Product: Feel Good Foods Gluten-Free Vegetable Egg Rolls – $4.99+
Yesterday, I had a great day of great eating. No…I honestly mean it. It started off at my favorite local allergen-free bakery, Annie May’s Sweet Café. I had a delicious breakfast with my roommate and my good friend Patrick. And then…we all went out shopping and spending the rest of the day together. Around 1 p.m., however, our breakfast was gone and we were looking for a light lunch.
Patrick, a vegan, recommended a place, saying he was feeling Asian food. Korean food. However, Asian can be a scary and rather…dangerous…territory for me.
However, he had a backup to his first choice. He took Cathy and I over to a restaurant we had been meaning to try for a long while. Roots…in the Highlands in Louisville. Attached to it was Heart & Soy…but we were really feeling soup and he had quite a few suggestions for each of us. Better yet…both places are both vegetarian, mostly vegan, and had tons of gluten-free options.
Asian food was just what the doctor ordered. I had been craving it for awhile…and this was beyond anything I had in a long time. Most Asian food in my life is P.F. Chang’s…which…let’s face it…isn’t “real” Asian cuisine. So…this was a nice treat and the owner…she was adorable and so sweet. She also knew what Patrick wanted. Cookies. HA!
All of that aside, while I polished off my meal of a small Vegetarian Pho soup and my Sauteed Baby Spinach entrée, Cathy didn’t quite finish her Tofu Clay Pot…so she had some extra. Patrick mentioned pouring it over rice…and Cathy seemed very interested in that idea. I would need something else, as the Tofu Clay Pot wasn’t gluten-free…but I did have baby spinach at home and the idea to recreate the spinach dish I ate and put it with some brown rice. Dinner would be amazing…but I thought it might need a little something more.
For Christmas, my adoptive aunt, Judi, gave me a $50 gift card to Whole Foods. I am one happy girl because now I can start purchasing items I’ve been dying to try but haven’t really been able to justify with my budget. While the three items I decided on today were relatively cheap (I still have over $37 on my card), I was able to not talk myself out of something for fear of not having enough for the basics at the end of the day.
One of my gift card splurge purchases were the Vegetable Egg Rolls made by Feel Good Foods. Let me premise this by saying…I HAVE NOT HAD EGG ROLLS IN THREE YEARS! Yes…three years. Not since going gluten-free. So, when I see the words “GLUTEN FREE” followed by “VEGETABLE EGG ROLLS,” you better believe that box is coming out of the freezer and hitting my shopping basket. And, I had previously tried the Feel Good Foods Vegetable Pot Stickers (and LOVED them!), I felt good about this purchase. I wasn’t going to go, “but what if it sucks…what if I don’t like it?” I was confident it would be good.
Normally, I probably would have gone with the oven baked version of these egg rolls, however…I forgot I had them up until the rice was steaming in my pan on the stove. WHOOPS! So…in a panic, I opted for the pan fry option. And, honestly, I’m so glad I ended up going that way.
But let me come back to that momentarily.
Feel Good Foods has the slogan: Don’t worry. Eat happy. And, with the promise of having no added MSG, no preservatives, and no artificial flavors, I was already feeling good about my purchase. Creators, Tryg and Vanessa met at a restaurant where he was the chef and she was working. When he discovered that she couldn’t have the staff-created meals, he began creating gluten-free versions of the dish. They created Feel Good Foods gluten-free frozen foods after they opened a gluten-free restaurant and were told that they needed to put their food out on the market. Their foods are non-GMO, all-natural and completely gluten-free. You see…Vanessa is a Celiac…so they take food allergies really seriously.
So…egg rolls. It was an easy thing to prepare, thank goodness…since I totally forgot about them until the very last moment. I already had spinach sautéing and wilting down. Crap. But, thankfully there was a simple pan fry method that would get the food done just in time. I got a non-stick pan heating up on the stove with 1/4 cup canola oil. I kept the heat around medium-high, and really let that pan get warm. As it warmed, I opened up the package of egg rolls and placed them on a plate, microwaving them for 30 seconds. Then, using some tongs, I eased each egg roll, flat side down, into the hot oil. I allowed each one to kook until the side was turning a rich, golden brown, then would flip it over and keep each side browning evenly. Once they were done, I removed the egg rolls from the pan and placed them on a paper towel while I served up the rice and topped it off with our perspective toppings…Cathy’s leftovers and my sautéed spinach.
Then…egg rolls were served…with a side of sweet chili sauce (which happened to be in my fridge).
Let me tell you, I will forever pan fry these egg rolls, which will forever have a place in my freezer for sure. I was SO impressed. First of all, by oven frying them, instead of baking them, I got this amazing golden wrap with the most amazing and perfect crispy texture. The vegetables inside were warmed all the way through and packed with delicious flavor and seasoning. I ate my main dish first and devoured the egg rolls, saying that next time I would just have egg rolls for dinner. Holy cow! Most amazing thing ever. Seriously, delicious. It reminded me so much of the egg rolls I used to devour when I ate Chinese food. This little side dish made me beyond happy. I wanted more. I still want more. DELICIOUS!!
Let’s talk about the ingredients. The Feel Good Foods Gluten-Free Vegetable Egg Rolls are made with all-natural ingredients. The filling in these egg rolls is made up of cabbage, yellow onion, bean vermicilli, carrots, green onion, corn starch, sesame oil, and less than 2% of evaporated cane syrup, ginger, salt, black pepper, yeast extract and shiitake mushrooms. The wrapper is made up from water, rice flour and less than 2% of eggs, salt and soy lecithin. As for the batter…it is a mix of water, rice flour, corn starch, canola oil, eggs, evaporated cane syrup, baking powder, salt, and soybean oil.
As for nutritional information, the Feel Good Foods Gluten-Free Vegetable Egg Rolls aren’t bad at all. Not really. A serving is 1 egg roll, in a box that comes with 3 egg rolls inside. One serving is only 90 calories and 2.5 grams of fat. One serving dishes up 5 mg cholesterol, 400 mg sodium, and 3 grams of sugar. One egg roll also delivers 1 gram of fiber and 2 grams of protein.
I really, really, really want to thank Tryg and Vanessa for these amazing frozen treats. They cooked up perfectly. They were packed with flavor. They were, honestly, one of the best things I have had since having to go gluten free. I wish I could hug them both. Because now I can enjoy egg rolls again. Asian food is coming back into my life…and this proves that I don’t have to it all from scratch. Sometimes I just need a hot pan and a little sweet chili sauce…the rest…Feel Good Foods takes care of.
It truly is food that you can feel good about…and makes you feel good about eating.
In the U2 song, Numb, Bono croons the words “Too much is not enough…” repeatedly over the monotone and droning vocals of the Edge as he lists off things that society, or you, the listener, should not do.
