure to find something that entices and delights your taste buds.

In this particular cube, I had a Dear Coco Polar Peppermint Hot Chocolate Spoon. The idea behind these little treats is that you can enjoy a decadent and gourmet hot chocolate in minutes, complete with a fluffy (and vegan) marshmallow already inside. These Hot Chocolate Spoons are created with handcrafted dark chocolate ganache topped with a vegan marshmallow and dipped in premium tempered Belgian dark chocolate. The gist is…you warm up your milk (be it dairy or not…for me…almond milk) in the microwave and then place the hot chocolate spoon into the hot chocolate and stir until it is completely melted.

I didn’t do this, however. My roommate wanted to try it as well so we just ate it without making it into hot chocolate. We had hot chocolate with it…but we devoured the spoon it it’s original form…as a dark chocolate coated vegan marshmallow.

It was AMAZING. So, now I feel the need to order more of these so I can actually make it into hot chocolate as it was intended. But, without allowing it to melt into beverage form…this was one amazing treat. The chocolate was dark and rich and really high quality…no extreme bitterness. The marshmallow was melt-in-your-mouth good. And the peppermint flavor in the Dear Coco Polar Peppermint Hot Chocolate Spoon didn’t overpower or overwhelm, but rather complimented the entire treat. I need more of these…stat.

The Dear Coco Polar Peppermint Hot Chocolate Spoon is made from premium Belgian dark chocolate, non-GMO vegan butter, organic brown rice syrup, pure peppermint extract, vegan marshmallow, salt, dried mint leaves. These are vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, kosher, contain no corn syrup, no trans fat, no preservatives and no food colors. LOVE IT. They come in three different flavors: Polar Peppermint, German Gingersnap, and Belgian Double Chocolate.

I don’t know about nutritional information as none is listed on the packaging or the Web site…but it is super delicious and made from real and high quality ingredients. And…who cares. It’s hot. It’s chocolate. It has a vegan marshmallow. We all win.

I really loved having a beverage option in my Valentine’s Day Cube from Cuisine Cube. It was a super nice change and a great surprise to open up and find. I sort of wish I had used it as intended, but that’s why they are available for order on the Web site. Regardless, the Dear Coco Polar Peppermint Hot Chocolate Spoon was a decadent and sweet treat to savor on a cold, snowy afternoon. And I am now planning my order because now I really want to just use these as hot chocolate. I mean…dark chocolate…hot chocolate…vegan marshmallow…dairy-free goodness.

Yep…I’m completely enamored. LOVE!