When it comes to gluten-free pastas…I’ve pretty much tried them all. Made with beans, made with rice, made with corn, made with lentils, made with potato…yeah…there is very little about gluten-free pasta that I haven’t tried. Sure, there are some brands that I still need to explore…but my budget says “NO” for the moment, as they are quite pricey.
However, some pricier gluten-free pastas are worth it. I discovered BiAglut while at a Gluten Free Expo in Carmel, Indiana about three years ago. I was a newbie to the gluten-free world and this nice couple had a booth and totally won me over on this pasta. Seriously…they sold me from first bite. I was in love.
Problem…BiAglut is not available in any stores around my area. BOOOOO!!
I have since found it twice…once at foodie heaven (aka: Jungle Jim’s) up in Cincinnati and also at The Raisin Rack in Columbus, Ohio. None of which are technically near me, but they are places I visit…and therefore, if the budget has some wiggle room, I can splurge a little on pasta.
Because…I have always been and will always be a lover of pasta. Even if it is gluten-free pasta.
That being said…no one would ever guess the Tagliatelle (or any other gluten-free pasta made by BiAglut) is gluten-free if you didn’t tell them. It is some of the most fantastic gluten-free pasta on the market. Why? Because it is 100% Italian. Produced in Italy and made by Italians. The company began in 1964, wanting to fulfill the needs of main customers and individuals with Celiac disease and gluten intolerance, who needed to follow a gluten-free diet. The brand offers a unique and full line of gluten-free products ranging from pasta to breads and bread substitutes, flours, cookies, crackers, snacks and desserts. Fifty years later…still going strong and still producing high quality products for the gluten-free communities.
So…back to me being a lover of pasta. I hate pasta that turns to mush after it is cooked. I hate pasta that doesn’t taste like pasta. And when you do gluten-free…it is hard to find one that really satisfies everything you used to love about regular pasta (if you were ever lucky enough to have that…and I was).
Enter BiAglut. Seriously…there is no comparison out there on the market. I have yet to have a gluten-free pasta best this one. And while I have had a few different varieties of BiAglut pasta…last night, I cooked up the Tagliatelle in a low fat and low calorie cauliflower alfredo sauce. And it was amazing.
BiAglut Pasta Mia Tagliatelle pasta nests
This pasta is not only hearty and delicious, it is also easy to prepare. The BiAglut Pasta Mia Tagliatelle comes in nests. There are 7 nests to a package. A serving is 2 nests. I find that to be a lot of pasta so, my roommate and I split three nets between the two of us. It was perfect. And prep is simple. Boil water with salt and drop in the nests of pasta for about 6-8 minutes. Then…BAM…done. Noodles are cooked to a perfect al dente. Then I just warmed up the alfredo I made from fresh cauliflower…stirred in the noodles and dinner is served.
LOVE. So much love!! The noodles hold up, even to a “creamy” sauce. They don’t turn to mush and they stay in the long, thick ribbons that they are supposed to be. In other words…pasta perfection. These noodles were the perfect compliment to the creamy and healthy alfredo that I made. And it made for a balanced and delicious and filling dinner in the end. So much love for these noodles. Easy to prepare. Perfect in the dish. I can’t say enough good things. Every time I revisit BiAglut for a pasta noodle, I continue to remember why I am willing to overspend my budget for their noodles. Amazing…every time.
Let’s talk ingredients! The BiAglut Pasta Mia Tagliatelle is made from cornstarch, tapioca starch, eggs, milk proteins, carrot pulp, carob seed flour, and salt. That’s it. Love it. It is gluten-free and wheat free.
As for nutrition, this pasta is amazing. A serving size is 2 nests of noodles. This serving gives you 250 calories and 2 grams of fat. This serving will also provide you with 100 mg cholesterol, 160 mg sodium, and 1 gram of sugar. One serving will also dish up 2 grams of fiber and 8 amazing grams of protein. I told you…it doesn’t look like a lot…but it will fill you up.
Whenever it comes to making room in the pantry for a gluten-free pasta, it will always be BiAglut Pasta Mia for me. A new favorite…the Tagliatelle. I’m hooked. And I am loving it.
BiAglut Pasta Mia Tagliatelle in a Cauliflower Alfredo Sauce
Product: Kitchen Table Bakers Parmesan Mini Crisps – $4.99+
The pantry is being hit up hard this month, and this is only a good thing, my friends. This means I’m finally not dragging my feet anymore and attempting to clear things out that I’ve been ignoring over time. When I get busy…things get pushed further and further to the back and I get lazy and just put things in front of it and grab for that stuff first. I’m human…it happens.
But I’m making a total effort in my attempt to reorganize my home…my kitchen…my life…and my schedule…to get the older stuff out and make some room on these shelves. I’m also using more fresh produce, so sometimes the boxed and packaged stuff just falls to the wayside.
But, I’ve been making a concerted effort to combine the packaged items I’ve been ignoring with the fresh produce I get from my local CSA. It’s a good way to compromise. And this past week, my roommate and I have eaten dinner at home every night, packed up healthy lunches and snacks, and incorporated fresh produce into healthy breakfast options to eat while busy and on-the-go. And it’s been awesome and amazing. And even though it was tempting to say, “Screw this, I’m going to Shalimar for some Indian food!” tonight…we didn’t. We came home. I got out some items and I used the last of last week’s produce to create…dinner.
Awhile back I made Crispy Broccoli, and homage to Red Lobster’s Fried Calamari appetizer that is served with amazing fried broccoli and red peppers. When I had to go gluten-free…the fried plate of deliciously bad for me things was off the plate. I used another product in my pantry when I made this the first time. And yes, much like this time around, it was a Cuisine Cube item.
Cuisine Cube, as I am sure all of you are aware by now (but if not…pay attention!), is a great service that provides amazing gluten-free products from small, artisan, and lesser-known companies, delivering them right to your door each month. You get 5-6 items in each cube (breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack, dessert…and sometimes…a bonus). They scour the gluten-free foodie world finding the highest quality, not-found-in-the-grocery-store products to send to you to try. I have found so many amazing products I never would have known about because of Cuisine Cube. Even better, plans start as low as $29.99 a month. If you haven’t checked them out yet…hop over to their site and do so. You will not regret it.
In my November (Thanksgiving 2014) Cube, I had a package of Kitchen Table Bakers Parmesan Mini Crisps. And yes…these little crisps are just what they sound like – little discs that are made entirely of aged Parmesan cheese. Oh…that peeked your interest, didn’t it? It certainly grabbed my roommate’s attention…because she is a cheese fanatic. So, a snack chip that is made only of cheese…that’s her dream come true!
Kitchen Table Bakers was created by Barry Novick, who at the age of 55, left his every day job as a hospital administrator and began to learn the ins and outs of starting his own business. With a lot of help and encouragement, he set out to make these little wafer crisps made completely of cheese, just like the ones they began making in their own kitchen. The first All Parmesan Gourmet Wafer Crisp was created in the summer of 2003, and soon they were in such demand that larger batches had to be made. Their goal, since beginning the business, was to create a gourmet product that would satisfy even the most discerning palate while meeting diverse nutritional requirements. They are always careful to use only the highest quality of aged cheeses and seasonings. The wafer crisps can stand on their own, be used as a chip for dipping, as a base for a canapé or with a fine glass of wine. Even those this endeavor has moved beyond their own humble kitchen, they believe in keeping the integrity of their products to reflect the true beginnings of the company.