Too much is not enough…
But…what happens when too much is, really, too much? What happens when you cave to the pressures of society, of the media, of work, of your peers, of yourself? What happens when you get into what, you think, are healthy habits…but in reality, you’re only doing yourself more harm? What happens when too much is more than enough?
Welcome to the world, sweetheart! It’s abusive. It’s judgmental. And, if you let it, it will get the best of you. It will get inside your head and tell you that you aren’t good enough, smart enough, fast enough, thin enough…even if, in reality you are. You simply start believing that your best…or, you, in general, are just not enough.
And that’s when it gets dangerous. Because there are many ways this scenario could play out…but the common three are:
You believe those inner demons…and you start taking things to excess.
You ignore it all – you’re happy…no one and nothing should make you feel otherwise.
You become depressed…and stop everything that once made you feel good.
We, as society, and especially women, feel like we have high standards to live up to in this world. Look at what the media feeds us. How many times are we bombarded with beauty magazine covers telling us how we can be thinner, prettier, loved, and why on our own, we just aren’t good enough?
The worst part is…we begin to believe it. We find flaws and faults in our lives, our bodies, our families, our friends, our homes, our food, etc.
So…we turn to things we believe will make us happy. Some of us join fitness clubs, or diet, or join Weight Watchers, or workout from home. And some of us believe we take matters into our own hands. And we pay out $100+ for the latest technology gizmo…to be worn to tell you how lazy you are being and to get up and move your ass.
Yes, friends…I am speaking of those evil activity trackers. Be it the Nike Fuel Band, Jawbone, Garmin, Misfit, Fitbit…or any other item out there…we are shackling ourselves and training our brains to believe that if we don’t rack up enough steps or enough points or get all the lights to flash, then, ultimately, we have failed the day.
THIS…was my life for the last 2 years. And, while these little bands you wear around your wrist are good to, perhaps, provide a usually inactive person with incentive to get active…it becomes a whole new demon when you are already active.
My foray into the world of activity trackers began just after Christmas back in 2012. My roommate had heard me, countless times, say that I wanted a Nike Fuel Band for Christmas. At first, she thought I was interested in another fuel belt for my long runs. That was until I pointed out the commercial that was, literally, everywhere that year during the holidays. Lo and behold…when I returned home from visiting my family for the holidays…a Nike Fuel Band awaited me. I immediately charged it and got it set up to begin tracking my activity.
Meeting goals was easy for me. I am a runner. When I would go out for my morning runs, 5 miles would get me to the pre-set goal. I upped the goal for Fuel Points (yeah…Fuel Points earn you nothing…just bragging rights…or something…which no one really cares about anyway!) and still would meet it, often before the sun came up. I loved my Nike Fuel Band. It was my watch. It tracked my steps (kind of!), it showed me how active I was by lighting up lights. I would start each morning with one red dot. Well…that’s not good. I need to get to the fireworks and the word GOAL. I would get dressed. Head out to run or go to the gym. And, yes, usually by the time I was settling in for coffee…most, if not all, of the lights would be lit up. Goal met…and I still had the rest of the day to go.
It became an obsession. I should have seen the warning signs, but in my head, I was doing something good for me. I was visiting my friend Jenn for New Years that first year. The weather was hideous. Seriously. So, that morning I just sort of…ran in place in her kitchen for what I estimated would be a 5 mile run. My Nike Fuel Band didn’t budge much. But we still had a few stores to hit, a movie to see, and then return home for dinner. But, once we returned home, I was still shy on my Fuel Points, by about 2000 points. I couldn’t believe how often I thought walking around Half Price Books was giving me a good workout, but in reality, it wasn’t doing much. Frustrated that my streak of consecutive days that I hit my goal would be broken, I helped get dinner prepped and in the oven…and then proceeded to run up and down her steps. Yes. I did this probably about 50 times in order to meet my goal. It was the first time it hadn’t been hit by lunch. It was after 7 p.m. But…goal met. My Nike Fuel Band display erupted into the fireworks of red, orange, yellow and green. GOAL blinked at me. I could now relax. I could now actually enjoy my stay. Because…running up and down your friend’s steps is SO much more important than time spent with said friend, right?
Same thing happened when I went to Uitica, New York, to run in The Boilermaker 15K. I was in the car most of the day, and despite little walk/jog sessions at rest stops and lunch stops, and the stroll to and from and around the expo…my goal hadn’t been hit. And it was getting late. My friend, Jean, who I was staying with, was prepping the futon and air mattress for myself and my friends to crash out on. My best friend from high school, Jenn, was visiting that night. We were talking and having a great time getting caught up. but as the evening was winding down, I hit the button on my Fuel Band to check my progress. I wasn’t even in the green lights yet. Goal wasn’t even close to being hit. So, I honest-to-God, stood up and started doing jumping jacks in Jean’s living room. My friends put up with it. Jean even suggested a move she learned in her weight lifting class…seal jacks. I should have been relaxing before a race, enjoying the company with my friends and all, but I was so focused on making that word GOAL flash up on the face of that shackle around my wrist. I got there…finally…and Jenn had to leave and the rest of us had to get some sleep. I felt I could do that now…with a clear conscience. I hit my Fuel Points goal.
Needless to say, my Nike Fuel Band didn’t last 6 months before it literally crapped out on me. It just stopped working. I contacted Nike and they had me send it back to them. I was frustrated that they couldn’t just overnight me a new one because, “how was I supposed to hit my fuel point goal if I didn’t have one to wear?” I was told to use the Nike+ app on my phone, which would help keep my streak alive. I refuse to walk around with my phone attached to me at all times, so I grumbled and groused and mailed off my dead Fuel Band, being told that if it couldn’t be fixed…a new one would be sent my way.
A couple of weeks later, a shiny, new Fuel Band arrived. I had to set everything back up and now start my streak over. It was frustrating. The entire time I was without my little shackle, I didn’t live life any differently. I still went to the gym. I still ran. I did everything I was doing before, I was just doing it without a wristlet to congratulate me on a good effort and a job well done. But, I couldn’t even begin to count the times I said, “I wish I had my Fuel Band.”
That is NOT normal behavior.
But, now I could get back on track. I could earn those worthless and pointless Fuel Points and just kill each day with my activity. I was back.
Until…the Fuel Band choked on me again. This time, I gave up on it. I didn’t want to send it back and wait weeks to receive a new one. I couldn’t fathom being without my little handcuff of activity. I tossed it. And immediately hopped on the Fitbit bandwagon. Because, I obviously wasn’t being active at all…and needed some sort of reinforcement that I was, actually, doing something.
See how this gets into your head?
