The Celiathlete

July 7, 2014

Product Review: Aldi liveGfree Gluten Free Cheese Lasagna

Product: Aldi liveGfree Gluten Free Cheese Lasagna – $3.29

Yep…it’s that time again. Time for another blog about the affordable, and mostly delicious findings from Aldi’s liveGfree gluten-free line. Let me first reemphasize how happy it made me when I was told that for the month of May (also Celiac Awareness Month) Aldi was going to be introducing a test run of their gluten-free products…in a brand known as liveGfree.

I, naturally, hightailed it over to Aldi on Mother’s Day and stocked up on one of everything (save a few items…as they were mixes that I have plenty of already), spending under $30 in the process. For someone who spends over a hundred dollars each week on food for two people…this was a blessing. My only concern was…would it taste good.

And as of right now, only one item (the Aldi liveGfree Gluten Free Southwestern Stuffed Sandwich), has not really lived up to my expectations (for processed and frozen food). So, that’s a good thing, yes? I think so.

After being away all weekend, I had to cancel my bin for the 4th of July as well as for the following weekend (I’m heading out to see Queen!)…so this means no fresh fruits and veggies delivered to me, from which I could concoct a myriad of new dishes. Nope. The next two weeks will be spent living out of the freezer and pantry. Which is okay…because my budget is shot. And I have some travel things I need to really get taken care of in the next couple of weeks. Basically…I have no money…so I make due with what I do have.

And what I do have is a bunch of Aldi liveGfree gluten-free items.

And tonight…really not wanting to spend a lot of time in the kitchen…I decided I would cook up the Aldi liveGfree Gluten Free Cheese Lasagna in the microwave and serve it with the remaining Rudi’s Gluten-Free Rosemary Olive Oil Ciabatta Rolls. That’s what I did. All it required was about 10 minutes in the kitchen. That’s it. And most of that was getting the rolls going in the oven. HA!

Aldi liveGfree Gluten Free Cheese Lasgana (frozen)

As for the Aldi liveGfree Gluten Free Cheese Lasagna…preparation was simple. Remove the tray from the box and cut a slit in the top. Stick tray in the microwave for 5 minutes. Cook. Let stand for 1 minute before removing, serving, and eating. Simple! Love simple. So, as the gluten-free ciabatta was baking in the oven, I got to work on the Aldi liveGfree Gluten Free Cheese Lasagna. Prep was as easy as I stated above and soon the microwave was rocking and rolling, cooking the meal, melting the cheese on top, and just getting it ready for a nosh-fest. The rolls finished up just as the microwave beeped. I let the tray sit for one minute before removing it and carefully peeling away the plastic wrap.

At first glance…not too impressive. Like most frozen meals, the Aldi liveGfree Gluten Free Cheese Lasagna looked like…lasagna. The problem was, the marinara was more than a little watery. *SIGH!* Aside from that, however, it looked like any other frozen lasagna meal. I carefully sliced the lasagna in half, as my roommate and I were splitting it, and then served it up.

The lasagna itself held together well, I must say, not slopping off or falling apart as I sliced it in half and then used a spatula to transfer the half to a plate. It held together. I was impressed. I poured the marinara that was left in the tray over the two slices and then served it up.

It was…what it was. A frozen lasagna. Nothing too exciting to rave about. The best part was the ricotta/romano cheese filling. Honestly. It had great texture and great flavor. It was seasoned perfectly. If the marinara had been less watery, this might have been the perfect frozen meal. For real. The cheese on top wasn’t much, but as I can’t tolerate a lot of cheese…that was ideal for me. It was easy to slice into with a fork and it held together as I brought each bite up to my mouth. Warmed all the way through and to perfection. The soft cheese with the brown rice noodles and the seasonings all came together for one stand-up frozen meal.

Not as good as the Aldi liveGfree Gluten Free Cheese Ravioli…but good enough.

And fast and easy. Convenient food. I’ll take it.

And, for being a frozen meal, the ingredients that go into Aldi liveGfree Gluten Free Cheese Lasagna are fantastic. Seriously. The tomato sauce is made from chopped tomatoes, onions, garlic, canola oil, butter, parsley, basil, sugar, and black pepper. The dough from which the noodles are made are made from rice flour, corn starch, tapioca dextrin, water, whole eggs, canola oil, xanthan gum, salt, guar gum, and sodium alginate. The filling is simply whole milk ricotta cheese, romano cheese, eggs, salt, and parsley. And finally, the mozzarella cheese on top is simply made from pasteurized whole milk, cheese culture, salt and enzymes. While not exactly clean eating, I’d be hard-pressed to find another frozen meal with an ingredient list like that. Real, recognizable, and quality. The Aldi liveGfree Gluten Free Cheese Lasagna is gluten free and wheat free.

As for nutrition…well…for a frozen meal, it’s not bad. My roommate and I split it, but if you were to eat a serving size, it would be the entire slice of lasagna. This serving would provide you with 410 calories and 17 grams of fat. You would be taking in 105 mg cholesterol, 520 mg sodium, and 6 grams of sugar. Finally, you’d be consuming 4 grams of fiber and 17 grams of protein. It is filling. Even half of it is filling…trust me.

With the exception of watery marinara, I absolutely found this to be an enjoyable frozen meal from Aldi. If I were eating it on my own, it wouldn’t have needed the roll to accompany it. Trust me…I’m full on just half of the lasagna. That’s saying something. My hat is off to Aldi and the quality of their liveGfree line. It’s quite evident in each product that I have tried so far how they strove for quality, using real ingredients and just trying to get that flavor right. I’m beyond impressed!

I sincerely hope that they continue to keep the line in the stores…because this is gluten-free food I can totally afford. And enjoy!

Aldi liveGfree Gluten Free Cheese Lasagna (cooked)

July 7, 2014

Product Review: My Dad’s Cookies Gluten-Free Vanilla Grahams

Product: My Dad’s Cookies Gluten-Free Vanilla Grahams – $7.99+

After the joyous introduction to My Dad’s Cookies with the Gluten-Free Black & White Cookies, which I reviewed last month, I was back at my new grocery store, Lucky’s, and wanting more. Wanting to see what else My Dad’s Cookies had to offer. Since it seemed Lucky’s carried every single product that this cookie company produced…I wanted to give something else a try and see if it won me over as much as the Gluten-Free Black & White Cookies had recently. As I perused the table which held the offerings, I narrowed it down to two choices…the Vanilla Grahams or the Lemon Drop Cookies.