Kitchen Table Bakers Parmesan Mini Crisps are little wafer crisps made out of aged Parmesan cheese…with each crisp being about the size of a quarter. They (as with all of Kitchen Table Bakers products) are wheat free, gluten free, trans fat free, sugar free, rich in calcium and protein, and naturally low in calories and carbs. I was using mine as a coating for broccoli which I was going to crisp up in the oven. But, I naturally had to try one of the crisps on their own. One bite…and I kind of felt bad crushing these up in a food processor…because it reminded me of that crispy edge of cheese you’d get on pizzas. I mean…exactly in taste. It was one of the most amazing snacks I ever popped into my mouth. Rich, buttery, seasoned to ignite each and every taste bud on my tongue. These little crisps were just…fantastic. And, being that they were made completely of cheese, I wasn’t sure how they would work as a coating for my broccoli…whether I would get that crispy effect or whether I would just have a cheesy mess. But there was only one way to find out. So…I ground them up, coated the vegetables, and let it all bake.
They did not become that much of a cheesy mess. But it did layer on this crispy, amazing layer of flavor to every bite of broccoli or red pepper. Seriously…it was amazing. The Kitchen Table Bakers Parmesan Mini Crisps were fantastic. Next time…I’m just keeping them as a snack and not re-purposing them. SO rich and delightful. Like eating a bit of the best part of the pizza in each bite. I was beyond blown away. Cruncy, caramelized goodness, but also very light and flakey. It was the perfect bite…all in one little cheesy wafer.
The Kitchen Table Bakers Parmesan Crisps come in 8 flavors: aged Parmesan, sesame, garlic, rosemary, Italian herb, everything, flax seed, and jalapeno.
I want to try them all. That is how much I loved these.
So, let’s talk about ingredients. So easy here. The Kitchen Table Bakers Parmesan Mini Crisps are made from aged Parmesan cheese. That’s it.
As for nutrition, a serving of the Kitchen Table Bakers Parmesan Mini Crisps is 15 crisps, with there being about 3.3 servings per bag. One serving will provide you with only 80 calories and 6 grams of fat. One serving will dish up 15 mg cholesterol, 150 mg sodium, and 0 grams of sugar. So healthy. And, finally, you will not be taking in any fiber, but these mini crisps do give you 7 grams of healthy protein. WOW!
Yet another fantastic product introduced to me by Cuisine Cube. If you haven’t signed up yet…stop hesitating and start doing. And, hop over to Kitchen Table Bakers and see about locating these in your area and/or ordering from them online. Trust me…you will not regret it.
You outdid yourselves this time, Cuisine Cube!
Crispy Broccoli made with Kitchen Table Bakers Parmesan Mini Crisps with a side of homemade Gluten Free Tomato Herb Foccacia Bread
I’m having one of those weeks. One of those weeks where it just seems like I don’t have enough time. For anything. Let alone cooking. And despite some fresh produce still in my crisper, it was the eve of an early gym morning, late afternoon emotional burnout, and a long day at the office. The last thing I wanted to do, especially with Valentine’s Day goodies to make still, was try to make dinner from scratch. I did that last night…having to eat my delicious Maple Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Walnuts…standing up, while stirring a pot of melting chocolate that would become a decadent and rich chocolate mousse.
SIGH!
Don’t get me wrong…I love making gifts for people who appreciate it…but sometimes I just want to sit down and relax. More and more these days, there isn’t enough time to think let alone relax. What would be ideal would be something that I could simply throw in the oven, the microwave, or on the stove, set a timer, and get some stuff done. Like lunches and snacks for lunch the next day.
So, after much searching through both pantry and freezer, I decided to pick out one of the boxes of rice meal things that were lurking right up front. I had about three or four to choose from, but ultimately reached for a brand I know, I love, and I trust.
Lundberg Family Farms.
Lundberg is committed to producing the finest quality rice and rice products. And since 1937, the Lundberg family has been growing healthy, great tasting rice while respecting and sustaining the earth. With the third and fourth generations currently carrying on the family heritage, using eco-friendly farming methods to produce wholesome, healthful rice, rice cakes, rice chips, risottos, and pastas while improving and protecting the environment for generations to come.
Gotta love a company that has a heart.
So, Lundberg Family Farms recently began expanding their line of rice products into these little rice and pasta sides. I picked up some pasta awhile back…but this time I had my eyes set on the new rice sides. I was visiting my friend Jenn in Columbus, Ohio, and stopped into my new favorite store there, The Raisin Rack. I filled up a small basket of items and products I wanted to try that I had a hard time finding in my area. And one of these, at the time, was Lundberg Family Farms Organic Whole Grain Lentils & Rice – Mild Curry flavor. The Mild Curry was what actually caught my attention. The other being that these little boxes make for easy meals every now and again. And while I don’t like to cook out of packages, sometimes it just becomes necessary. But, the best part is, you can choose what you purchase to use in these situations. And, for me, Lundberg Farms uses great ingredients, non-GMO, and really cares about the environment. I have never had an issue with any of their products, so…for me…this made for a great meal (my roommate and I split the box between us instead of using it as a side dish).
It was very easy to make. Just combine water, rice, lentils and the seasoning packets into a pan and stir well. Bring it to boil, then turn the heat down, cover it, and allow it to simmer and cook for about 30-32 minutes. Do not lift the lid. Just let it cook. Remove it from the heat and allow it to stand for 5 minutes before fluffing it with a fork and serving it up. Simple. And it was so hands free. No need to babysit the pan and remember to stir it every now and again. It was perfectly ideal for a night like tonight. I finished up my prep work for lunches and snacks, talked to my sister on the phone, changed into pajamas…and got some gluten-free focaccia bread heated up to accompany the meal. Then, I dished the rice and lentil mixture into two bowls.
It smelled fantastic. Honestly. It had this great cumin and garlic aroma that just wafted up from the pan when I lifted the lid and began splitting the dish between us. The rice was fluffy and the lentils to that perfect al dente. The yellow hue was brought about by the use of most of the curry spices, especially turmeric. I love turmeric. It’s a great anti-inflammatory. And with how bad my back has been lately…it’s my new best friend! So…dinner was served.
And HOLY CURRY GOODNESS…this was fantastic. For one thing, the flavor is mild. So, when it says “Mild Curry” on the box…believe it. This will not burn your tastebuds off or set your mouth aflame. In fact, my roommate actually turned into me for a small moment and said she missed it having a bit more heat. That’s weird for her to say, since she is a heat wimp. But…yes…the mild flavor compliments the grains, rather than overpowers. And that is a good thing. I agree though, I could have used a little more spice level regardless. But, it tasted absolutely amazing. It cooked up to be light and full of these rich Indian flavors. And it was packed with nutrients and healthy carbs…so it made for two very happy diners as we ate our meal.
