Nosh ~ The Gluten-Free Kosher Critic

Gluten-Free-Licious Bars

2011-09-20T00:37:00.001-04:00

This week, my mailbox was overflowing with delicious, nutritious bars from NuGO Nutrition Bars and, my old favorite, Larabar. So I thought I'd give a little love to the bars that were quite amazing, and I'm not just paying lip service for some freebies.

From NuGO Nutrition, I received two each of the NuGO Slim Brownie Crunch and Roasted Peanut bars. This bars are unique to the line of gluten-free, kosher goodies, because they're geared toward the low-sugar, high-protein consumer without artificial sweeteners and sugar alcohols found in a lot of other products. The bars are almost sugar free, and they're dipped in real, delicious, potent dark chocolate with no maltitol (which is bad, nasty, and unnatural). So you get 15 grams of protein plus around 10 grams fiber. Nom nom nom. I have to say that the Roasted Peanut was probably my favorite out of the two, mostly because the Brownie Crunch was a little too much chocolate for me. Crazy, right? The Roasted Peanut was just right, like a chocolate-peanut butter sandwich. Definitely a go-to when you are hungry and need something to keep in your bag. (Certified OU-D)

Then there is a new treat from Larabar: The Chocolate Chip Cherry Torte. Now, I used to have a seriously hardcore thing for chocolate covered cherries, but I gave up the habit after third grade (no lie). So this little bar was an absolute treat for me. Why? Because Larabar is all-natural and has as few ingredients as humanly possible. This bar has the following: Dates, Chocolate Chips, Almonds, Cherries, Cashews, Sea Salt. That's it! And somehow, those ingredients come together to create what tastes like a cake or brownie or ... chocolate covered cherries in cake form. It was melt-in-your-mouth delicious, and it even came in a cute little bag! They sent me a sticker, a button, several delicious bars, and it was a very special little treat. It's less than 200 calories and it will curb any sweet tooth that might be bothering you.

Trader Joe's Gluten-Free Oats!

2011-08-12T00:16:00.000-04:00

Wow. It's been a month, hasn't it? Bananas. Where did the time go?

Anyhow, I'm happy to inform ya'll that Trader Joe's now sells gluten-free old-fashioned rolled oats for $3.99! That's three dollars cheaper than Bob's Red Mill! Ohmygosh! I was absolutely elated. (Hashgacha: OU)

So go out and buy a bag -- you know how Trader Joe's works: If they buy it, it stays. If they don't, it is discontinued. SO GET TO IT!

Apple Pie Goes Gluten Free!

2011-07-10T00:31:00.003-04:00

Note: There's a giveaway at the end of the post, so keep reading!

I am very particular about my bread, as many of you know. I used to be a devotee of Katz Gluten Free's challah, and then I moved on to Heaven's Mill, and then I just made my own version of gluten-free challah that makes me melt on Shabbat. But there's regular bread, too. You know, that sliced stuff you make sandwiches out of, and I'm a huge Udi's Gluten Free snob, and that will never change. I'm in love with their cookies, their cinnamon rolls and muffins, and everything else they produce. But I'm willing to give other things a go every now and again. (I'll never switch my bread, however. NEVER.)

So when the fine folks at Katz Gluten Free, who have been so kind to me in the past, asked me to review their new pies and Sugared Snap Poppers, I was more than happy. Pie is one of those things that I can say I have only had once since going gluten-free, and it was an overly-sweet sad excuse for a Pecan Pie over Pesach.

First, I have to hand it to Katz for making over their logo -- it's one of the most important aspects of branding. It's sleek, clean, and gives a sense of being more than just a kosher product. But I also think it's a little misleading, but I'll get to that in a few seconds.

The Sugared Snap Poppers reminded Tuvia and I of something, but it took us a little while to figure out what exactly that was. Finally, we realized the Sugared Snap Poppers reminded us of those cookies that come in gigantic tins around Christmas time, those crystal-sugar-topped cookies that you can't decide if you love or hate but you can't stop eating. Know what I'm talking about? The cookies are made of a gluten-free flour mix (white rice, potato starch, tapioca), canola oil, eggs, sugar, baking powder, and xanthan gum. Simple enough, and easy to really pop back, and with five servings per container means you can eat quite a few and only consume 100 calories, 5 grams fat, 0 grams fiber, and 2 grams protein.

But the pie ... now, the pie is to die for. I haven't had apple pie in years, let alone gluten-free apple pie. The crust was crisp and flakey, yet soft and sweet. The pie filling was just right, and with four servings per package, it's enough to appease the gluten-freebies when you make a real apple pie for your guests, you'll have plenty without feeling left out. I served it with some parve vanilla bean ice cream, making it a la mode, and it was absolutely amazing.