It was a tough decision…and had the budget been able to stretch a little more, I would have just purchased both. But, as it was…only one could make the journey home with me.

Ultimately, I went with the Gluten-Free Vanilla Grahams.

After polishing off the vegan ice cream in my freezer, it was time to put this new kind of cookie from My Dad’s Cookies to the taste test. And that’s what I did one evening last week. It was, literally, all I had in the apartment for a nice dessert. So I doled out a serving of square cookies with a chocolate drizzle on top to both my roommate and I. She got to eating hers first…as I was doing some minor kitchen clean-up after the dinner I had prepared. She took a bite…and when I asked what she thought…I noticed a shoulder shrug and got the dreaded, “Eh…it’s okeedokee.”

Uh oh.

Did the cookie monster voodoo of finding awesome cookies fail me? Did I choose unwisely? I was in a panic…so I grabbed one of my Gluten-Free Vanilla Grahams and popped it into my mouth. Yes…the entire thing. Yes…I am capable of doing that.

While the My Dad’s Cookies Gluten-Free Vanilla Grahams aren’t awful…they weren’t great either. I felt my heart sink, actually, upon eating this. I loved the chocolate drizzle on the top as it provided some much-needed flavor, but the rest of the cookie just seemed dry…and bland. It didn’t even have that vanilla flavor that I expected. It was sweet…but not packed with flavor. It was crispy, but seemed…a bit dry and a bit…of a let down. Seriously. I’m a cookie monster. I love cookie things…even graham cracker cookie things. Man…I can eat the hell out of some gluten-free graham crackers. But these were, by far, bland…just bland. With the texture of a cross between shortbread and Nilla wafers…it was just an odd mix. I have decided that the remaining cookies will be doctored up some…using the My Dad’s Cookies Gluten-Free Vanilla Grahams as the graham portion of homemade s’mores. Which will be on the menu in a couple of days for sure. I can’t wait to stuff them with a slab of dark chocolate and some Fluff…which I will then toast with my kitchen torch. Perhaps this will get the much desired effect the Vanilla Grahams failed to deliver the first time I ate them.

Meh.

But…as always I have to at least fill you in on what these cookies are made from, right? Of course. The My Dad’s Cookies Gluten-Free Vanilla Grahams are made from gluten free flour blend (tapioca flour, brown rice flour, white rice flour, soy flour, potato starch, xanthan gum), sugar, water, organic palm oil, chocolate dip (sugar, soybean oil, cocoa, chocolate liquor, salt, vanilla extract), vanilla extract, cinnamon, agave syrup, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt. These cookies are gluten-free, egg-free, dairy-free and nut-free.

Nutritionally speaking, these cookies are pretty awesome as far as serving size and calorie/fat content. A serving of the My Dad’s Cookies Gluten-Free Vanilla Grams is 3 cookies. From this serving you will be taking in 150 calories and 6 grams of fat. You will be consuming 45 mg sodium and 9 grams of sugar. That’s not bad for cookies! None of that is. And finally, you will be taking in 1 gram of fiber and 2 grams of protein. These are not filling. These are a treat. A dessert. A snack.

After all the praise I gave to the My Dad’s Gluten-Free Cookies Black & White Cookies, these were more than a bit of a let down. My only hope is that by adding some dark chocolate and marshmallow fluff to the center, I can bring out bolder flavors and maybe just turn the flavor profile up a bit on the My Dad’s Cookies Gluten-Free Vanilla Grahams. I so wanted to love these…but I just couldn’t. Not one bit. I like them…but not enough to purchase them again. I hope the next gamble I take with the next product from My Dad’s Cookies Gluten-Free products is a better one.

June 30, 2014

Product Review – Freedom Foods Nut & Dairy Free Smudge Cocoa Spread

Product: Freedom Foods Nut & Dairy Free Smudge Cocoa Spread – $3.99+

I absolutely LOVE Nutella. I love it. There is something so amazing about that flavor combination of chocolate and hazelnut. And while sometimes Nutella and I get along like old friends…there are other times I have a reaction to the dairy that is in it…and then…we don’t get on so great.

So…I stopped with the Nutella. As much as I could. Every now and again…I would risk that small bit of dairy. I don’t get it with me and dairy. Sometimes…a little bit doesn’t affect me. Other times, even the slightest bit of it does. Ah, food intolerance. So much fun! *dripping with sarcasm*

As it was…I would gaze longingly at the Nutella at the grocery store…thinking…maybe…just maybe it would be okay this one time. But, then I would recall how I would feel afterwards and…well…it wasn’t worth it. While naturally gluten-free Nutella does contain skim milk, whey, and soy. I don’t always get along with those ingredients. So, bummer.

Until…until that blessed day I was grocery shopping at my local Kroger and came to the gluten-free end cap that usually holds the same products it has held since…they first put it up. But there was something different. Something…exciting. Foods from my beloved Freedom Foods. I am hooked on their Tropico’s cereal, which my parents have to mail to me. We have a few of their products here now. And, while I didn’t spot it, my roommate did. And she picked it up off the shelf and went…”NUTELLA!”

Sure enough! This little jar of cocoa goodness goes by the name Smudge. Smudge. I love it. It’s so…cute!

And since everything I have tried from Freedom Foods has been delicious, this was a splurge I was willing to pay for. Splurging on Smudge. That’s my life. That had to be done!

So, for an entire week it sat on my pantry shelf with nothing to be spread on. That is until my roomie went grocery shopping and found Udi’s Gluten-Free Bagels on a “huge stupid sale” at one of our various grocery stores we frequent every week. So…bagels!! And I know that Nutella and Nutella-ish spreads are amazing on bagels. Like…dessert for breakfast. So, this morning after my spin class…I came home and put the bagels in the oven to toast while I took a shower and got changed for work. By the time I was out, the bagels were ready. It was time to schmear the Smudge!