Let’s talk ingredients, shall we? One thing I love about Lundberg Farms is their use of real ingredents. You won’t see ingredients you don’t recognize in their products. In the Lundberg Family Farms Organic Whole Grain Lentils & Rice – Mild Curry, you will find organic parboiled brown rice, organic lentils, organic rice flower, sea salt, organic spices (ginger, turmeric, coriander, cumin, cinnamon, black pepper, and fenugreek), organic garlic powder, organic rice concentrate. This box of whole grain goodness is also vegan, non-GMO, cholesterol free, and kosher.
As for nutrition, a serving of Lundberg Family Farms Organic Whole Grain Lentils & Rice – Mild Curry is 1 cup, prepared. There are three servings per box. In this serving, you will be consuming 210 calories and 2 grams of fat. This serving provides 460 mg sodium and 0 grams of sugar. Both of these are really low for a boxed product. In addition, you will feel full after dining on this because one serving also provides 3 grams of fiber and 6 grams of protein.
I asked Cathy if she would be happy having one of these boxed rice meals from Lundberg Family Farms again, and she totally said she would. And I have to agree. Great flavor. Great texture. And wholesome ingredients. What’s not to love when it’s so easy to cook up and so easy to eat. And good for you too! Gotta love that.
Sometimes, it’s not just my pantry that keeps products for awhile. Back at the beginning of summer, I finally found a local store that carried a certain sandwich bread that I had been searching high and low for. You see, gluten-free bread has always been expensive, and since this particular bread only came with 8 pieces and was about $7.00, I really needed to make sure my budget was going to allow for it.
And so, it was because I finally had it within my clutches, I purchased a box of Amy’s Kitchen Gluten Free Sandwich Rounds.
Amy’s Kitchen and I are BFFs. For real. Her gluten-free products are amazing. All of her products are vegetarian…with a good chunk of them being vegan as well. How’s that for amazing, eh? I haven’t met a product from Amy’s Kitchen that I haven’t fallen in love with. And, for awhile, I was stashing her frozen meals and canned soups/chili in my freezer and/or pantry. When I moved to more of a clean diet, I went for more natural foods rather than frozen and processed. But Amy’s still had a place in my heart…and when anything called for vegetarian chili or the like…it is her brand that I turn to.
So, when I saw online awhile (like years!) that Amy’s Kitchen had created gluten-free Sandwich Rounds (I assumed these were like Sandwich Thins), I went on the hunt. When I came up empty handed, I just sort of gave up on it. Until Earth Fare opened up in my area…and lo and behold…there on the shelf…the Sandwich Rounds. No conversation or budget stopped me from putting that in my shopping basket and bringing them home. Into my freezer. And…there they sat. For a long while. I just kept buying loaves of bread. I didn’t even think about these again until I was reorganizing my freezer and starting to work through the items inside. And when I rediscovered them…I had an idea of how to use them.
Veggie burgers.
Amy’s Kitchen Gluten Free Sandwich Rounds
Because I had been craving. So, I picked up some of my favorite gluten-free veggie burgers from the store on Sunday (Franklin Farms is the brand, in case you were wondering…delicious and low calorie!). And this morning, I pulled the box Amy’s Gluten Free Sandwich Rounds out of the freezer and removed two of the flat breads to thaw while I was at work.
And this was my only disappointment with this product. I thought that these would be a lot like the Sandwich Thins I used to eat when I was eating horribly unhealthy “diet” bread. Those were thin little bread rounds that were sliced in half. These looked like small three-inch pizza crusts more than sandwich bread. And…in order to actually make a sandwich (or in my case a burger), I would have to double the bread. One piece is just that…one piece. No way to slice it in half to make a sandwich you can pick up. So, forget about that burger…it now became and open-faced sandwich tonight.
So, yeah…I was already a little disappointed. But, after I slid the Amy’s Kitchen Gluten Free Sandwich Rounds into the oven to toast slightly while the burgers cooked and the mushrooms and onions were marinating in bar-b-que sauce. As those finished up, I removed the now warmed thin bread rounds from the oven and began to put together the open faced sandwiches…trying not to be too disappointed that in order to make an entire burger, I’d have to double my calories and everything else. So…this would have to do. A little BBQ sauce on the round, then the veggie patty, melted vegan cheese, and then the barbeque onions and mushrooms to top it off. I served it with a side of Zapp’s New Orleans Style Voodoo Kettle Chips (which are totally amazing!).
Settling into dinner with an open-faced burger instead of an actual burger was a bit of a let-down. But…after I took my fork and knife and sliced into everything and gave it all a taste…all was forgiven. The Amy’s Gluten Free Sandwich Rounds are totally amazing. In fact, they taste like mini pizza crusts. So, now I kind of want to do little individual pizzas and use these as the base. They are amazing. And they even held up to the sauce, the burger, the toppings…without getting soggy and falling apart. Color me impressed. The disappointment for not being able to pick up my dinner faded. The taste, texture, and all-around goodness of this product made up for it in spades. Holy cow!
Let’s look at the ingredients! Amy’s Kitchen Gluten Free Sandwich Rounds are true to Amy’s Kitchen form. Using only ingredients that are recognizable. No fake stuff here. These little sandwich rounds are made from organic rice flour, filtered water, organic sunflower seed meal, organic tapioca starch, organic potatoes, organic extra virgin olive oil, organic agave nectar, sea salt, yeast, and organic rice bran extract. These little sandwich rounds are gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, vegan, cholesterol free, and kosher. Love it.
A serving of Amy’s Kitchen Gluten Free Sandwich Rounds is (sadly) one round. This one round piece of bread will provide you with 90 calories and 4 grams of fat. This serving will also give you only 135 mg sodium and 1 gram of sugar. You will also be taking in 1 gram fiber and 2 grams of protein. So, they aren’t very filling, but it’s nice not to have a calorie-laden burger/sandwich. I only wish these could have been split so that I could have picked up my burger instead of having to go all fine-dining on it with a fork and knife.
I am not kidding…Amy’s Kitchen Gluten Free Sandwich Rounds are fantastic. If you happen to find these in your store, I recommend the splurge. Make an open face sandwich…or if you don’t mind 180 calories and 8 grams of fat in one sitting…make a full one. For me…I think mini pizzas are up next. What started off initially as disappointment transformed into nothing but pure joy. This product is truly amazing. I love them!
An Open-Faced BBQ Mushroom & Onion Veggie Burger on an Amy’s Kitchen Gluten Free Sandwich Round
January has come and gone, but some of us are clinging tightly to our New Years Resolutions. There are so many new members at my gym that it’s virtually impossible to get a machine unless you arrive at 5 a.m. Granted, this happens every year…but it can still be quite the gauntlet to run for about 2-3 months. Along with exercise come vows to eat better and to diet, diet, diet. Now, I’m not one to technically diet. I try to mind what I eat (although I have my weaknesses…like anything creamy like a nut/seed butter) all throughout the year, but it seems when everyone around you is dieting, you become a bit more mindful of what you’re eating as well.