So, Fitbit it was. The only problem was…this wrist accessory didn’t have a watch. The Fitbit Force hadn’t hit stores yet…so I got the Fitbit Flex, which worked on 5 lights lighting up to let me know if I hit my activity goal. It wasn’t what I was used to…and I hated not having a time option, but…eh…the price I would pay to have something tell me if I was moving or not. I wore this around for a little while, tracking my activities and effort through those lights. The bad part, much like the Nike Fuel Band, was that I’d have to remove it to charge it every couple of days. But, small price to pay.
And, you better believe I picked up the FitBit Force when it hit stores. Now I did have a clock. And it could tell me how many flights of stairs my activity would equal out to be. Yes…this was new and different and fun and…every day I wanted to make sure I hit my steps goal, and see how many flights of stairs that would equal out to be. It was my new thing.
Until I had an allergic reaction to it. Bye-bye Fitbit Force. Back to the Fitbit Flex I still owned. Because, I obviously needed something to tell me how active I was being, right? Right?! Because as a runner and a three-times-a-week gym rat…I certainly wasn’t being active enough. That was how my brain was ticking. I needed to have that extra visual now. I was like an addict…and these activity trackers were my drug. I couldn’t live without it. Even when the tracker broke my wrist out in a rash…I couldn’t go without it.
I started taking spin classes at the gym, and in order to get my activity tracker to realize I was doing something on a bike, I would take it off my wrist and attach it to my shoe. I did this religiously. God forbid I take a fitness class and not get credit for it, right? This is how programmed I had become. I would do things like walk back and forth in a small area in order to get all those lights lit up.
And when I was sidelined with an injury…it became a much more difficult task. I continued to do everything I could to get those lights up without the use of my mileage from running. And I managed it. Up until one day when I was heading out of town for a weekend away. The battery power on my Fitbit was low. I needed to charge it but…oops…I was at the office, needing to get on the road immediately…and my charger was at home. I knew some of the ladies at the office used Fitbit…but none of them had the charger that I needed for mine. I literally was in a frantic panic. I was close to tears. And my roommate sighed and said, “Well…I guess we could swing by the apartment…”
And that was when it hit me.
How blind was I that I couldn’t see this before? This little cuff around my wrist was making me a slave. A slave to normal, everyday, fun activities. My goal wasn’t that I was moving, it was how much I could move and would my bracelet actually pick up on said activity. Would I be the most active person of my group of friends? I had to, and I mean, had to hit that goal every single day. No questions about it. If not, I got frustrated with myself.
Beyond that…an 8 mile tempo run was no longer good enough. If I didn’t hit my goal with run, I had to do more. I was gorging myself on exercise. I was making every waking moment and every movement that I made a competition. One between me and my activity tracker. It was a sickness…and it took my battery dying before a long trip to make me realize just how addicted and how stupid I had become.
I threw it away. That very moment, that very day. I threw it away.
And suddenly…I felt so free. I felt like a huge burden had been lifted from me. Life just…felt so much better. I could breathe again. I could go to spin class and not stress over how fast I could move my feet to get in the “steps” that I felt I needed in order for my active life to have meaning. I no longer dreaded yoga. You don’t get much credit on these trackers for activities like yoga and weights…sure…you’re being active but…HA…you aren’t moving enough for these activity trackers to really register it. All of the pressure I was putting on myself…all of the stress of having to meet a goal each and every day…*POOF*…gone. Just like that.
I have never looked back. My life returned. Suddenly…my hard 8 mile tempo run was enough. I mean, for crying out loud, I had just run 8 miles. That was all I needed.
It also began to occur to me that if I really looked around…it was the weekend warriors who were the ones tied down by their activity trackers. Those who defined themselves as any sort of athlete…professional or simply someone who was active in a particular activity…was not wearing a damn shackle to alert them as to how active they are. They didn’t care how many steps they took or how many flights of stairs that equaled out to. They didn’t care how many inaccurate calories it told them they burned or how many inaccurate miles they had walked/ran/skipped/hopped/biked/slithered/frolicked/somersaulted, etc. They did their activity and it was enough. They cross-trained and it was enough.
I fell into this group. I wasn’t a weekend warrior. I was active throughout the week. I didn’t need a device to judge me or leave me feeling judged. I didn’t need a device to lay a guilt trip on me. Being an athlete means that I live life by the numbers. Pace. Miles. Speed. Distance. Time. I didn’t need to add something else to the mix. Something that, obviously, was putting more stress and more pressure on me. Life is hard enough. Sports are hard enough. Adding more pressure on yourself leads to overdoing it and pushing beyond what you are capable of…sometimes causing injuries.
I didn’t need that kind of pressure in my life anymore. I was doing more than enough as it was. Why become a slave to a stupid little bracelet that either said I was enough or I was a loser. I am an athlete. Not a weekend warrior. I didn’t need it. And, after giving it up, I no longer wanted it either.
Exorcise anorexia…is real. And I was on the very brink of becoming a victim of this serious disease. I wasn’t excessively exercising, but I was doing more than I needed to in my training. I felt my self-worth was only based on my physical performance. When I didn’t place in a race, I was beyond hard on myself. It didn’t matter that I had a good run, maybe even PR’d…I didn’t feel like I was successful because I didn’t live up to the high bar I set for myself.
There is certainly a time and a place for activity trackers, but I think people who already lead active lives don’t need to even bother with them. Weekend warriors or those simply starting to find a way to get fit and active, sure…lock yourself into one of these little wrist shackles. It may or may not make any difference. But if you, like me, are already active…this little device not only adds pressure to your already stressful and difficult routine throughout the week…but it also can lead to damage to your body, poor performance, and…even even disordered eating.
Before you decide to purchase or live your life based off a little activity tracker, I ask you to really ask if it is something you need in your life. Be active. Eat well. Life for yourself. Not lights on a little bracelet. Ditch it…and find your freedom again. It will be the best thing you will ever do for yourself as an athlete.
Trust me.
I had to find this out for myself.
I began this blog with lyrics…I’ll sum it up with lyrics…this time by the amazing Sam Smith.
“Too much of a good thing won’t be good for long…Too much of a good thing won’t be good anymore…”
Everything in moderation. Even the good things. Yes…even the good things.
Product: Van’s Gluten Free Creamy Herb & Garlic Pasta – $3.99+
It was one of those rare visits to Walmart that brought the Van’s Gluten Free Pasta selection into my life. My local Walmart has a small, but very diverse, gluten-free section. I don’t make it a habit to shop there, but if I have to go in there for something, I always swing by that section to see what there is. So often, I find items I haven’t seen anywhere else. That was the case…back then…when it came to the Van’s Gluten Free Pasta meals/sides. I hadn’t seen or found them anywhere else. Now, I pretty much can find them everywhere in the wild…but this was a new thing. And I admit to snatching up all three varieties to add to my pantry.