This spread was a rich, dark chocolate color and very smooth. It smelled like bittersweet chocolate and happiness. Because if happiness was a smell, it would smell like chocolate. Trust me. It was so easy to spread over the toasted bagel, a tablespoon to each half. I did a test for my roomie, putting the Freedom Foods Nut & Dairy Free Smudge Cocoa Spread on one of her halves and Nutella on the other half. Just for comparison reasons. She liked both, but I noticed she saved Smudge for her last bite. So when I asked, she said it was good…less sweet than hers. Nice.

As for my thoughts…Holy Chocolate Goodness, Batman!! Freedom Foods just won my heart, my stomach, and the rest of me. If there is a pleasure switch when it comes to taste, this one flipped it. It was just as smooth as it spread on the bagel. It was chocolatey, without being too much. It wasn’t hot fudge chocolate, but perhaps chocolate syrup chocolate. And now I can imagine drizzling this over a scoop of dairy-free ice cream. Oh, Freedom Foods Smudge is one happy spread, bite-for-bite-for bite. You’ll want to lick your fingers clean. I did. And maybe my plate too. This is Nutella without the nuts and the dairy and the soy. This is Nutella on happy steroids for people like me…suffering from food allergies and only being able to pass by the product in the store and think about what could have been.

Smudge…makes it all better. Smudge…makes life better.

I seriously could eat the entire jar with a spoon. I am going to attempt to not do that. No promises though…

Freedom Foods is an Australian company that takes great pride in their products they put out on the market. Since they say something is “free from” something…they mean it. And, they adhere to the Food Standards Code of Australia and New Zealand, keeping their products free of anything genetically modified. In addition. All of their products are free from nuts and gluten. And, in addition, they use no artificial colors or flavors. All natural. All good!

So, what makes up Freedom Foods Nut & Dairy Free Smudge Cocoa Spread? Simple. This chocolatey spread is made from vegetable oils, maltodextrin (maize), raw sugar, cocoa (10%), tapioca starch, inulin, emulsifier (sunflower lecithin), vegetable gums (locust bean, xanthan), flavors, sweetener (steviol glycosides), sea salt. Not 100% clean…but still…YUMMY!! This product is gluten-free, nut-free, wheat-free, dairy-free and lactose-free.

As for nutrition, a serving of the Freedom Foods Nut & Dairy Free Smudge Cocoa Spread is 2 tablespoons. This serving delivers 210 calories and 12 grans if fat. So…yes, eating the entire 9.2 ounce jar with a spoon is probably not recommended. A serving also serves up 35 mg sodium and 12 sugars. This product is cholesterol free. Two tablespoons will also provide you with 1 gram of fiber and 1 gram of protein. In the long run – not filling. That’s why you put it on a carby, fiber-filled bagel. Mmmm…

Trust me on this one…it is amazing. So…it’s not Nutella. For someone like me…it’s so much more than Nutella. And, honestly…I like it better. Thank you, once again, Freedom Foods…because of you Smudge is my new go-to spread. I am in chocoholic heaven!

Also…it’s fun to say schmear of Smudge. HA!

Freedom Foods Nut & Dairy Free Smudge Cocoa Spread (on a gluten-free bagel)

What are our products free from, and just how ‘free from’ are they?

For us, what we leave out of our products is just as important as what we put in. When we say a product is ‘free from’ something, we make sure it really is.

Nuts

• All Freedom Foods cereals and bars are made in our Stanbridge factory, which does not use, and tests rigorously for, the presence of peanuts, almonds, hazelnuts and walnuts.

• We also work with our raw material suppliers to ensure anything we bring into our factory hasn’t been exposed to nuts.

• If our box states the product is nut free, that means no peanuts, almonds, hazelnuts or walnuts can be detected. (While we’d love to test for every single type of tree nut, there’s just not an approved test available just yet. We’ll get there.)

• Please note: A few of our products are made in other factories that may have nuts, so always check the packaging before you buy or give us a call.

Gluten

• Our Stanbridge factory is completely free from wheat, rye, barley and triticale and we also make sure the oats we bring on site are not contaminated with wheat.

• As for testing, every batch of our finished product is tested ensure no gluten is detected.

Artificial Colours & Flavours

• While other leading snack brands sneak artificial colours and flavours into their foods, we don’t. You won’t find a single artificial colour or flavour in any of our products. And trust us, you won’t miss them.

Genetically Modified Ingredients

• We’re proud to say that all Freedom Foods products are free of genetically modified ingredients. We adhere to the Food Standards Code of Australia and New Zealand, if you’d like to learn more about our standards.
How can we guarantee our foods are free from all of the above? Check out How We Do It.

– See more at: http://www.freedomfoods.com.au/what-were-free-from#sthash.8SjjxHU5.dpuf

For us, what we leave out of our products is just as important as what we put in. When we say a product is ‘free from’ something, we make sure it really is.

Nuts

• All Freedom Foods cereals and bars are made in our Stanbridge factory, which does not use, and tests rigorously for, the presence of peanuts, almonds, hazelnuts and walnuts.

• We also work with our raw material suppliers to ensure anything we bring into our factory hasn’t been exposed to nuts.

• Please note: A few of our products are made in other factories that may have nuts, so always check the packaging before you buy or give us a call.

Gluten

• Our Stanbridge factory is completely free from wheat, rye, barley and triticale and we also make sure the oats we bring on site are not contaminated with wheat.

• As for testing, every batch of our finished product is tested ensure no gluten is detected.

Artificial Colours & Flavours

Genetically Modified Ingredients

– See more at: http://www.freedomfoods.com.au/what-were-free-from#sthash.k7reomFu.dpuf

For us, what we leave out of our products is just as important as what we put in. When we say a product is ‘free from’ something, we make sure it really is.

Nuts

• All Freedom Foods cereals and bars are made in our Stanbridge factory, which does not use, and tests rigorously for, the presence of peanuts, almonds, hazelnuts and walnuts.

• We also work with our raw material suppliers to ensure anything we bring into our factory hasn’t been exposed to nuts.