I can't help but compare the nutritional information in the Katz Gluten-Free Apple Pie to regular old run-of-the-mill Apple Pie. The Katz version, for one-quarter of a six-inch pie, is about 230 calories. An average slice of gluteny pie is anywhere between 280 and 350 calories, so it matches up pretty well. Color me impressed. And considering it tastes just as good? Well, you're in luck.

The only bummer about this Apple Pie is that the pie filling comes with High Fructose Corn Syrup. You'd think we were in an age where goodies would come with natural sweeteners like Agave or something, but you can't win 'em all, can we? The other ingredients are gluten-free flour mix (tapioca, white rice, sorghum, corn), palm oil, water, eggs, sugar, salt, xantham gum, apple pie filling, spice, and so on.

But now for the reason you're all really here: a giveaway! Katz Gluten Free carries 40 products and they're hard at work to bring more items to the market, so be sure to let them know on Facebook and Twitter what you're looking for to really curb your cravings.

There are two ways to enter and two different giveaways.

Enter here to win five free Katz Gluten Free products. Simply write a comment on this post about what favorite baked good you haven't been able to find gluten free that you'd simply kill to have.
Enter on the Katz Gluten Free website for a free box filled with Katz's 40 gluten-free products! Simply click here and enter. Be sure to enter my blog URL in the referral spot!

The Katz Gluten-Free Giveaway will end on Wednesday, June 13 at 7 p.m.

PS: Don't forget to leave an email or something so I can contact you!

A New Gluten-Free Vlog!

2011-07-08T16:40:00.001-04:00

Bill Cosby Would Be Proud

2011-06-30T16:31:00.000-04:00

I'm a huge sucker for just about anything at Christmas Tree Shops. Mostly because I think that it's ironic how many super religious Jews shop there year-round. Yes, they do offer quite the selection of Chanukah goods, but they also offer a mass amount of kosher foodstuffs (not to mention gluten-free goodies).

And, of course, I'm always on the lookout for new things, so when I saw Hateva pudding, I was sold. I like pudding, never buy it, and with a name like Hateva, I didn't even have to check if it was kosher. It's O-U and has some fancy schmancy Hebrew hechsher, too. It is lactose and dairy free, and, of course, gluten free. There are no preservatives and it is -- like it's name Hateva -- all natural.

The ingredients are simple enough: filtered water, almonds, sugar, starch, modified starch, cocoa, natural flavors, and salt. Of course, I don't know the difference between starch and modified starch, and they don't sound particularly natural, but overall, I'm impressed with its simplicity.

However, now that I think about it, $1.99 for two packs of pudding is a pretty big rip-off, and at 133 calories, 4 grams fat, 16.5 grams sugar, 1 gram fiber, and 2 grams protein, there are probably a bucketload of other things I could be eating that would be more filling and satisfying. But for a chocolate fix? The pudding has a good texture and isn't overly pungent on the almond flavor.

Would I recommend going out of your way for it? No. Would I recommend it if you're jonesing for some pudding? Yes. Or, you know, you could just drink a big ole class of the Dark Chocolate Almond Milk and call it a day. Mmm ... Almond Milk ...

Note: I'm guessing the company went out of business or something because their website -- hatevafood.com -- isn't active. Bummer!

Avocado Squash Meets Mochi

2011-06-29T19:41:00.000-04:00

I decided today that I needed to find something physical that makes me happy, something I enjoy doing, something that reminds me of what it feels like to work. That thing? Volleyball. So I schlepped to Target and bought a $9.99 volleyball, threw on my workout clothes and spent about 35 minutes at Votee Park hitting the ball against a wall meant for handball. It was outstanding, and it left me incredibly hungry!

At home, I had two Avocado Squash waiting for me from the Tenafly Farmers Market, and I was jonesing for one of the Spring Valley gluten-free Breaded Chicken Patties on a Whole Grain Udi's Gluten-Free Hamburger Bun. So I sliced up the Avocado Squash into a perfect saute size and threw them in the pan with some olive oil, crushed pepper, and sea salt. I realized after sauteing that I probably put in too much olive oil -- I always do, so please disregard the overly shiny nature of the veggies.

The odd thing is that there is very little on the internet about Avocado Squash, and all I can really tell you is that it's an Asian vegetable, and I can tell you that the flavor wasn't incredibly strong. It had a good, soft flavor and texture, too. Definitely softer than most squash out there.

The puffed up ones are cooked right, the others? Sort of not.