Leave it to Cuisine Cube, then, to put together the perfect cube for January 2015. Enclosed inside were some really fantastic gluten-free products…that had a healthy edge to each and every one of them. I have already dined on the gluten-free white chili mix. And while I have plenty left in this cube, this past day, I realized I was out of my little pouches of oatmeal for lunch…so therefore, I needed something to feast on at work. Since oatmeal is my thing…I remembered that Cuisine Cube had included a package of oatmeal in the latest delivery. I went and dug it out of the box and took it into the kitchen to see about getting it ready for the following day at work.
But I’ll get to that soon enough. Let me first talk about Cuisine Cube. Cuisine Cube is a mail delivery service, starting at a cost as low as $29.99, which delivers amazing, local, small artisan gluten-free products and foods to your doorstep each month. Encased in each box you will find 5-6 products that are free of preservatives and chemicals that you are likely to find in the more common gluten-free product brand names on the shelves of your grocery store. When I first signed up for this, I wasn’t sure what to expect. But I’m hooked. And I love the surprise I get each month when I open up the box and dig out what they included this time. It is truly like Christmas every month. And I have liked and loved pretty much everything that that have included. Not always…but they have a good streak going this far.
Well, with all the promises to get fit and stay fit, it seems Cuisine Cube was prepared. For the breakfast item in the January 2015 cube, they included a pack of Fiona’s Natural Foods Gluten Free Cherry Pecan Oatmeal. This is not the first time Fiona’s Natural Foods has been a part of my Cuisine Cube. I’ve had the opportunity to try (and love) a granola that was included in the very first Cuisine Cube I received (May 2014). This made me very excited to give the oatmeal a try. Fiona’s Natural Foods’ mission is simply to offer consumers an organic, gourmet product that is superior in taste, texture, quality, and nutritional value. They commit themselves to this mission with each product they have on the market. In my January Cuisine Cube, it was the Fiona’s Natural Foods Gluten Free Cherry Pecan Oatmeal.
The first thing I did was scan the packaging for the instructions on how to prepare it. They had a few options…stove top, microwave, or cold. I love overnight oats, and it’s so much easier to do for work than try to fit into the line for the one microwave we have for the 18 people that work in the actual office. So, that’s what I did. There weren’t many instructions, just to combine the oatmeal with milk and let it sit overnight. There were no measurements, so I went with the measurements for the warm version of this cereal. 1/4 cup of the oatmeal – 1/2 cup of milk (I used Silk Unsweetened Cashew Milk). I put it in a mason jar and set it in the fridge overnight. There was a lot of liquid, but I was hoping that the oats would soak most of it up as it sat overnight. It didn’t. Not really…but it was no bother to me.
That following afternoon, around noon, when I usually take my lunch, I went to the kitchen at the office where I stashed my jar of milk and oats in the fridge and brought it back to my desk. I took one bite…and was amazed. The crazy amount of flavor and texture that comes with each bite is fantastic. I will definitely have to give this a try warm in the next few days…but cold it was soupy (so much milk), but amazing. The European-style oatmeal is a hearty and wholesome blend of dried fruits, oats, nuts and seeds. There was no added sugars, no added oil. Nothing that shouldn’t be in there. Extra love just for that. So, I carefully brought a spoonful of the chilled oats and cashew milk up to my lips and tried it.
I am beyond in love with this blend. First of all…the flavors that come out of having no sweeteners or spices included in the ingredients is fantastic. The seeds and nuts make each spoonful take on a fantastic and intriguing texture. I loved the variety. The raisins and tart cherries plumped up sitting in the milk overnight and were sweet and sour all at once. It was fantastic. In fact, today I made it up for my roommate as well. Remember, Cathy doesn’t have to eat gluten-free or vegan or vegetarian…but she does in the apartment. And, guess what? She LOVED the oatmeal. In fact, she said her favorite part was how plump and ripe the bits of raisin and cherry got. Yeah…it’s a total win. Super delicious. I would make this for breakfast, lunch and dinner in a total heartbeat!
Let’s talk ingredients, shall we? The Fiona’s Natural Foods Gluten Free Cherry Pecan Oatmeal is made from certified gluten free rolled oats, certified gluten free steel cut oats, raisins, flax seeds, dried sour cherries, pecans, and sunflower seeds. Yes…that is it. It is raw, wheat free, vegan, soy free, salt free, gluten free, and amazing!! Just pure and simply amazing.
As for nutrition, a serving of Fiona’s Natural Foods Gluten Free Cherry Pecan Oatmeal is 1/4 cup. In this serving, you will be taking in 120 calories and 4 grams of fat. You will also be provided with only 3 grams of sugar. Isn’t that fantastic. This oatmeal is cholesterol free and sodium free. Finally, you will be consuming 3 grams of fiber and 4 grams of protein, which will help make you feel full once you finish your serving. It truly is one of the most fantastic oatmeal combinations I have ever eaten.
I can’t find Fiona’s Natural Foods products here in my area, so when I get something like this, it truly does make me want to place an order for more. And that will certainly be happening as the way this oatmeal plays across your taste buds and excites your palate is really unmatched by anything else I have eaten. Truly a fantastic food in and of itself. Hot or cold…you’re going to want to devour the Fiona’s Natural Foods Gluten Free Cherry Pecan Oatmeal. I know it won’t last long in my pantry.
Another brilliant product brought to me by the amazing Cuisine Cube. I am forever in their debt.
Overnight Oats made from Fiona’s Natural Foods Gluten Free Cherry Pecan Oatmeal
I’m still working my way through some of my older Cuisine Cube products that have just been set aside. Not that I haven’t been dying to try them…because I have. I’ve just been so busy lately and have hardly had time to bake/cook/devour my way through every product in the span of a month. And when a new box arrives, I get so excited that things just get pushed to the back of the pantry. Well…no more. I’m making a very dedicated and very focused attempt to get through some of the products I have neglected since signing up for this amazing service.
First of all…let me once again highlight what it is the Cuisine Cube does. Cuisine Cube is a service that is offered by foodies who have sought out better and lesser-known (often times local) gluten-free products and foods. So, if you, like me, are a gluten-free foodie…this service will be just perfect for you. With delivery plans starting as low as $29.99, each month you will receive a box of delicious gluten-free goodness. Inside are 5-6 items that are from smaller artisan companies. Sometimes I have heard of them, or even tried them, but more often than not…the product is new to me and I discover a company that prides itself on better-for-you ingredients than the highly processed gluten-free foods you’ll find on the shelves of your local grocery store.
So, back in July 2014, I received an amazing box from Cuisine Cube. One of the products that seriously caught my eye was the Bumbalooza Gluten Free Pink Lemonade Donut Mix. First of all…DONUTS! Hello!! Secondly…lemony goodness. Enough said. I was thrilled to have this. Not only do I own mini donut pans and regular donut pans, but I love anything lemon flavored. And so does my roommate. Even more…we are donut fanatics. I have pretty much tried every gluten-free donut in the grocery store and beyond. As far as packaged varieties at my local stores, Katz Gluten Free are, hands down, the finest. I love the ones that my local allergy-free bakery makes and the ones that Babycakes NYC produces down at Disney World and in NYC. But, aside from that…I’ve been less than impressed. Seriously, I grew up in the land of Dunkin’ Donuts and then moved to the land of Krispy Kreme. Before being diagnosed as Celiac…I loved an occasional donut treat. But afterwards, nothing seemed to live up to the donuts I had been able to feast on up until that point. Talk about a disappointment.