• Please note: A few of our products are made in other factories that may have nuts, so always check the packaging before you buy or give us a call.

Gluten

• Our Stanbridge factory is completely free from wheat, rye, barley and triticale and we also make sure the oats we bring on site are not contaminated with wheat.

• As for testing, every batch of our finished product is tested ensure no gluten is detected.

Artificial Colours & Flavours

Genetically Modified Ingredients

– See more at: http://www.freedomfoods.com.au/what-were-free-from#sthash.k7reomFu.dpuf

June 29, 2014

Product Review: Quest Bar Peanut Butter and Jelly

Product: Quest Bar Peanut Butter and Jelly – $2.39+

This was it. The final Quest Bar that I picked up on my excursion to Jungle Jim’s back in April. I have been more then…ehhhh…on these bars. Which, honestly, makes me sad because I heard so many people talk them up. I had such high hopes for them. And from the first one (too chewy)…to the next one (still hurt to chew so much)…to this…the last one…I stick with my initial assessment.

The Quest Bar Peanut Butter and Jelly was my post-run protein this weekend. I’m really short on money right now…so catching a bite out was not happening. Ice cream didn’t even happen this weekend. Yeah. And it was a miserably humid weekend. Ice cream would have been the best thing ever. But…budgets are budgets and have to be lived with. So…following my run, this…was my breakfast.

As mentioned before, I’m on the fence. I don’t know whether I like these or loathe them. And this one in particular…kind of has me perplexed more than usual. Because…as with the previous one…it tastes just like the wrapper describes it. It tastes…like peanut butter and jelly. More like jelly…strawberry jelly…but it has that peanut butter flavor in there as well. So, the taste and flavor are totally there.

But that chewy texture. That overly chewy texture that makes my jaw ache after having to chew it down to some semblance of something I can swallow…that’s what is offputting on these. Otherwise, I’d be all about them. But, the fact that all three of them, some more than others albeit, have brought about an ache in my jaw from the amount and intensity of chewing I have to do in order to get it down…speaks volumes. It tells me…that these bars are not worth the money.

Sure, flavor-wise, they are spot on. All three have tasted like what they are advertised to taste like. This one, especially, does a great job with the flavor profile. That being said, I just can’t handle this thick, tough bar. After I run, I have the runchies and am rungry. The last thing I want to do is go to battle with my food. Usually I don’t want to chew all that much either…so…yeah…this, while great nutrition-wise after a long run, not so great as far as actually being able to consume it easily. My jaw should not feel like it has run a marathon.

I have read, however, that if you microwave these bars, they get soft and that almost-gooey consistency of a fresh-baked cookie. I don’t travel with a microwave, however, and as these are meant as meal replacements or supplements, I don’t think a microwave should even factor into the equation. Fine if you’re at a gym where there is one that is accessible. That isn’t the case at my gym…because I use these on days my gym is the open road that goes on for miles. Many…many…many miles!

Too bad. I was so excited about the Quest Bars.

Let’s talk ingredients in this bar. The Quest Bar Peanut Butter and Jelly is made from a combination of protein blend (whey protein isolate, milk protein isolate), isomalto-oligosaccarides (prebiotic fibers derived from plant sources), peanuts, almonds, water, sea salt, lo han guo, sucralose, and natural flavors. Where the jelly flavor comes from…I couldn’t even tell you!

Nutritionally speaking, a serving size is one bar. One bar contains 200 calories and 10 grams of fat. Much of that fat is from the almonds and peanuts that are involved. Those are healthy fats. This bar contains less than 5 mg of cholesterol, 320 mg sodium, and only 2 grams of sugar. That low sugar is one of the things that drew me to these bars. This bar has 17 grams of fiber and 20 grams of protein. FILLING! Too bad it wasn’t filling and delicious.

So…I think this is where Quest Bar and I part ways. Sadly. I was so excited to try these, and then they went and let me down…in a big way. They were just a disappointment to me. And I was just expecting so much more from them. The Quest Bar Peanut Butter and Jelly…was the last bar in my drawer…and will be the last Quest Bar in my drawer. On to trying something else that is new and different…

I gave it a shot…but these aren’t all they are cracked up to be.

June 28, 2014

Product Review: Luna & Larry’s Coconut Bliss Dark Chocolate Bars

Product Review: Luna & Larry’s Coconut Bliss Dark Chocolate Bars – $5.99+

Maybe it was my non-existent trip to the Comfy Cow today…because that happens every weekend. But I’m broke. And I’ve been craving chocolate. Like…totally craving chocolate. Ice cream always sounds amazing, but it sounds phenomenal on a hot, humid June day too. The problem was…it was not even 2 p.m. when the chocolate craving hit. I also knew…I crave chocolate a lot…so the craving would remain all day until I finally got dessert.

It’s WORLD CUP, baby! And lately I’ve been having this thing with serving up “pub grub” type meals while we watch the matches. Tonight…it was a gluten-free and vegetarian bar-b-que “chicken” pizza. Because pizza is bar food…HA! It’s also delicious. I never turn down gluten-free pizza (especially when I get to piece it together at home…on top of an Annie May’s Sweet Café Vegan & Gluten-Free Crust)!

And for dessert…chocolate. It has to be chocolate. Because I have wanted chocolate all day. Thankfully…I remembered that I had received a free box of Luna & Larry’s Coconut Bliss Dark Chocolate Bars from my local Earth Fare during one of their great deals that came over my app one day. Spent $5 and get free frozen dessert box. Heck yeah…I’ll take advantage of that deal.

I have heard about Luna & Larry’s Coconut Bliss frozen desserts for years. They have won numerous awards for their ice cream treats. All of which, mind you, are dairy-free, soy-free, and gluten-free. Award winning ice cream in numerous magazines and food awards? Yes…I needed these in my life. And by getting a free box of them at Earth Fare…I totally could finally justify it. Now…it was time to see what all the fuss was about…

OH. MY. FROZEN. GOD.