For dessert, I finally got around to making Grainaissance's Cinnamon Raisin Mochi, which I'd never had before -- mochi, that is, in any form. What is mochi?

Mochi (Japanese: 餅) is a Japanese rice cake made of glutinous rice (not to be confused with gluten) pounded into paste and molded into shape.

In truth, it tastes like delicious bagels. It's gluten-free, wheat-free, and dairy-free. I honestly think I might serve these up for dessert over Shabbos some day. You could easily top with cream cheese or some type of delicious cream-style sauce, or eat them plain, like I did. (You can buy the product at Whole Foods in the cold section with all the soy-based meats and cheeses.)

Here's my question for you readers: Whenever I eat, I feel more hungry than when I started after I finish. What's up with that?

Carrot Cake Made Easy

2011-06-28T18:34:00.001-04:00

I returned from Israel Friday morning very early and needed a dessert for a kiddush hosted by me and Tuvia in honor of our one-year anniversary, as well as a dessert for the Mystery Shabbos Dessert Kiddush. The former was hosted in our apartment and was partially sponsored by Sabra (they sent me oodles of delicious dips for people to taste and comment on), and the latter was for the community cliques to break apart and for members to meet new people. There's usually only gluten-free goodies I if I provide them (or if Ally is baking), so I wanted something delicious that would play to every crowd.

For the Dessert Kiddush, I went simple. I bought the Betty Crocker Devil's Food Cake and some plain, vanilla frosting and made a gigantic cupcake cake. We got to the kiddush and the cake was almost completely gone! Everyone had the same response: the frosting tasted like Dunkaroos!

For our anniversary kiddush, I wanted to do something unique. I found a recipe on the Betty Crocker website that starts with a yellow-cake base and turns magically into a delicious carrot cake! And? It was a huge hit! (Note: I didn't make the frosting, I lazied out and used some canned stuff.)

Ingredients1 box (15 oz) Betty Crocker® Gluten Free yellow cake mix
2/3 cup water
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 teaspoons gluten-free vanilla
3 eggs
1 cup finely shredded carrots (I bought the salad-style carrots and put 'em in a chopper)
1/4 cup finely chopped pecans or walnuts (I skipped on this)

Directions

Heat oven to 350°F. Grease bottom only of 8- or 9-inch square pan with shortening, or spray with cooking spray.
In large bowl, beat cake mix, water, 1/2 cup butter, cinnamon, nutmeg, 2 teaspoons vanilla and eggs on low speed 30 seconds. Beat on medium speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. With spoon, stir in carrots and pecans. Spread in pan.
Bake 36 to 41 minutes for 8-inch pan or 33 to 38 minutes for 9-inch pan or until toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
Frost and serve!

Injera and Crumpets Oh My!

2011-06-20T09:17:00.000-04:00

Stop what you're doing and buy this book: 1,001 Foods You Must Taste Before you Die. Why? The simple answer is that it's an amazing book that will enlighten you to 1,001 (mostly kosher) foods that you've probably never heard of or considered, including a bevy of baked goods and grains that are, yes, you guessed it, gluten free!

I was handed this book while spending a Shabbat in Neve Daniel this past week, and the mastermind behind Chocoholique Liqueur opened my eyes to something he probably wasn't planning on: baked goods that are traditionally gluten-free, like Injera and Crumpets.

Injera, an Ethiopian bread.

Injera is a "yeast-risen flatbread with a unique, slightly spongy texture. Traditionally made out of teff flour and is a national dish in Ethiopia and Eritrea. A similar variant is eaten in Somalia (where it is called canjeero or lahooh) and Yemen (where it is known as lahoh)." I actually had Injera once while visiting my friend John in Philly, and Ethiopian was some of the best cuisine I've ever had. A lot of the modern stuff is made with regular wheat flour, but those who do it traditional and do it right do it with teff flour. Now? To find some Bob's Red Mill Teff Flour! I feel like injera would be great as a wrap substitute.

Crumpets, as you surely know, are a very British baked good that are similar to injera in that it has a spongey quality. You can buy them at Trader Joe's, which I used to do, and last I checked they have a hechsher, but for those who can't handle gluten, you will have to make your own. Here's one Crumpet recipe that I haven't tried but fully intend to from AuntJayne's Blog.

The book highlights a lot of interesting breads and pancake-type foods from around the world based on grains you and I have never heard of (like teff), so the book is truly worth your money and your time.

Remember: Once upon a time, we didn't live in a milk-consuming, wheat-heavy society. We relied on ancient and unique grains that aren't glutenful. We just have to get back to those ancient, delicious foods!

Ancient Grains Take the Loaf!