And, yes, I have even attempted to make my own, with some success…but mostly failure. Let’s face it…when you bake donuts, they are best fresh from that oven. Especially gluten-free versions.
Well, as it happened, my running group was getting together this past Saturday to run a very hard and hilly 10 miles together. Afterwards, we all get together to eat snacks and just hang out and talk. This happens once a year. And a few of my running group do eat gluten-free (although they are not Celiacs and can cheat a little, which I can’t do!), so I figured this would be a good time to see what this product can do. I decided, for fear of the donuts being…MEH…the following morning, to make these into mini muffins. I had a back-up plan (gluten-free Madeleine cookies) should the mix not work out to my liking. But…pink lemonade mini muffins sounded beyond delicious. I hit up the store in hopes of finding the strawberry juice. And being that it is not prime strawberry season, I didn’t want to buy strawberries and puree them, so when the strawberry juice hunt turned out nothing…I picked up blueberry juice and decided to roll with it. That night, I started to get everything together to bake up these mini muffins.
Bumbalooza strives to find the, often difficult, balance between nutrition and taste, while still managing food allergies and sensitivities. But with Celiac disesase and the public’s increasing consumption of chemically modified ingredients, it’s no wonder food allergies have exploded in society. Bumbalooza prides it’s products on being made from only all-natural ingredients and as many whole grains as possible. They use less-refined sugars and produce each mix on dedicated equipment, ensuring that their products are produced and remain completely gluten-free. Bumbalooza creates mixes in hopes of getting parents and their children back into the kitchen together. In fact, each recipe on the box includes steps that the kids can help with in the preparation process.
Since I have no children…this was all about me…and my runners. But…I was the only one baking…so…
Despite owning donut pans, for the sake of the product I would be bringing to the event Saturday morning, I opted for mini muffins. And I was calling them Blue Lemonade Mini Muffins…as I used blueberry juice. But, hey, close enough. Preparing the Bumbalooza Gluten Free Pink Lemonade Donut Mix was super easy. In a mixing bowl, you simply beat the butter, add the eggs, lemon zest and berry juice and beat it again. Then add the mix and combine. Fill the donut pans (or in my case, mini-muffin tins) and bake in a preheated 325°F oven for about 20 minutes. Once the muffins (or donuts) are cooked through (you can check them with a toothpick), you place them on a wire rack to cool and, should you choose, glaze them. I made a light lemon glaze for mine, taking confectioners sugar and lemon juice, then spooning it over the top of each muffin. It made the perfect zippy way to kick them up a bit.
How were they? AMAZING!! Say it with me. AMAZING!! These were very light and fluffy. I loved that the lemon didn’t overpower the rest of the muffin itself. In fact, the blueberry flavor shined through with the lemon hitting you in that glaze. I loved that these weren’t heavy or dense. They were soft and bouncy and just…WOW!! I mean WOW!! And, the rest of the group who had to or at least ventured into the gluten-free goodies seemed to like them as well. Even my roommate is a bit addicted to them. We have only a few leftover…but…yeah…SO good. Now I kind of which I had used the mix to actually make donuts. I bet they would have been out-of-this-world. Next time. Trust me…there will be a next time!!
The ingredients that go into making the Bumbalooza Gluten Free Pink Lemonade Donut Mix are: white rice flour, evaporated cane sugar, tapioca flour, brown rice flour, millet, coconut palm sugar, aluminum-free baking powder, xanthan gum, and salt. That’s it. This mix contains no gluten, no GMOs, no soy, no dairy, no nuts, and no refined white sugar.
As for the nutrition facts…this box will make 24 servings. In that serving, this mix provides 110 calories and 0 grams of fat. This mix contains 180 mg sodium and only 10 grams of sugar per serving. And, these are small and fluffy for a reason, as you will not fill up on just one. Each one only has 1 gram of fiber and 1 gram of protein. Depending on how you prepare the mix…these will change. I figured up the nutrition info on MyFitnessPal and figured that each mini muffin was 164 calories, 4 grams of fat, 10 mg cholesterol, 181 mg sodium, 13 grams sugar, 1 gram of fiber and 2 grams of protein. Which, I do find pretty high for a two-bite muffin (or one bite if you aren’t a delicate princess like me). Regardless…I don’t indulge in muffins or donuts much…so I’ll take it!
Bumbalooza has a great sounding line of gluten-free products that go beyond the Gluten Free Pink Lemonade Donut Mix. These include Chocolate Chip Cookies, Gooey Oatmeal Bars, Sugar Cookies, Bumba Bakers Cookies, Banana Bread, Cookies & Cream Cake, and Chocolate Pudding. All of which I am now DYING to try. Seriously. I want it all.
And to think, without Cuisine Cube…I never would have even known of the existence of Bumbalooza. I now want to get another box of the Gluten Free Pink Lemonade Donut Mix and make actual donuts. Because now I see how amazing this mix bakes up, I don’t think the donuts would lose their integrity if not eaten straight away. So, a huge win from both Cuisine Cube and Bumbalooza. If you are curious and want to check them out yourself…follow the links and place an order. You will not be disappointed.
Blueberry Lemonade Mini Muffins made from Bumbalooza Gluten Free Pink Lemonade Donut Mix
Product: Aleia’s Gluten Free Vanilla Bean Sugar Cookies – $7.49
Oh, my Cuisine Cube had me pegged this past holiday season. Really. Because, everyone pretty much knows that I am a cookie monster. There is nothing better or more satisfying than the perfect cookie. And it has to be absolutely perfect. Crispy…or chewy…chocolatey…or maybe nutty…yeah…cookies are the way to my heart.
Always have been. My mom was known for her homemade cookies when I was growing up. Somehow, the entire neighborhood knew when she was baking. And all the kids would end up at our house and eat them fresh out of the oven.
My love of cookies goes way, way back.
So, yes, I was more than elated when my December 2014 (the HOLIDAY CUBE!) arrived in the mail. It had quite the variety inside. But this was one of those cubes that contained a bonus item. An extra dessert. And since I live and breathe dessert, this was a very happy and welcome bonus! Cuisine Cube is a surprise each month. All I know is that each cube will contain some gluten-free product good for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack and dessert. December actually had a gluten-free all-purpose flour for “baking.” So, double dessert, and something that doubled as a lunch/snack. Variety is key and they sure do know how to keep me coming back each month for the new selections. Subscribing to Cuisine Cube is easy and starts out as low as $29.99. Not bad for a monthly delivery of gluten-free yummies that comes right to your door for you to devour as soon or as late as you want. If you haven’t signed up for this service yet…just try it for a month. Trust me.
The cookies that were waiting for me inside December Cube were Aleia’s Gluten Free Vanilla Bean Sugar Cookies. Aleia’s is devoted to producing superior, hand-crafted, certified gluten-free, non-GMO, and kosher products. These products range from cookies to bread crumbs to stuffing to croutons. The company is devoted to provide healthy, delicious options for people who are living a gluten-free lifestyle. The bakery where their products are crafted and packaged is a dedicated gluten-free bakery.