It is no secret that I am a pasta lover. I mean…growing up, spaghetti was my favorite dinner ever. I would beg my mom to make it each week. I wanted it on my birthday. I wanted it for breakfast. I’m Irish by heritage, but I think I’m Italian somewhere too. What? The pale skin and reddish-blonde hair don’t make you think Italian? HA!
Anyway…these have been sitting on my pantry shelf for a little while now. I never really had a reason to bust them out. I churn through my CSA bin stuff first and then hit up the stuff in my pantry. But, I’ve been on a CSA bin drought this past week as I was away at a friend’s house so put a hold on the bin. This means…dinners were now being prepared by the items I still had in my pantry/fridge/freezer. I am paying off Christmas plane tickets…I wanted as little on my grocery list as possible.
The week was going well. But I realized I have a trip coming up. A fun and exciting trip with my roomie, her sister, and her brother-in-law. Heading to Charleston, South Carolina. I have never been, but everything I have heard about it makes me so excited to be going. I am really looking forward to it. But, what I did realize was that we hadn’t all gotten together to discuss the trip and what we wanted to do. So…we got in touch with Amanda and she said she was able to come over last night. And I was now hunting for a dinner for the three of us.
When I hit up the pantry, my eyes immediately fell on the Van’s Gluten-Free Pasta meals/sides. I pulled out the box…and each box served three. PERFECT. Now it was just a matter of selecting the flavor. I asked my roommate which one sounded good to her, and she said that she was interested in the Creamy Herb & Garlic flavor. With that settled…I was now prepared for dinner for three. I paired it with vegan and gluten-free garlic bread and gluten-free rosemary bread sticks, which were kicking around my freezer.
After work yesterday, I knew Amanda would be on her way. So, I immediately got into the kitchen and put a pot of water on to bring it to a boil. She arrived just as the water was starting up…so it was perfect timing. I opened up the box of Van’s Gluten Free Creamy Herb & Garlic Pasta, being greeted by red penne noodles and a little plastic pouch of seasoning. I removed the pouch and poured the red noodles into the pot, giving it a stir and letting it come back up to a boil. The bread went into the oven to warm through and I spent the rest of the time getting out the almond milk and the vegan butter needed to prepare the rest of the dish. And I was still able to entertain and carry on a conversation. This dish is definitely not labor intensive. LOVE that. As much as I love being in the kitchen, when I have people over, I want to spend my time with them…not hovering over the oven or stove.
The box stated that it would take about 8-10 minutes for the pasta to cook through to the perfect al dente. I think it took about 10-12 minutes for me. But…it eventually got there. I turned the burner down to low and removed the pot from the heat, pouring out the contents and letting the noodles drain. I then dropped the 2 tablespoons of butter and 3 tablespoons of (almond) milk into the pot and let it all melt together. Then…in went the seasoning packet. I gave it a stir and just worked it together until this thick and delicious smelling sauce emerged. Then…the noodles went back into the pan and I stirred it all together, coating each noodle to perfection. There was no excess sauce. Just the perfect amount. And it looked awesome.
The garlic bread and bread sticks finished up and I pulled them from the oven and sliced each one into thirds. Then, I dished up the Van’s Gluten Free Creamy Herb & Garlic Pasta into three bowls and delivered one to Amanda, one to Cathy, and kept one for myself. Dinner was served.
I won’t lie…I was beyond nervous to be serving something up to Amanda that I hadn’t tried yet. She is always willing to try my gluten-free foods and is very patient with me…but sometimes a new product is a bust…and being that this was untested by me…I was just hoping for the best. But…we all came to the same consensus. It was BEYOND delicious. WOW! The flavor profile was amazing. The sauce is creamy, without being too much. It brings this great garlic flavor, without being overpowering. And the earthy herbs lend a depth of flavor to each bite. The red noodles looked fantastic coated in the sauce, and they provided a perfect vehicle for the creamy nature of the sauce itself. We devoured this meal. Honestly. And the entire time couldn’t stop talking about how good it was. SCORE!
I should have known not to doubt Van’s when it comes to their gluten-free products. I haven’t met one I have disliked yet.
Let’s talk ingredients! The Van’s Gluten Free Creamy Herb & Garlic Pasta is made with gluten free penne pasta (brown rice flour, red lentil flour, beet powder, tomato powder), garlic and herb seasoning (reduced lactose whey, rice flour, milk powder, parmesan and romano cheese, natural flavors, salt, sugar, spice, and garlic powder). It is low in fat, low in calories, and filling.
As for the nutrition information, a serving of the Van’s Gluten Free Creamy Herb & Garlic Pasta is 1/3 of the box, or about 2.4 ounces (68 grams). This serving will provide you with 320 calories and 3 grams of fat. You will also be consuming 5 mg cholesterol, 46o mg sodium, and only 2 grams of sugar. That’s really good for a packaged pasta with a sauce. Trust me. And, finally, the serving gives you 3 grams of fiber and 11 grams of protein. Trust me, you may find the serving to appear small, but you will feel full after eating it. It wasn’t just amazing…it felt like a full meal! Perfect serving size of pasta too.
If you are like me and try to keep a few items in your pantry for those nights you don’t really have a lot of time to cook…or want to hit up the grocery store for special ingredients…be sure to keep some of the Van’s Gluten Free Pasta dishes in your pantry. I love how this one turned out and now I can’t wait to try out the other two varieties in my pantry. In addition to the Creamy Herb & Garlic, Van’s Gluten Free Pasta includes flavors such as Ultimate Cheddar Penne and Rotini and Red Sauce. I’m already looking forward to the next excuse to make this easy-to-prepare pasta dinner.
SO much love. You really need to give it a try…seriously. Just…do it!
Product: The YES Bar Macadamia Chocolate Chip Snack Bar – $3.00+
The holiday season is over, and the New Years resolutions have kicked in, right? And so many people place eating better, working out, and losing weight at the top of their list. I am not one of those people. In fact, I don’t ever make New Years resolutions…and I’ll tell you why…I hate not accomplishing a goal I set for myself. I usually just make it a point to live that year to the best of my abilities. That being said, I am doing a little bit of cleaning up when it comes to my diet. And that does mean I am paying attention to ingredients that are in products that I purchase. While I prefer to eat natural and whole foods, there is no escaping the ease and convenience of processed and packaged goods at times.
And thanks to Cuisine Cube‘s Holiday cube (December), my New Year is off to a grand start. Let’s discuss, once again, the benefits and advantages I feel a service like Cuisine Cube offers. Because, if you’ve been reading this, you should be familiar with the service, but perhaps have been wavering on actually signing up. Hesitate no more. Just…DO IT! Cuisine Cube is a mail delivery service that happens monthly, delivering delicious, lesser-known, local, and less-processed gluten-free products right to your door. It’s fantastic. And each month is like Christmas, opening up the box and discovering what goodies are inside. It’s available at different price ranges, depending on how long you wish to order it for…be it month-to-month or a whole year. If you haven’t gone to the site to check it out…do it now. You will not regret it.