Seriously. Let all others go. (See what I did there?) This was one of the most delicious, rich, decadent, non-dairy treats I have had the wonder of feasting on. And feast, I did! It’s a high-class fudgsicle. The dark chocolate and coconut milk is the perfect blend. No coconut aftertaste. Just really fantastic frozen goodness. This is a treat to be enjoyed. I polished mine off and it took all of my will power not to go grab another one from the freezer. Yes…these are seriously that amazing. I was blown away. Rich, chocolate flavor…just the right amount. Sweet, but not too sweet. And a major serious yum factor.

Ingredient-wise…the Luna & Larry’s Coconut Bliss Dark Chocolate Bars are made up from organic coconut milk, organic agave syrup, organic fair trade cocoa, and organic vanilla extract. Clean eating dessert right there. LOVE IT!! And these frozen delights are free of dairy, soy, and gluten…three things that can and do mess with my system! Could this BE any better?

Nutritionally speaking…a serving size is 1 bar. This one little dark chocolate treat will serve up 170 calories and 11 grams of fat. Don’t freak out…these are made from coconut milk. It’s a healthy fat. These bars also will dish out 10 mg sodium and 11 grams of sugar. These are cholesterol free. And, finally, these bars provide your body with 3 grams of fiber and 2 grams of protein. Mmmm…dark chocolate filling frozen dessert bars. *licks lips*

After finishing the Luna & Larry’s Coconut Bliss Dark Chocolate Bar, I turned to my roomie, who was finishing hers off as well, and said, “Now we need a pint of their ice cream!” She totally agreed. So next time I have some room in the budget…a pint of the Luna & Larry’s Coconut Bliss ice cream is coming home with me. It will happen because this was a taste of frozen heaven. For real! Coconut bliss for sure!

Luna & Larry's Coconut Bliss Dark Chocolate Bar (unwrapped) — Luna & Larry’s Coconut Bliss Dark Chocolate Bar (unwrapped)

June 28, 2014

Product Review: Beyond Meat Grilled Chicken-Free Strips

Product Review: Beyond Meat Grilled Chicken-Free Strips – $4.99+

As a gluten-free vegetarian…sometimes it is difficult to find those meat replacements that offer a good bit of nutrition as well. Mainly…don’t feed me chemicals…feed me something that is real and made from real things. The problem being, most of the vegan “meats” on the market contain vital wheat gluten…meaning…it’s off limits for this Celiac.

So, when I spotted this product in Whole Foods, I couldn’t wait to give it a try. Seriously. I bought two different kinds, sticking the Grilled in the freezer and the Southwest Style came out and was featured in a vegetarian version of a family favorite…”Mexican ‘Chicken’ Casserole.” The original recipe featured real meat (because…I used to eat meat!). I had to change it up when I became a vegetarian…and then change it up even more when I had to go gluten-free.

Good thing I’m resourceful, yes?

Well…in some weird stroke of roommate brain…both my roomie and I had this mad idea that a BBQ “Chicken” Pizza needed to happen at some point…this weekend. And with the World Cup in full kick (HA!)…I figured it might be a delicious food to enjoy the Columbia v. Uruguay match with. Dinner during matches has been my gluten-free and vegetarian (and sometimes vegan) take on pub grub and bar food. Because…WORLD CUP, BABY! I found it weird that I had been planning this pizza all week (seriously, because I had an Annie May’s Sweet Café Pizza Crust of Allergen-Free Awesomesauce in the freezer) and then she all-out says that we needed to have that kind of pizza while we were out on a stroll on Friday morning. NO JOKE! Brainwaves…woohoo…freaky!

Tonight…it happened. And the “chicken” aspect of this dish was provided by…Beyond Meat Grilled Chicken-Free Strips. I had her pull the package from the freezer to allow it to sit in the fridge while we were out for the first half of the day. Give it a bit of natural thaw time. When I got back from an early morning run and then a couple of errands…and some sifting through piles of…stuff…it was GAME ON for World Cup. We watched the Brazil v. Chile match and watched it go down to penalty kicks in a nail-biting ending that put Brazil as the winner! As the post-game show went on, and the pre-game for the Uruguay match came on…I headed to the kitchen to shred some cheese (my roommate picked up a local one that had some kick to it!), chop some onion, and get the oven preheated to 450°F in order to get the pizza crust to perfection. I got all the items together, pulled the Beyond Meat Grilled Chicken-Free Strips out of the fridge, chopped them into bite-size pieces, and started to lay out the pizza toppings. It started with Stubbs Original BBQ Sauce. Then…the onion. Then the “chicken” strips. The cheese. And then I drizzled some BBQ sauce on top. Into the oven…and I let it go for about 15 minutes…so as not to get the crust too done.

Trust me…as it was baking in the oven…it smelled AMAZING! So when my timer went off and the match was just starting, I scurried to get the pizza out of the oven and slice it up for consumption. My roomie and I were splitting the 9 inch crust. I cut it into six slices and plated everything up. I took hers out to her and she immediately dove in. We hadn’t eaten since breakfast at 9 a.m. So, the 4 p.m. dinner just seemed natural. She took a bite and said, “That is restaurant quality flavor!” Made me feel good. I sliced mine, came out to the couch and settled in for the match.

Oh yes…this was good pizza.

But how did I find the Beyond Meat Grilled Chicken-Free Strips? Well…as someone who hasn’t done the faux meat thing in a long while…it’s not bad. It doesn’t taste anything like chicken. In fact, I’d go as far to say that it has the great texture of the Quorn chicken strips, and the flavor of the Morningstar versions. Both of which are off limits to me now…but both of which I used to consume when I could. You won’t confuse these for the “real” thing, but the texture is perfect. The flavor…is decent. It’s okay. I loved the smokiness from the grill marks on this version. It was the perfect one to have on top of the pizza, for sure. That might be from the fact that these strips are grilled over a mesquite fire with molasses. So, they have that great sweet and smokey flavor that marinated and grilled chicken would have. It was good for what it is.