Aleia’s is actually one of the first and finest producers of gluten-free, non-GMO products out on the market. This stemmed from the founder’s (a culinary trained chef) own gluten intolerance and her desire to eat great tasting, handmade goods. Gluten-free doesn’t mean it has to be tasteless cardboard, right? The Aleia’s line includes ten artisan cookies, bread crumbs, panko, croutons, stuffing mixes, and breads.
So, tonight, with the cold weather happening outside, I was reaching for something that wasn’t frozen. Because, despite liking things like ice cream any time of the year…tonight I was feeling…cookies! Save the ice cream for this weekend’s beautiful weather. That’s my plan anyway. So, after an amazing dinner of gluten-free pumpkin gnocchi…I reached into my pantry and retrieved the package of Aleia’s Gluten-Free Vanilla Bean Sugar Cookies, which I had tucked away in there when I was putting away my December Cuisine Cube products. Today was the day for this product to shine. I popped open the packaging, tore into the plastic bag and retrieved two cookies (one for me and one for the roomie!).
A simple and easy dessert, yes? That’s how I like it.
The Aleia’s Gluten Free Vanilla Bean Sugar Cookies are about the size of the rim of a juice glass. They are crispy vanilla cookies that are coated with sugar. I took my first bite and immediately tasted the vanilla. The flavor reminded me of something, but I still can’t quite put my finger on what. That being said…they were a delightful, sweet, and crunchy treat after dinner. I told my roomie that I sort of wanted to get down some Smudge (that is nut-free, gluten-free, dairy-free Nutella) and spread it across the back of the cookie just to sweeten the deal a little. HA! While sugar cookies have never been my favorite cookie, these were quite tasty. They weren’t hard, but had a good crunch to them. And the sugar coating the outside gave it a little extra zip. Yeah…these definitely made this cookie monster happy!
Aleia’s Gluten Free Vanilla Bean Sugar Cookies are made from pure cane sugar, tapioca flour, whole grain sorghum flour, butter, eggs, pure vanilla extract, vanilla beans, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt. That’s it! And being that the first ingredient is sugar…remember…these are not just cookies…they are sugar cookies.
How about that nutritional information, right? One serving of Aleia’s Gluten Free Vanilla Bean Sugar Cookies is one cookie. This one cookie will deliver 80 calories and 3 grams of fat. You will also be taking in 10 mg cholesterol, 60 mg sodium, and 6 grams of sugar. Yep…only 6 grams in a sugar cookie. A serving also gives you no fiber and only 1 gram of protein. But they are cookies. A treat. Love it.
As I have no store in my area that carries Aleia’s Gluten Free products, I am beyond thrilled that Cuisine Cube was able to introduce me to this brand. I am impressed enough to seek out more. Especially since I see they have Gluten Free Snickerdoodles. And we all know that Snickerdoodles are this cookie monster’s all-time favorite cookie. They definitely must be tried. Thank you, Cuisine Cube and Aleia’s…for your commitment to great products!
I am not going to lie…there are times that I miss certain types of candy in my life. Because, I grew up on some of these famous chocolate bars…enjoyed them as a child into adulthood. Not on a regular basis, mind you, but every now and again, it was nice to indulge a little on…a Kit-Kat Bar. Seriously…Kit Kat Bars were an all-time favorite of mine. You’d think it would be Reese’s with how peanut butter crazy I am, but I would take a Kit-Kat over a peanut butter cup any day. My sister…the exact opposite. But there was just something so addicting about that chocolate coating over that crispy wafer. The sweet meets sweet. The texture, flaky…yet creamy. It was heaven in candy bar form.
I won’t like…to this day I get sad when have to bypass those little Kit-Kat Bars at the grocery store or department stores. Not that I need them…I don’t. And it’s not that I even want them (though, I kind of do!). It’s just that I physically can’t have them anymore.
Enter…what I deemed would be my crave stopper.
I was coming home from seeing The Trans-Siberian Orchestra in Dayton, Ohio…passing right through Cincinnati. And Cincinnati is the home of the most epic grocery store (aka: Foodie Heaven) in the world – Jungle Jim’s. And yes…whenever possible and whenever I have the time while traveling through…I make a point to stop in. They have a rather large gluten-free section (yes…mostly processed foods, but I don’t overindulge in these regularly…so every now and again, I pick something new up to try!)…so I try to find one or five (HA!) products that I’m curious about and haven’t seen anywhere else. On this last trip, I actually behaved myself. With the holiday season in full swing at the time, I was on a very tight budget.
But one inexpensive little treat did catch my eye…and it was because it looked all the world to be a gluten-free Kit-Kat Bar.
YES!! You better believe I shelled out the $3.00 to give this a try. But, I waited…and saved it while I worked through some items I had around longer. But tonight…tonight was the magic night. Dessert…half of the candy bar. Half of what I called a gluten-free Kit-Kat Bar. My only hope was that it lived up to everything I was making it out to be in my head.
One pack of Helwa Enjoy Gluten Free Chocolate Covered Wafers
So, the candy itself is called Helwa Enjoy Gluten Free Chocolate Covered Wafers. Not as catchy as Kit-Kat…but copyrights and all…*wink*. But, just from the image on the box…it looked all the world like my favorite candy bar growing up. I was overjoyed.
The Helwa Company has been family owned and operated since 1953, where Helwa Wafelbakkerij, located in the Netherlands, committed itself and its business to making premium quality cream-filled wafer biscuits. Since then, they have branched out from their traditional crispy, cream filled wafers to release products that are organic, gluten-free, sugar free and all natural. Not only that, they focus on using ingredients with no artificial colors or flavors.
The Helwa Enjoy Gluten Free Chocolate Covered Wafers…
…are LOVE!! They aren’t Kit-Kat’s…but they sure as hell come close. The wafer inside these are lighter and not as crispy as I remember Kit-Kat being (granted, it’s been 3 years since I’ve eaten one…and I’ve honestly forgotten how things taste at times). That being said, I loved the hit of sweetness with the light crispy wafer inside. It was very reminiscent of one of my favorite candy treats…and I devoured these…to the max! SO delicious!!
So, let’s talk about ingredients, shall we? The Helwa Enjoy Gluten Free Chocolate Covered Wafers are made from milk chocolate 80%, palm oil, sugar, rice flour, potato starch, teff flour, soy flour, skimmed cocoa powder, soy lecithin, coconut oil, free range egg yolk, salt, and sodium bicarbonate. These chocolate coated wafers are suitable for vegetarians and gluten-free and wheat-free.
As far as nutrition goes, I’m not going to lie…for being a candy bar, these aren’t bad statistics at all. The serving size is one pack- there are three in the wrapper – which…is like eating a standard Kit-Kat bar. This serving will provide you with 120 calories and 8 grams of fat. These are cholesterol free, but do contain 10 grams of sugar, which, for a candy bar isn’t awful. Not in the slightest. This serving will also dish up 1 gram of fiber and 1 gram of protein. It’s candy. It’s sugar. You won’t stay full for long. Trust me.