Available in each cube is a food that can be used for either a breakfast, a lunch, a dinner, a snack, and a dessert…and sometimes…a bonus. This month…an extra dessert. My sweet tooth stands up and salutes the Cuisine Cube gods and goddesses! But, the product that I tried out this morning was actually the breakfast item that was included.
We all know that I am a huge advocate for breakfast. It is my favorite meal of the day. Honestly. I could eat breakfast for breakfast, lunch and dinner and never get tired of that kind of food. Never.
This morning was one of those mornings where I would rather stay curled up in bed, hibernating under all my blankets. With a hard freeze warning in affect for my area, my 7 mile speed work run was not happening outdoors today. Nope. So, I had to set my alarm to get up early and go to the gym to run…7 miles…on a treadmill…at varying speeds. UGH! But, when training for the Boston Marathon, you do what needs to be done. You just suck it up, cupcake.
After my run, I returned home for breakfast. With my coffee brewing, I needed something easy and fast. I remembered that I still had some products from my December Cuisine Cube…which included a breakfast bar of sorts.
It is called The YES Bar. Yes…The YES Bar. It was created over three years ago in a home kitchen in Laurel Canyon, California. Creator, Abigail, was faced with some food sensitivities and health challenges when it came to her son. And she found herself constantly having to tell him “no” to the foods he wanted to eat. So, she set to work, collecting all the healthy, delicious, and yummy foods that she could find in her kitchen that were naturally free of gluten, dairy, soy and corn. She started with nuts and seeds…added in honey and maple syrup…then vanilla bean powder…cinnamon…dried fruits…and coconut butter. In went hemp and chia for added nutrition. And then…chocolate. Because chocolate should be in everything. And “chocolate is awesome”…she says on the Web site. It took months to get the recipe down and find the right consistency to make these little portable treats of breakfast goodness. From the first taste, even before they were perfected, Abigail’s son loved them. Her other son loved them. Her friends loved them. Her husband loved them. In fact, her husband started using them for his 50 mile bike rides…and then his cycling buddies wanted them. From there it was parties…then people wanting to buy them…then into local stores…and so on.
The YES Bar is a grain free bar, so if you follow a paleo diet, they work for you. I do not follow a paleo diet, nor am I a fan of said diet. But…every single ingredient that goes into these bars is real food. And that is a sticking piont with me these days. The less processed the better. No weird preservatives or binders or fillers. This is not a glorified candy bar. It is a delicious and 100% healthy bar that you can eat for breakfast, after a run, on-the-go, for dessert, or as fuel for your workout. In fact…The YES Bar makes the following promise on their site: “If it’s in our bar, it’s good for you. And when you eat it, it will be yummy. Like, really yummy.”
So, does it live up to all the Web site hype by the creators?
OMG…does it ever!! This is like a Lärabar on crack. The good kind of crack! HA! The package said to try it chilled, so last night I popped it into the fridge so I could enjoy it this morning as a breakfast treat after my treadmill run. It was fantastic. Sweet and savory and salty and just all around amazing and delicious. I loved the crunchy and chewy texture combination. And it was actually quite filling for a bar…and it should be because it is all real and natural ingredients. There is some sugar, but it is part of the dried fruits and the honey and syrup that is added. It’s not granulated sugar of any kind. Gotta love that. And the flavor…amazing. You do feel like you’re cheating on breakfast with this bad. The chocolate gives it that rich sweetness…the dried fruits add to the texture and sweetness, but the nuts give it a salty and savory feel at the same time. It’s like eating candy for breakfast…but candy that is actually good for you!
Since we’re on the subject of ingredients, let me give you a run down of what all goes into The YES Bar Macadamia Chocolate Chip Snack Bar. This bar is made from macadamia nuts, maple syrup, cashews, almonds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, coconut butter, pecans, honey, dark chocolate, raisins, dried cranberries, dried apricots, dried tart cherries, shelled hemp seeds, sesame paste, flax seeds, chia seeds, celtic sea salt, cinnamon, and vanilla bean powder. It is certified paleo friendly, certified gluten-free, and does not contain soy, dairy, gluten, or corn. It is also non-GMO! You gotta love all of that, yes?
As for nutrition, a serving size is one of The YES Bar Macadamia Chocolate Chip Snack Bars. In this one bar, you will be served up a filling 200 calories and 15 grams of fat. Do not freak out over the fat…because it is the healthy fat that comes from the nuts and seeds that are inside this bar. This bar provides you with 105 mg sodium, 160 grams of potassium, and 9 grams of sugar. That may seem a little high for one bar, but it’s mostly coming from the maple syrup, the honey, and the dried fruits. So, it’s not the bad kind of sugar. To top it off, you will be taking in 3 grams of filling fiber and 4 grams of protein. It makes a perfect on-the-go snack and a great post-workout breakfast. Or…eat it while on your long run for fuel. Nothing should be offensive to the stomach. I might have to give that a try next time as I train up for my upcoming marathons!
I am beyond thrilled with The YES Bar Macadamia Chocolate Chip Snack Bar. And I never would have even known of its existence without my subscription to Cuisine Cube. They really do search for the best quality items to go in each cube. And they definitely hit the mark with this California based snack bar company. Loved this bar from first bite. It was great chilled, but I bet it would be just as good straight out of the package. Another win!
If you can’t find The YES Bar near you…be sure to check out their Web site! Trust me…you do NOT want to miss out on these!
North Brooklyn Eats Double Trouble – Double Chocolate Brownie + Heath Bar Blondie
Product Review: North Brooklyn Eats Double Trouble – Double Chocolate Brownie + Heath Bar Crunch Blondie – $8.50+
Double your pleasure. Double your fun. Double your dessert.
Trust me…that is not a complaint.
I was surprised with my Holiday 2014 (December) Cuisine Cube when I found two amazing desserts inside. Even better…two of my favorite things for dessert. Cookies (which I’ll nosh and blog about later) and brownies. Not just one brownie…but two brownies. Pardon me whilst I drool a little.
In case you haven’t been paying attention, back in March I signed up for a fantastic gluten-free food delivery program called Cuisine Cube. Each month, I am sent a box of 5-6 different gluten-free products from smaller and lesser-known gluten-free companies. Some…are just from local bakeries…much like the product I am eating today. Cuisine Cube is a fantastic way to broaden your gluten-free culinary and foodie horizons, because, honestly, I never would have even known any of these products existed for the most part. New to me…and I’m loving it. I have already vowed to hit the Stock Up page on Cuisine Cube’s site more than once to get more of a product that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Dessert x 2 this month. As it should be with the holidays. Hey…I’m a runner and I work out. Dessert is not an option; it’s a way of life. I was raised having dessert every night after dinner…and that tradition carries over even now when I am on my own. It’s the best way to wrap up the day. A little treat at the end.