So…what exactly is Beyond Meat made from? Well, the ingredients for the Beyond Meat Grilled Chicken-Free Strips include: water, non-GMO soy protein isolate, pea protein isolate, amaranth, vegan chicken flavor (maltodextrin, yeast extract, salt, natural flavoring, sunflower oil), non-GMO expeller-pressed canola oil, non-GMO soy fiber, carrot fiber, white vinegar, spices, salt, molasses powder, garlic extract, hickory smoke powder, onion extract, lemon juice concentrate, evaporated cane juice, dipotassium phosphate, titanium dioxide (for color), potassium chloride, paprika extract. It isn’t exactly clean eats…but when you’re a gluten-free vegetarian trying to make a “chicken” dish…you work with what you have, yes? Yes! This product is vegan, gluten-free and cholesterol free.

Nutrition-wise…a serving of this product is 1/4 of the package or about 6 strips. This serving provides 120 calories and 3 grams of fat. This serving will also provide you with 360 mg sodium. However…this product contains no sugar. None. And finally, you will be benefiting from 2 grams of fiber and 20 grams of protein!! That’s fantastic. It has as much protein as regular chicken. Be still my vegetarian heart!

Another solid “chicken” product from Beyond Meat. Honestly…it worked so well on this pizza crust. I almost wish we had money this week to get another crust because I would have reprised the dish tomorrow night too. I enjoyed it that much. Really good. And thanks to Beyond Meat…I was able to have some semblance of a faux-meat pizza again. Is it the best I’ve ever had? No. But it will do. Because, honestly, it’s one of the only options out there. That being said…it is definitely worth purchasing again. So glad I have 4 more in my freezer!

Gluten-Free BBQ “Chicken” Pizza made with Beyond Meat Grilled Chicken-Free Strips

June 27, 2014

Product Review: Trader Joe’s Polenta Provencale with Spianch & Peas in a Spicy Cream Sauce

Product: Trader Joe’s Polenta Provencale with Spinach & Peas in a Spicy Cream Sauce – $3.49+

It’s Friday.

It’s Friday, and despite getting paid today, I have no money. Which totally thwarted my plan to have gluten-free pizza away from home today. Seriously. The last thing I wanted to do after the day I had today was cook. I was having those, “I don’t want to be in that damn tiny kitchen any longer than I have to!” But, that’s not happening today. That’s not happening for a long time at this point.

*SIGH*

But I burden you with things that have nothing to do with this blog or product. Sorry. Just a little anecdote to explain why I ended up with my head and arms in the freezer, trying to find something that was not labor intensive or requiring much else in the means of cooking. I had a few options…though not too many…but decided that since it had been in the freezer the longest, the Polenta Provencale I picked up at Trader Joe’s a long while back was going to have its moment to shine.

This is generally used as a side dish…but it was going to be a meal for my roomie and I. So, I cooked up the entire package instead of just two portions of it. Those would have been really small portions…but for a side, I suppose that’s what you need. HA!

Anyway…I put my pan on the stove and turned on the burner to a medium-high heat, as instructed on the bag of frozen product suggested. I cut open the packaging and peeked inside to see little orange balls of corn goodness with some greens. All clotted together by ice. Beautiful. I sighed…and poured it into the awaiting hot pan.

It took about a minute or so for the ice to melt in order for me to break up the clumps of polenta and vegetables, but once that happened…so did the magic of this dish. I went to get cups down for a drink to have with dinner…and when I came back to stir, while the polenta was still frozen, the spinach and the peas were now turning a gorgeous green and a sauce was beginning to show up in the pan. This gorgeous…orange sauce. It also was starting to smell really, really good. Okay…maybe this wouldn’t be so bad. I left it to cook some more and poured drinks, walking them out to the living room and setting them on the table. I returned and gave the dish another stir. The polenta was starting to soften, meaning it wasn’t all the way frozen now. Thank goodness. I could see tomato now in the sauce. And the sauce was getting thicker. It all finished up just as the roommate emerged from her bathroom from her shower. Perfect timing. I got down two bowls and split the contents of the pan evenly.

I delivered the dishes to the table and settled in to enjoy my little bowl of Trader Joe’s straight-from-the-freezer-to-your-stove meal…and hoped it was good. I had no Plan B today. But…I’d think of something if I had to. I’m good at that in a pinch…especially when I’m hungry and food is involved.

So…it wasn’t the pizza I was craving.

However…it was good. I think it’s a bit misleading to call the sauce “spicy.” Personally, if I wasn’t so comfortable in my seat, I would have added a touch of hot sauce or some red pepper flakes to kick up the heat a little. My roomie, who is a spice wimp…well…she didn’t say one word about any heat or spice…nor did she suck down most of her drink upon the first few bites. This, my dear foodies, means…it’s not spicy. The polenta gets soft, without getting mushy. And the vegetables are the perfect accompaniment to the dish. The spinach absorbs that sauce and the peas add to the texture. But it’s that sauce that ties everything together. That sauce…although not spicy…was fantastic. I devoured this…chewing and swallowing of course…but devoured. I savored it as long as I could, but it was, for a meal from a freezer, really good!

I want to try to make it on my own…like…from fresh ingredients. Not frozen. Hmmm…

Speaking of ingredients…this package of Trader Joe’s Polenta Provencale with Spinach & Peas in a Spicy Cream Sauce contains relatively few ingredients in the grand scheme of things. The ingredients in this dish include polenta (made from water, corn flour, salt, and dried skim milk), crushed peeled tomatoes, creme fraiche, spinach, peas, tomato, cow’s milk cheese, olive oil, salt, garlic, strong chili pepper, basil, modified rice starch, parsley, thyme, and modified corn starch. I, however, am not a fan of the two modified starch ingredients. GAH! That’s a bummer. This product is gluten-free and vegetarian, however.

As for nutrition, however, this isn’t so bad. A serving of the Trader Joe’s P0lenta Provencale with Spinach & Peas in a Spicy Cream Sauce is 1/3 cup, cooked. There are about 4 servings per package. But, since this was dinner, this became 2 servings…so these stats just double. If you eat a regular serving (1/4 of the package), you will be consuming 130 calories and 7 grams of fat. In addition, you will be taking in 20 mg cholesterol, 280 mg sodium, and 2 grams of sugar. In the grand scheme of things, for a frozen, packaged product…that is awesome. You will also be taking in 3 grams of fiber and 4 grams of protein. Not lying…this dish is filling!