But…damn…is it ever good!! I don’t eat candy all that often, but when I do, I’m proud of indulgences like that. I can’t remember the last time I got to eat my favorite candy from my childhood and young adult life…but this came so close…it almost brought me to tears. Good things come in little packages!
It’s time for another rewind as I work my way through my pantry these days. Hard to believe that I’m just now polishing off the very last of the first Cuisine Cube I ever received. But…it’s true. I am. I tend to overlook mixes when I get them because…well…I get distracted by using up the fresh produce that I receive in my CSA bin. And, sometimes…mixes and my pantry become BFFs for awhile. Until, one day, I’m looking for something and see a mix and go…”Oh…I forgot I had that.”
For the past couple of weeks, I have had every intention of using up the last product from the May 2014 (the Cuisine Cube that started it all!) cube. Really. I even took it to a weekend getaway with me, having every intention of baking it up with my friend. But, we had other menu plans and this returned home with me. I kept telling my roomie…”I need to use this mix…this weekend…” And it never happened. I had originally thought to turn it into a pizza crust, but that was going to involve yeast and time that I didn’t have…so I decided to just bake up the recipe on the back of the bag…for the Zema’s Gluten Free Tomato Herb Focaccia.
So…first let me give you a recap of Cuisine Cube and the services that they offer. Cuisine Cube is this great subscription service that will deliver, right to your door, a cube of happiness and goodness, each month. Subscriptions are affordable and definitely worth it. In fact, depending on the service you choose, a subscription to Cuisine Cube can run you as little as $29.99 a month. What a deal, eh? And, for this low rate, you will receive 5-6 products from small and lesser-known artisan companies that offer gluten-free products. It is a great way to cut out the highly processed gluten-free stuff you can find in nearly every grocery store this time. You receive a product that will cover breakfast, lunch, dinner, a snack, dessert…and sometimes…a bonus! Seriously…it is fantastic. And I love trying out brands and products I never would have known about before…or even thought about taking a chance and trying, should it be available in my area. And most of these items…are not.
So…yesterday…it was the magic day. I was already cooking up a vegan (yes…you read that right!) shrimp and grits for dinner and as I was about to get started on that, I remembered…”OH…I still have that focaccia bread mix!” To which my roommate said, “Well, make it up and we’ll have some with dinner.” Smart lady, my roommate. So…as I knew that a pizza version and some other recipes (which they have online) involved yeast and rise time…I opted to do the package recipe. And this product was none other than Zemas Gluten-Free Rosemary-Millet Focaccia & Pizza Crust Mix.
Zemas Madhouse Foods is committed to manufacturing gluten-free, ancient grain baking mixes that help support a clean eating lifestyle through the use of minimally processed ingredients that can be safely incorporated into diets that are limited, allergy-free and diabetic. They are committed to keeping their products free of dairy, soy, rice, yeast, tree nuts, peanuts, sulfites, additives, trans fats, preservatives, and refined sugar. I loved what I was reading already. So, the challenge was going to come with the baking and the tasting. Would it live up to the hype?
The recipe was easy and I had all the ingredients necessary to prepare it. Save for a rimmed cookie sheet. So, instead I baked mine into a pie pan. I figured, if anything, it might just require a bit more cooking time. So, I first combined the wet ingredients: egg whites, water, agave nectar, and apple cider vinegar. After that was all mixed together, I poured in the mix and whisked it together some more. Then, it all went into my round cake pan, which I lined with parchment paper. I topped it off with slices of grape tomatoes and then some dried basil, oregano, and garlic powder. Then, just a hit of Himalayan salt. Drizzled it with olive oil and…into my oven it went for about 45 minutes. And…the entire time it was baking it smelled AMAZING! When baking time was up, I tested it to make sure it baked through (I was using a smaller baking vessel, so it would be thicker than if I had baked it on a cookie sheet (Note to self: Purchase rimmed cookie sheet!)…and it was. So, it sat to cool slightly while I made the rest of dinner. Once dinner was prepared, I sliced a wedge of the Zemas Gluten-Free Tomato Herb Focaccia…and sat down to a hearty dinner.
As I mentioned above…making focaccia bread with Zema’s Gluten-Free Rosemary-Millet Focaccia & Pizza Crust Mix really made my apartment smell fantastic. My roommate even said, “If that tastes half as good as it smells…” So, I dished up her vegan shrimp and grits first and gave her a side of the Tomato Herb Focaccia and as I went to prepare my plate, I heard her say, “The bread is good…but a little dry.” Focaccia isn’t supposed to be dry…rather have a great outer crust and a chewy inside. So, as I settled down to eat my own dinner, I went for the bread first.
Zemas Gluten Free Tomato Herb Focaccia Bread (baked)
Zemas Madhouse Foods baked up a really great looking loaf of focaccia bread. No kidding. It had that golden outer layer, and when I sliced into it…it was a bit softer. However, unlike most focaccia’s that get it’s chewy inside from little pockets of air that get there from kneading and/or beating, this definitely had a more cake-like texture to it. Much denser. No air pockets. I took a bite…and my roomie was right, the Zemas Gluten Free Tomato Herb Focaccia, baked form the Zemas Madhouse Foods Gluten-Free Rosemary-Millet Focaccia & Pizza Crust Mix definitely did taste a little dry. Maybe not dry…but heavy and dense. Which was a bit of a letdown. That being said, the flavor…OH MY GOD…the flavor was amazing. When I eat a slice tonight with dinner, I’m going to serve it with some olive oil and herbs de Provence. I think having something like that or a marinara to accompany the bread will only enhance the flavor and maybe take away from the dense nature of the inside breading. I loved the mix, however, especially with the herbs baked right on top. Just fantastic eating. I just wish it had baked up differently. And, perhaps, it was baking it in a cake pan that messed with the end product…but it wasn’t enough for me to ditch the entire loaf and cut my losses. Not at all. Amazing flavor can make up for a multitude of sins, for sure.
So, let’s talk about what ingredients go into the Zemas Madhouse Foods Gluten-Free Rosemary-Millet Focaccia & Pizza Mix. This mix is composed of sorghum flour, millet flour, organic flax seed meal, potato starch, tapioca starch, hemp seeds, and contains less than 2% of the following: aluminum free baking powder, organic quinoa, chia seeds, organic rosemary, xanthan gum, and sea salt. This mix is free of trans fats, cholesterol, sugar, and saturated fat.
As for the nutritional information, for the mix itself (not made up into a focaccia bread of pizza dough), the facts are that a serving is about 1-2/3 tablespoon of the dry mix (or about 13 grams). This serving will give you 45 calories and only 1 gram of fat. From this serving, you will be taking in 55 mg sodium and 0 sugars. You will also be consuming only 1 gram of fiber and 1 gram of protein. If you were to make the Gluten-Free Tomato Herb Focaccia as I did, with the ingredients I listed above, your nutritional information alters slightly. I made it so that the bread would make 16 servings (16 small wedges), which would provide 78 calories per serving and only 3 grams of fat. A wedge would also give you 134 mg sodium and only 1 gram of sugar (from the tomatoes!). And, finally, one serving provides 1 gram of fiber and 2 grams of protein, meaning it’s not a very filling serving, but you won’t be starving either. Definitely pair this with a meal.