So, the first dessert I reached for was the one that came with two options. Yes. I am talking about North Brooklyn Eats Double Trouble. Why “Double Trouble?” Well…inside this little unassuming bag are two decadent looking dessert bats. Yes. North Brooklyn Eats included a Heath Bar Crunch Blondie and a Double Chocolate Brownie.
Before I discuss the dessert bars themselves, let’s discuss North Brooklyn Eats for a moment. The local small town bakery is dedicated to making homemade confections that are gluten-free and “don’t suck.” (I pulled that right off the little info thing online!) It is run by two brothers, Josh and Michael Kimberg out of Beacon, NY, in the Hudson Valley. It is the goal of these two brothers to change everyone’s perception of gluten-free dessert. They specialize in gluten-free cakes and muffins, but, obviously, have other baked goods to offer as well, but desserts are their forte.
And yes…they are knocking it out of the park. A simple Double Trouble Home Run!!
As I believe in everything in moderation, including dessert (even if my sweet tooth says otherwise), I only ate one dessert bar at a time. And I split each one with my roommate (who is not a Celiac and doesn’t have to eat gluten-free). We started with (because I deemed it so) the Heath Bar Crunch Blondie.
The only thing I did to this blondie was that I gave it a quick warm up in the microwave. Desserts are always better when warm (when it comes to things like brownies, bars and cookies). It smelled absolutely fantastic when I removed it from the microwave. I got a knife and sliced through the blondie. Immediately I liked what I could see. The edges had this nice crispy border to them (my favorite part of any brownie!) and the inside was soft and chewy. I gave half to my roommate (Cathy), and kept the other half for me to devour. I tucked in under my snuggie (Hey…it’s cold here!) and dove in.
Holy dessert gods!! I have always loved brownies and enjoyed blondies. This blondie was definitely done up very well. The North Brooklyn eats Heath Bar Crunch Blondie tastes like…a Heath Bar…but in a more rich and decadent form. It’s like a sweet snack transformed into a delicious dessert. And I loved it. The blondie was baked to perfection, golden and speckled with toffee and chocolate goodness. It was a nice play of flavors on the taste buds for sure. I was just casually eating each little forkful, until I just had to pick it up and shove it in my face. Well, maybe not so barbarian and brutishly…but I did give up on the fork method as just getting my fingers on this treat was a necessary pleasure. It was moist and crumbly and just perfect. If heaven were a brownie…it would be a blondie! THIS particular blondie!!
The North Brooklyn Eats Double Chocolate Brownie was up the next night. Meaning…it was totally scarfed up tonight. HA! If you love chocolate…you will totally love this. This brownie…think cake-like, not fudgy, is a rich, chocolatey, delicious treat from the first bite to the last. I love that it isn’t overly sweet. It hits all the right notes. The brownie itself is light and soft in the middle, not heavy and dense. I love that. It makes me feel like I can eat more! The edges had that fantastic crunch to them, but inside was all chocolate and all business. Chocolate brownies with chocolate chips. Yeah…you can’t go wrong with that. Insanely good! Double insanely good.
As this is a product from a local bakery in the New York City area…there isn’t any information as to what ingredients they use or the nutrition information. But…they are brownies and blondies…assume it’s a treat. If you’re anything like me…you can split it with a friend or loved one. All the taste, half the guilty pleasure…er…guilt.
Two nights, two desserts, two fantastic dessert bars…all brought to me by the awesome people at Cuisine Cube…as well as the master bakers at North Brooklyn Eats. I’m still dreaming of dessert. If you want the best of both dessert bar worlds…opt for North Brooklyn Eats Double Trouble – Double Chocolate Brownie + Heath Bar Crunch Blondie. Enjoy every last bite! And then…go buy more.
It is naturally gluten free. It is cheesy. It is soft and gooey and amazing. It is one of the most amazing things you will ever eat. I first made Brazilian cheese bread when I used a Chebe bread mix a long, long time ago. But after having the real thing at the Disney World Wine & Dine Festival…Pão de Queijo has been on my mind.
This weekend, I am visiting my friend, Jenn, and we are having a culinary cooking experience, as usual. Last night, to accompany our delicious gluten-free gnocchi main course…we baked up a batch of this amazing Brazilian cheese bread. And…were we ever impressed! Holy cheesy gods of goodness!
So…here’s how we did it…
Recipe: Pão de Queijo (Brazilian Cheese Bread)
Pão de Queijo (Brazilian Cheese Bread)
Servings: 12-30 (we got 30 out of ours)
Time: Prep 10 minutes; Bake 20 minutes
Ingredients:
1 egg
1/3 cup olive oil
2/3 cup milk
1 1/2 cups (170 grams) tapioca flour
1/2 cup (packed, about 66 grams) grated cheese – I used mature cheddar
1 teaspoon of salt (or more to taste)
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 400°F.
Grease a mini muffin tin. Put all the ingredients in a blender, pulse the mixture till smooth. (This mixture keeps in the fridge for up to a week, so you can pre-mix some of this for a quick snack during the week).
Fill the muffin tin, slightly more than two thirds full.
Bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes or until slightly golden.
Serve fresh and warm from the oven.
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Seriously…a great bread to serve up with whatever dinner you are eating. Or have it with breakfast (we are this morning!). Or as a snack. The outside gets golden and a little crispy…but that inside…it is just gooey and soft and just amazing. I am going to make the hell out of this recipe. Over and over and over and over again!
Even if you aren’t gluten-free…you will seriously love these bite-size breads of cheesy goodness. Bake some up now. Do not try to substitute the tapioca flour for a different flour. It won’t be the same. Bake it. Bake it up now!
Product: CoraBella Gluten Free Rice and Potato Gnocchi – $5.50+
Before I was diagnosed as a Celiac, one of my favorite cuisines was Italian food. Guess what? It still is. Growing up, my favorite dinner was my mom’s spaghetti. When my friends had me over for dinner…spaghetti was often on the menu. I was in love with everything about pasta.
But it took a trip to Ireland back when I had my first taste of gnocchi. Yep. Ireland. But then, I was obsessed with it. Little puffy pastas made of flour and potato. Heavenly.
But then…with my diagnosis…gnocchi was off the menu. Sure, there were plenty of recipes out on the Internet for gluten-free gnocchi, but it all just seemed so time consuming. I later discovered a couple of brands of frozen gnocchi. One was horrible. One was good. But, those were the only two times I had it…aside from my one time I made gluten-free pumpkin gnocchi. But none of it equaled up to the “real” thing.