If you really like things spicy, I recommend adding a bit of kick to the Trader Joe’s Polenta Provencale with Spinach & Peas in a Spicy Cream Sauce. But…it’s not bad the way it is. I loved the rich, creaminess of each bite…from the sauce to the polenta to the vegetables…it was a trio of deliciousness. One that I will definitely consider trying again when I need to have one of those “prepare it quickly” meals.

Nicely done, Trader Joe’s. If anything…try to get those modified starches out of your product. Then…this will get my full approval. Until then, just know that I found this one tasty little meal tonight. And I’m glad I had it in my freezer for the day I was having. The fact that it tasted good as well was the added bonus!

And this is why I love Trader Joe’s.

June 26, 2014

Product Review: Pacific Foods Organic Roasted Red Pepper Hummus

Product: Pacific Foods Organic Roasted Red Pepper Hummus – $3.99+

It took awhile for her to come around…

Actually it took a lot of me just forcing her to eat it…but now my roomie, formerly someone who loathed hummus and everything about it…someone who when I would make her eat it insisted it had to be warm first (EWW!!)…has since seen the error in her ways. It happened a little while ago actually. She’s been a hummus fiend ever since. Without it needing to be heated.

So…hummus has become one of those things we tend to have on hand in the kitchen these days. It’s a great, healthy spread…good on just about any vegetable…or a gluten-free cracker…or in a gluten-free wrap or sandwich. Hummus is not only delicious…it’s also so versatile.

I admit…this is the first time I’ve ever purchased hummus in a box. Usually it’s in those lidded plastic containers in the refrigerated area of the grocery store. But Pacific Foods has created a, ready for this?, shelf stable hummus. Yes…shelf stable. Which is good, because I forgot I had this in pantry. I actually got this box of hummus for free with a deal going on at my local Earth Fare awhile back. It was spend $10 or something and get free hummus. Free and hummus. Two of my favorite words!

Well…it’s late in the week. Tomorrow another CSA bin of fruits and veggies will be delivered to my door, and I’m still trying to use up some of the veggies from this past week. I decided to make it easy. Knowing that one of the veggies still in my bin was my carrots, I went to the pantry and put the box of Pacific Foods Organic Roasted Red Pepper Hummus into the fridge before heading to the gym this morning. I knew tonight, I could polish off the remaining two ears of corn by grilling them up and serving them with some carrot sticks and a serving of the hummus.

Work was hectic today…so I was glad to have an easier dinner planned. Upon returning home, I peeled the corn and got it in the grill pan with some roasted garlic and her vegan buttery spread. As that was grilling and, as usual, smoking up the apartment, I started to peel and slice the carrots. When they were ready, I plated them, seasoned the corn, and then grabbed the Pacific Foods Organic Roasted Red Pepper Hummus from the fridge. I opened up the box and noticed that it really needed to be stirred. This…is no easy task. When you try to stir something in a bowl, it’s easy. When you try to stir something in a box…a mess is bound to happen. I kept it pretty well contained to the box itself though. Once it was blended, I scooped out some healthy tablespoons and dinner…was served.

Mmmm…veggies for dinner.

That’s pretty usual for me actually…being a gluten-free vegetarian.

So…how was it?

It was delicious. Definitely not as creamy as the refrigerated varieties, but not bad. It was packed with really good flavor. I could taste the roasted red peppers…which just elevated the spread. I loved how easy it was to scoop up with the carrot sticks. And it was so refreshing. Honestly. In fact, I ate my grilled corn up first so I could end my meal with the hummus. That’s how much I liked it. It reminded me a lot of the hummus I make. That’s what the texture reminded me of, and perhaps that is why I enjoyed it so much.

Interesting to note…the Pacific Foods Organic Roasted Red Pepper Hummus is one of few shelf-stable hummus’ on the market. It is actually packaged in BPA-free cartons. The hummus contains 1/3 fewer calories and 40% less fat than the leading refrigerated brand. And, Pacific Foods, as always, places their reputation on their high-quality ingredients.

Speaking of ingredients, the Pacific Foods Organic Roasted Red Pepper Hummus is made from water, organic chickpeas, organic roasted red bell peppers, organic red bell peppers, organic canola oil, organic tahini, organic garlic, organic lemon juice concentrate, sea salt, organic sesame oil, organic spices. It is vegetarian, vegan, cholesterol free, dairy-free, corn-free, soy-free, wheat-free, and yeast-free.

So let’s talk nutrition, shall we? Hummus is such a healthy spread. Honestly. It’s amazing. A serving of the Pacific Foods Organic Roasted Red Pepper Hummus is 2 tablespoons. This will provide you with 45 calories and 3 grams of fat. A serving will also give you 130 mg sodium and 1 gram of sugar. LOVE IT. It will also give you 1 gram of fiber and 1 gram of protein.

Hummus is one of the best condiments and spreads to ever come into the world. It’s rich, creamy, and delicious. It’s good on sandwiches, or on salads, or on pizzas, or on crackers, or on vegetables…etc. You see what I’m getting at here? Hummus makes the world a richer and happier place. Well…maybe not alone…but it is one healthy way to enjoy some of your favorite foods in a new way. Or…just dip some tortilla chips or fresh veggies in it…and you’ll be just as happy. Pacific Foods Organic Roasted Red Pepper Hummus is amazing and I will totally be trying out the other two flavors in the future.

In case you were wondering…Pacific Foods also has an Organic Classic Hummus and an Organic Roasted Garlic Hummus.

Try all three versions. But, if nothing else, trust me on the amazing tastiness that the Roasted Red Pepper variety provides. Oh…so good!

June 25, 2014July 7, 2014

Product Review: Aldi liveGfree Gluten Free Snickerdoodle Soft Baked Cookies

Product: Aldi liveGfree Gluten Free Snickerdoodle Soft Baked Cookies – $2.49

COOKIE!

The Cookie Monster is back with an in budget, delicious, fantastic, soft-baked, cinnamon-y, sweet, three-bite treat. Oh yes. I discovered that in Aldi’s liveGfree line, they have Soft Baked Cookies. And one of said cookies only happens to be my most favorite flavor in the entire world…

SNICKERDOODLES!