I love the idea and mission that Zemas Madhouse Foods has set into place for their business and their foods. And while I was underwhelmed by the texture of the focaccia I baked up from the Zemas Gluten-Free Rosemary-Millet Focaccia & Pizza Crust Mix…it really hit a high note when it came to flavor. I loved the different spices and seasonings and how I could taste all of them. I think I even have another product (that I found when I was out of town) that is part of Zemas product lineup, so I am eager to try it and see how it comes out.
If you’re looking for a healthier way to eat, despite your dietary restrictions, I definitely recommend not only Cuisine Cube, but also products from Zemas Madhouse Foods. I think the texture was more in part of how I baked it and now want to try to do it the way it was intended. That being said, I can’t wait to see how more of Zemas products fair in my kitchen. Thank you Cuisine Cube…for introducing me to this amazing, and forward-thinking gluten-free company that is trying to help us live a healthier and more nutritious life.
Product: SuperButter Original Crunchy Seed Butter – $5.00+
I am an athlete. I’m also a vegetarian. And this means that I often search for foods that are nutrient dense and provide a good hit of protein, healthy fats, and energy. One of my favorite go-to foods has always been peanut butter. I have absolutely no willpower when it comes to peanut butter. And, thankfully, I do not have a food allergy to nuts. Whew. I grew up eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches or fluffernutters. I put peanut butter on celery sticks with raisins. I eat peanut butter pancakes. I love, love, love peanut butter. In fact, I have my own jar which, when I am feeling down, I often raid with a spoon and try to not eat the whole thing in one sitting. It’s happened. It is my favorite comfort food. In texture, taste (sweet and salty)…I have never met a peanut butter that I don’t like.
And, a couple years ago, I went to the good stuff. Yes…peanut butter that is made strictly from nuts. No added sugars, oils, or anything. Yes, this does mean I have to stir the jar when I open it…but then I just flip it upside down and store it in the refrigerator. It’s a great arm workout to say the least and worth it when I churn out gorgeous, creamy peanut butter at the end of it. And, it stays creamy in the fridge without getting too solid to spread. If I am going to have a go-to comfort food like peanut butter, by God, it’s going to have as few ingredients in it as humanly possible.
It just so happened that when Cuisine Cube sent out their September Cube (aka: Back To School), there was a jar of SuperButter Original Crunchy Seed Butter included. I was elated. No…really. This is how much I love nut butters. And, while technically, this is not a nut butter…it’s the same concept. And I was just all awash with happiness because…when it comes to favorite things…nut/seed butters rank right up there in my life. When a little jar of delicious nut/seed butter arrives at my doorstep…you best believe a happy dance ensued.
For those of you new to my blog…let me briefly tell you about the amazing service that Cuisine Cube offers. Cuisine Cube is a service that was developed by foodies, bringing small and local artisan gluten free products to your house. The items we can find in the grocery store are all fine and good, but often so processed and laden with food additives and subpar ingredients. This small group of food enthusiasts set out to find better products for those of us in the gluten-free world. Based out of New York City, a food haven for sure, the ‘little guy’ products can be hard to find and might even require a trip to a specialty store. But not anymore, because these awesome and amazing brands are now being sent to you on a monthly basis, with plans starting as low as $29.99. That’s a great deal, considering you get at least 5 products (a breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack, and dessert) in each cube, and occasionally, you get an extra product thrown in. Seriously…if it wasn’t worth it, I wouldn’t still be doing it. I have experienced so much more from the gluten-free world due to Cuisine Cube…discovering and being introduced to brands and businesses I never would have known about otherwise.
So, when I dug into my Back To School (aka: September) Cube, I was greeted with a plethora of amazing products, that are also very good for people with kids going back to school. I have no children, but that didn’t deter me any. Nope. And, finally this week, when I opened up the Alce Nero Gallette di Riso Integrale (Rice Cakes), I had a perfect vehicle for the SuperButter Original Crunchy Seed Butter. Everything falls into place so nicely, doesn’t it? So, the other day, I dished out 2 tablespoons of the seed butter to take to work with me to spread onto my rice cakes…
…I knew I loved nut and seed butters…but SuperButter just took it to a whole new level. FANTASTIC!! SUPERB!! I fell in love at first taste, which might have been straight out of the jar. And it might have been followed by a few more tastings before I had to give into my willpower and put it away. This is the best seed butter I have ever tasted. And as someone with a nephew who has a nut allergy, I have tried many of the seed butter options out there. They have all been decent enough, but never this fantastic. SuperButter is packed with the best flavor and texture. I credit this to the roasted seeds that go into the making of this butter, and the creaminess that emerges. Silky and smooth. Even with the added sesame and flax seeds for the crunch factor in this variety, it was just smooth. No grittiness. Just…SuperYum! I may sneak tastes out of the jar when I duck into the kitchen. That might not be a maybe…I actually do that. SO amazing and delicious. It has been awhile since a simple product has knocked me for a loop like this, but WOW. I have heard that GNC sells this in their stores. I’m going to have to stop in and find out.
SuperButter is available in a variety of flavors, including: Crunchy Original (the one I received), Creamy Original, Creamy Vanilla Bean, and Creamy Chocolate. SuperButter is made from real, whole ingredients, as nothing artificial is permitted. Everything starts with the roasted seeds for the base, then they sweeten the deal with cane sugar, smooth it out with palm oil, and season it up with some sea salt. It doesn’t get much better than that, right? Oh…it might…
Let’s talk about ingredients, shall we? The SuperButter Original Crunchy Seed Butter is made from roasted sunflower, sesame and flax Seeds, cane sugar, palm oil, and sea salt. SuperButter is high in protein, fiber and antioxidants (omega 3’s and vitamin E). They are gluten-free, trans-fat free, and cholesterol free. And, they contain less fat than regular peanut or nut butters. How do you love that? I love that…just from the aspect that I overindulge in nut butters ALL the time. If I can do it without packing on the fat that comes with it…even better.
Made from real, whole ingredients – no artificial anything is permitted. Roasted sunflower, flax and sesame seeds comprise the flavorful base, with a little cane sugar, palm oil and sea salt added for maximum deliciousness!
As for nutrition, a serving of SuperButter Original Crunchy Seed Butter is 2 tablespoons. In this serving, you will be devouring a delicious 200 calories and 16 grams of fat. Don’t worry…this is actually the good kind of fat. Everything in moderation…right? YES! One serving will also provide 65 mg sodium and 3 grams of sugar. In addition, you’ll be filled up with goodness with the hearty 3 grams of fiber and 8 grams of protein that are provided. And I absolutely love the sesame and flax seeds that are mixed in to bring that crunch factor in. SO good.
I don’t think I ever would have known that something like SuperButter Original Crunchy Seed Butter existed if not for Cuisine Cube. Yet another reason that this is such a worthwhile and amazing subscription service. I am on the hunt for more SuperButter now locally…and if I can’t find it, I am totally hitting up their Web site to order it myself. Because, honestly, no lie…the jar is already almost empty. So much for self-control and willpower!
SuperButter Original Crunchy Seed Butter (on Alce Nero Gallette di Riso Integrale (rice cake)
The Celiathlete 