So, you can imagine my excitement when my Winter (December) Cuisine Cube arrived in the mail this past month. If you’ve been reading this blog, you know that I am completely in love with my subscription to Cuisine Cube. Cuisine Cube is a monthly delivery system that brings amazing and delicious to your door. This team of enthusiastic eaters, food professionals, and allergy sufferers from New York City created this gluten-free delivery service to bring lesser-known brands, made by small artisan producers that taste better and are better for you than those gluten-free brands available in supermarkets around the country, to your very own front door. Honestly…check them out and give it a try. It’s my favorite part of each month. Hands down.
In this month’s Cuisine Cube, I received six fantastic and new-to-me products! YAY! I have already reviewed one product from the December cube…but tonight I am reviewing another one. Because tonight was my belated New Year’s Eve party with my friend Jenn in Columbus, Ohio. Jenn does not have to eat gluten-free. She’s Italian. And she, much like me, loves food. We normally cook something at least once on my visit…and I tweeted to her earlier this week about what to do for dinner.
Well, I mentioned that I had a package of CoraBella Gluten Free Rice and Potato Gnocchi that I could bring with me. She said that sounded great…and we would make Pão de Queijo (Brazilian Cheese Bread) to accompany it. And why not? Italian main dish, Brazilian side. This…is what we do. We mix things up.
Well, we got the bread (which is naturally gluten-free!) going in the oven and then set out to make the gnocchi. SO easy.
CoraBella Gluten Free Rice and Potato Gnocchi takes less than five minutes to cook. No joke. Bring water to a boil…and add some salt. Then, add the pasta and allow it to cook until the gnocchi rises to the top. Then let it cook for an additional two minutes, drain, and then serve with your favorite sauce. Yep…that easy.
The CoraBella Gluten Free Rice and Potato Gnocchi cooked up perfectly. Honest-to-goodness pillows of potato pasta. They floated to the top and when drained…looked stunning. Jenn mixed them with a little bit of sauce and dinner was served. I couldn’t wait to give it a taste.
Jenn, my roommate Cathy, and I have all taste-tested the other two brands of gluten-free gnocchi together. We are true gnocchi lovers. Especially Jenn! So…this was a big deal. We’ve had one hit and one miss. But the CoraBella…the CoraBella Gluten Free Rice and Potato Gnocchi…was a home run. The gnocchi itself was very light and soft and…amazing. When your Italian friend says, “This tastes like regular gnocchi!”…you know…you just know that it’s good. And it was. It was beyond good. The pasta didn’t stick together when cooking. The pasta was soft and amazing. It paired well with the red sauce, but it would also be amazing crisped up by sauteeing it in a pan with butter. It was this fantastic bowl of light, fluffy, doughy pasta goodness. SO good. I was beyond impressed. I am planning on hitting up the Cuisine Cube Stock Up site for more. This must forever be in my pantry.
There is a reason that the gluten-free gnocchi is one of CoraBella’s best selling pastas. This pasta is made in Italy using the best raw materials from selected mills so that they can put out a genuine pasta that tastes like it was straight out of Italy. They are doing it right. Trust me. I am so happy with this product. My stomach is still happy with this product. If you haven’t tried CoraBella Gluten Free Rice and Potato Gnocchi…you need to. Stat.
Let’s talk about ingredients, shall we? The CoraBella Gluten Free Rice and Potato Gnocchi is made from rice flour, water, potato starch, salt, lactic acid, and potassium sorbate. It is not only gluten-free, but also sugar free, cholesterol free, and virtually fat free.
As for nutrition goes, a package of the CoraBella Gluten Free Rice and Potato Gnocchi serves 4 people. A serving size is about 4 ounces each. In this serving, you will be eating 210 calories and 0.5 grams of fat. A serving also provides 300 mg sodium and 0 grams of sugar. This serving of gnocchi has 1 gram of fiber and 4 grams of protein.
Seriously…the best gluten-free gnocchi you will ever eat. Amazing. It really is. If you haven’t checked out Cuisine Cube yet…what are you waiting for? And if you’ve never heard of CoraBella Gluten Free Rice and Potato Gnocchi yet…what are you waiting for? Find it. Order it. Enjoy it.
Trust me on this one. There is nothing out there that compares. Just simply the best.
CoraBella Gluten Free Rice and Potato Gnocchi (cooked and served with marinara)
I am, literally, a few hours away from entering 2015. It is often a tradition of mine to lay out my mileage goal for the upcoming year. I did this the past couple of years, surpassing my goal the first year…and falling short in 2014. I had hoped to run 2014 miles in 2014. Then, I was injured for about 3 months, and running wasn’t even an option. So, with my final run of the year logged this morning in the bitter cold (my water bottles froze)…my total mileage this year came out to be 1543.86…leaving me exactly 470.14 miles shy of my goal.
I hate it when I don’t meat goals. It’s aggravating and my perfectionist Virgo self doesn’t handle that well. Not one bit. This goal was definitely obtainable…until my foot was injured. So, this year…I’m doing something a little different.
No mileage goals. I can’t handle another year of disappointment should I, once again, fail to meet them. Part of having goals is obtaining them. In 2014…I just couldn’t hit the mark. It was impossible when I was out for as long as I was.
Get used to disappointment, right?
The thing is…I’m not built that way. This girl is a go-getter. This girl is a fighter. This girl likes results. This girl…is literally falling apart these days. Not physically. But mentally.
You know that book PostSecret?
Well…I have my very own RunSecrets to share…
RunSecret #1
RunSecret #2
RunSecret #3
RunSecret #4
RunSecret#5
RunSecret #6
So…there it is. A look into what has been rolling around in my brain as of late. I’ve slowed down. And, I won’t lie…this bothers me. It bothers me a lot. I feel like I lost quite a bit of fitness and endurance when I had to take a hiatus from running. So…this coming year, I don’t want to set myself up for failure and disappointment. So, I have a few simple goals in mind:
Remain injury free
Run the hell out of the Boston Marathon
Try out a new distance
Travel far and run there
Eat better
Train harder, but smarter
Run with different people at different paces – challenge myself!
Remember that can’t run like anyone else but me…so stop comparing my speeds against my peers
Run a race on my birthday with some friends to celebrate going up an age division
Have more confidence
Overall, 2014 wasn’t a bad year for me. But it sort of just brought about new challenges and some very unexpected rough spots with my running. But, there were high points too. And I came out of 2014 with 6 marathons under my belt, bringing me to 8 full marathons total. I became a Marathon Maniac. I learned how to push myself to my limits in the Dopey Challenge at Disney World. I deepened some friendships (you couldn’t even begin to know how much a text or phone call from my friend Kelsey would lift my spirits during my injury) both on the roads and off. I discovered that marathon running slows you down. I spent a few great races with some of my best friends cheering me on from the sidelines. My grandpa finally got to come to a race and see me run. I only wish I had been in better shape at that point (foot injury was not completely healed). I ran a mile with my 8 year old nephew. He’s amazing. I ran a half marathon on a broken toe.