I’ve said it before…and I’ll say it again…nothing will ever be as good as the Snickerdoodles that my mom used to bake, usually around Christmas. They were my go-to cookie. Something about that sweetness with the little bit of heat from the cinnamon. Ah…it’s cookie perfection if you ask me. Seriously. When done right…soft, chewy, cinnamon-sugary Snickerdoodles are honestly the best cookie in the world.

That being said, when I noticed that one of the boxes of gluten-free items currently being stocked by Aldi in their liveGfree line was Snickerdoodles…there was no hesitation. These were totally coming home with me.

Well, tonight was the night I busted these out. For me…the most difficult part of having Snickerdoodles in the apartment (especially good ones) is not eating them all in one go. And with cookies that are soft baked and about two to three bites in size…that’s not always an easy task. But, I’ve trying to behave. I binge on peanut butter more than I should already…

But I digress…

Let’s focus for a moment on the important things…

COOKIES!

Gluten-free Snickerdoodles.

Soft-Baked Gluten-Free Snickerdoodles.

Ah…life is good. I can say that because, following the trend, the liveGfree version of a Snickerdoodle (which I suspect is being made by Enjoy Life as these are so similar) is really delicious. It’s the right amount of cinnamon for that little kick of spice, with the hit of sugar to bring some sweetness. The cookie is soft, chewy, and amazing. The texture is perfect. The flavor is all right. Everything hits the right note…from the instant you open the box and fish out a serving, to the time you lick the cinnamon off your fingertips. These cookies are sheer Snickerdoodle perfection. If anything…they’re too small for my liking. But…I don’t mind two small cookies instead of one big cookie.

As I said, these cookies parallel the Enjoy Life Soft Baked version…but the ingredients are actually slightly different. Not by much. The Aldi liveGfree Gluten Free Snickerdoodle Soft Baked Cookies are made from sorghum flour, brown pure canse sugar, date paste, expeller-pressed vegetable oil, juice concentrate (grape, apple, pear), natural rice dextrin, golden flaxseed, soda, xanthan gum, salt, vanilla, ground cinnamon, and rosemary extract. Not completely clean eating…but not as bad as some cookies out on the market…gluten-free included. At least I recognize everything in this brand. Aldi’s liveGfree brand proudly declares that it uses all natural ingredients and “no artificial anything.” These cookies are certified gluten-free and also cholesterol free! In addition, they are also egg-free, dairy-free, soy-free, nut-free and wheat free. LOVE IT!!

As for nutrition…for cookies…these aren’t so bad. Honestly. A serving size of the Aldi liveGfree Gluten Free Snickerdoodle Soft Baked Cookies is 2 cookies. These two three-bite cookies will dish you up 120 calories and 5 grams of fat. You will be taking in 100 mg sodium and 10 grams of sugar (not bad for cookies!). And finally, you will be provided with 1 gram of fiber and 1 gram of protein. These…are meant as a treat and not something that will fill you up.

I continue to be impressed by Aldi and the products in their liveGfree product lineup. I sincerely hope that Aldi continues to stock and carry these gluten-free products. It is so rare that I can go into a store, buy one of almost all their gluten-free products and spend less than $30. And that’s what happened when I purchased these products from Aldi at the beginning of May. It was one of the most worthwhile stops and shopping trips I have made.

Aldi’s liveGfree line is making living gluten-free a whole lot more affordable…and delicious!

June 24, 2014

Recipe: Gluten-Free Blueberry and Dark Chocolate Scones

I love berries. Love them. I haven’t met a berry I didn’t like. I will EAT ALL THE BERRIES! And sometimes…I do.

Thanks to my good friend, Harry, I have a nice supply of freshly picked blueberries. And I really wanted to make the most of them. So, over the weekend, while doing some meal prep, I decided to do some baking…utilizing some of the blueberries.

Lucky for me, this month’s Vegetarian Times was featuring blueberries in their “One Food Five Ways” feature. SCORE! And the one recipe that really stuck out to me was the Blueberry and Dark Chocolate Scones. So…that’s what I made…for breakfast at the office on my gym mornings. It just will involve some reheating. And since I love scones, this seemed like a great recipe to attempt. The only difference is my version had to be gluten-free. So, I crossed my fingers and said a prayer to my gluten-free baking gods that this recipe might like my gluten-free all-purpose flour.

These pastries are so simple to make and don’t take a lot of time. They bake up beautifully and look amazing. Oh…and you might want to eat them the moment they come out of the oven because they make your home smell SO good!

Recipe: Gluten-Free Blueberry and Dark Chocolate Scones

Servings: 8
Time: Prep 10 minutes; Bake 20 minutes

Ingredients:

2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting (I used Better Batter)
1/3 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces (I used Earth Balance)
3/4 cup low-fat milk, plus more for brushing (I used unsweetened almond milk)
2 large egg yolks
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup dark chocolate chips (I used Enjoy Life Dark Chocolate Morsels)
3/4 cup fresh blueberries

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 400°F.

Coat a large baking sheet with cooking spray.

Sift together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. Work in the butter using your fingertips or a pastry cutter, until only small crumbs remain in the mixture.

Whisk together milk, egg yolks, and vanilla in a medium bowl. Add the dry ingredients to the wet, and mix just until incorporated (the mixture will be crumbly). Gently stir in the chocolate chips and blueberries. Gather dough into a ball.

Transfer the dough to a floured work surface, and press into a 3/4-inch-thick disk. Dust a knife with flour, then cut dough into 8 equal wedges. Transfer to prepared baking sheet, and brush tops lightly with milk.

Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until lightly browned on top and bottom.

~*~*~

This recipe embodies everything that is amazing and wonderful in this world. Fresh blueberries. Dark chocolate. Breakfast. These scones are a fantastic treat in the morning…and actually not too bad as far as nutrition goes…for scones. I loved the flavor of the bittersweet chocolate with the burst of sweetness from the blueberries. Harmony in breakfast form. I will be making these again…that’s for sure! Simple recipe…simple breakfast pleasure.