The difficult part leading into 2015 is going to be overcoming my fears and learning how to just focus on me and not compare myself to others. I can only run as well as I can run. I can’t run like anyone else. What I have lost in speed and fitness…I will gain back. It might be a slow process…but I’ll get there. If there is anything I learned about myself in 2014 it’s that I’m tough…and I am determined. I’ve just fallen a bit off track. But with a little focus and a lot of self-control…I’ll get back to where I’m comfortable. I might even overcome some of my fears.
For all of you who have stuck with me…thank you. Here’s to a wonderful 2015.
Back in November, when I ran the TCS New York City Marathon, my friends and I celebrated my finish by going out to eat…at Marcus Samuelsson’s restaurant, Red Rooster, in Harlem. Amazing meal and amazing experience. When my server came to the table, we explained that we were celebrating my completion of my final marathon of the year and then mentioned my food allergies. He said he would go speak to the chef.
The chef was also a marathon runner and asked if he could create a dish for me. I never turn down this opportunity. I love it when chef’s get a bit creative with the ingredients they have on hand to produce a dish off the cuff. I was more than happy to allow him to do so.
One part of the dish was this amazing curried black-eyed pea dish. I was beyond impressed. So, naturally, I went hunting online for a recipe. And while this is not the exact dish that I had at Marcus Samuelsson’s restaurant, this was one amazing dish. One I was beyond happy to cook up.
I made a few minor tweaks, substituting the cilantro with collard greens. I also used dried ginger instead of fresh. The habanero is important. It adds sweetness and a bit of heat (but it is seeded, so not too much!). Do not leave it out. Also, invest in berbere seasoning. It is my favorite spice on my spice shelf at the moment.
Recipe: Black-Eyed Peas with Coconut Milk and Ethiopian Spices
Black-Eyed Peas with Coconut Milk and Ethiopian Spices
In a large saucepan, cover the peas with water and bring to a boil.
Simmer over moderately low heat until tender, about 40 minutes. Add a generous pinch of salt and let stand for 5 minutes, then drain well.
Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, melt the butter.
Add the onion, ginger, garlic and chile and cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until softened and just starting to brown, about 10 minutes.
Add the berbere and turmeric and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 2 minutes.
Add the tomatoes and cook, stirring, until softened, about 5 minutes.
Stir in the coconut milk and stock and bring to a boil. Simmer over moderately low heat, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes break down and the sauce is thickened, about 20 minutes.
Add the peas to the sauce and cook over moderately low heat, stirring, until the peas are lightly coated, about 10 minutes.
Fold in the collards and serve.
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This definitely had a bit of bite to it. I almost thought it would be too spicy for my roommate, but she said that she could just handle it. I absolutely loved it. Definitely not the dish I had at Red Rooster, but amazing and delicious all its own. And with the New Year almost here, it is often considered lucky to have black-eyed peas and collard greens on New Year’s Day in the South. So, here is an easy, delicious dish where you can enjoy both in a new and different way.
I have the leftovers in my freezer. Can’t wait to enjoy it again at a later date.
Product: Aldi liveGfree Gluten Free Cornbread Mix – $2.99+
Yep…I still have some items from my original pillaging of Aldi back in May for their new (at the time) gluten-free products. The mixes usually take some time for me to actually use. I just have gotten out of the habit of making things from a simple mix. That’s not a bad thing, mind you, except then my pantry remains very, very full.
Well…the other day I discovered a recipe for a Ethiopain dish that I wanted to try to make for dinner. I didn’t want to serve it with rice. But I knew that I wanted something more than just the black eyed peas and coconut milk mixture (with tons of veggies and spices). When I realized that we still needed a habanero pepper for the dish, I sent my roommate out to the store while I got to work on cooking. It dawned on me that I still had the cornbread mix from Aldi in my pantry.
I figured you can’t go wrong with an African dish served alongside a Southern favorite, right?
Let me start by saying that this is actually a very simple mix to put together. Preheat the oven and then mix together 1 egg, 3/4 cup milk (I used almond milk), and 1/2 cup oil. Add the cornbread mix and beat well for around 2-3 minutes. Place in a greased 8×8 baking pan and allow to stand for 10 minutes. Then, pop it in the oven to bake until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. For me, it was between 20-25 minutes.
Aldi liveGfree Gluten Free Cornbread
Somehow, my roommate missed the cornbread baking and cooling, although she entered the kitchen a few times. How that happened, I’ll never know. But, when my Black-Eyed Peas with Coconut Milk and Ethiopian Spices was done simmering…dinner was served. And when I handed her a bowl of the curried black-eyed peas, she seemed most excited about the surprise slice of cornbread. She dove right into it.
“It’s really sweet!” she said, as I prepared my own bowl and plate.
She was right. Very right. I settled into my seat and took a bite of my spicy dish Then…the cornbread.
Sweet. Like…cake. Reminds me of the Mark Lowery riff on Southern cornbread. “Do not put sugar in your cornbread. Sugar in the cornbread is cake.” HAHAHA! Ah…funny. *ahem* Sorry. But, yes…this is a sweet cornbread. Not that it is a bad thing…except I grew up in the North…and we don’t do sweet tea or sweet cornbread. That being said, this was the moistest, best tasting gluten-free cornbread from a mix that I have ever made. I’ve even made some from scratch that haven’t baked up this moist and rich. I can overlook that sweetness for the taste and texture that came out of this mix. I am way beyond impressed. Even more impressive…it reheats beautifully, retaining its moistness. Simply amazing. I would definitely purchase this again in a heartbeat. And you certainly can’t beat that price.
Let’s discuss the ingredients that go into the liveGfree Gluten Free Cornbread Mix. This mix is made up of sugar (yep…first ingredient!), yellow corn meal, white rice flour, potato starch, brown rice flour, tapioca starch, baking powder, natural vanilla flavor, salt, and xanthan gum. This mix is gluten-free, lactose free, nut free, soy free, and wheat free. The mix itself is cholesterol free…but that gets negated when you add the egg.
Speaking of which, how about the nutrition information? A serving size is 1/4 cup of the mix. It makes 12 servings. One serving of the mix is 130 calories and is fat free. One serving will provide you with 360 mg sodium and 11 grams of sugar. One serving also provides 1 gram of fiber and 1 gram of protein.
Sometimes love can come in the form of a simple gluten-free cornbread mix. I was really happy with the way this baked up, the way it tasted, and the way it all came together. Amazing. I have been more than impressed by Aldi’s liveGfree line of products. And this one is right on top! Highly recommended.
The Celiathlete 