2011-06-11T21:04:00.000-04:00

You all know that I'm a huge sucker for Udi's Gluten Free products. After all, they're the only bread company out there with bread that TASTES like bread and believe me -- I've had them all.

Udi's just unleashed some new products, and I'm happy to rave about them, too. They've got what they call Ancient Grain Breads, and I can definitely vouch for the Millet-Chia (I think that's what it was -- unfortunately the packaging is long gone and the product isn't yet listed on their website). The great thing about the Ancient Grain Breads is that they are chock full of fiber this time around, unlike the normal breads. And? They just taste good. So good, that I schlepped a loaf all the way to Israel. Yes, I'm ridiculous, but the loaf is gone! My new favorite snack is a slice of the Millet-Chia with some all-natural, unsalted Trader Joe's Peanut Butter topped with golden raisins. It will hit you in all the right spots, I promise.

Yes, that's a gluten-free chicken pattie right there. A la Passover!

And the Whole Grain Hamburger Buns? Katz has nothing on these. They taste like substantial-style buns, with just the right amount of bread. They're not bulky or heavy, but they're not light and fluffy either. It's the perfect bun, if you ask me. And? It doesn't get soggy like so many gluten-free goodies do. Color me stoked. As you can see in my incredibly professional photo there (with chicken pattie + some spicy mayo), you could drag these to a summer BBQ and no one would know the difference.

Note: Udi's is certified by Scroll-K, which is the Va'ad of Denver. The hechsher is completely reliable by every source I've found, and it's considered a very machmir hechsher. If you're looking for gluten-free or healthfood products, you'll find a lot with the Scroll-K, because a lot come out of Colorado. All I can say is, hallelujah. Scroll-K seems to only certify the most delicious of the gluten-free foods out in the mountains!

Just Smooze Already!

2011-06-01T21:43:00.000-04:00

While passing through Whole Foods on my regular adventure for Udi's Gluten-Free Bread, I saw an endcap with a sale on something called Smooze. The little drawing on the box had me sold, for some reason, and I opted to buy a box of the Coconut + Pineapple. I'm an impulse buyer, so sue me!

Hechsher: Circle-K

I got home, threw the box in the freezer, and waited. When I was ready, I pulled one of the oddly shaped treats out of the box, cut along the line, and tried to do as the box said and push. Unfortunately, it was a little too frozen to push right away, so I had to let it sit for a little bit. So I slurped (also a direction on the packaging) and instantly got the flavor of what seemed to me to be a lot like a delicious, non-alcoholic Pina Colada ... nom nom nom.

Each Coconut + Pineapple treat contains: pineapple juice 50%, coconut milk 38%, natural cane sugar, pectin, citric acid, natural fruit flavors, ascorbic acid. Each box has eight of the little fruit ices. (There's also Mango + Coconut, Guava + Coconut, and Passion Fruit + Coconut.)

I've been trying to cut back on sugar, but I've found it incredibly hard. I'll admit I'm not trying that hard and that with it being summer I'm home a lot more and prone to snack and eat more convenience foods, so I'm hoping my upcoming trip to Israel will change that (I'm packing lots of delicious goodies for safe keeping).

This isn't the kind of treat that is going to serve any kind of super nutritional value, and it isn't going to fill you up either. Each treat contains 70 calories, 2 grams fat, 1 gram fiber, 12 grams sugar, and less than 1 gram protein. It also packs a whopping 50 percent Daily Value of Vitamin C.

But for a sweet tooth on a really hot day, this will do the job. And if you're jonesing for a Pina Colada, pick up this instead of the less-healthy alcoholic option.

Have you tried this sweet treat? Do you have a go-to alternative on a hot day?

The Best Dairy Meal Ever

2011-06-01T21:33:00.000-04:00

This originally was posted over on my Just Call Me Chaviva blog. But I couldn't help but crosspost it here.
No one is paying me to write this.

I just want to get that out of the way right now, because I know sometimes when I do "sponsored posts" (a girl's gotta eat) people get all in a tissy about me selling out or working for the "man." No, this post is coming straight from the heart. Or, rather, it's coming straight from my stomach and eyes to your eyes. If that makes sense.

I think the pictures can speak for themselves, but just for your info, if you want to read my review of this delicious restaurant -- Ariel's in Englewood, NJ -- on Yelp, be my guest. Also? It's Chalav Yisrael, so I expect @mottel and @wifeofmottel to come enjoy a delicious meal and to bring Baby Boo with them. Everyone else is welcome, too!

Tomato Roasted Garlic Soup, Stuffed Flounder, Gluten-Free Flourless Chocolate Cake

This was probably my last great meal before Israel. Not that I'm knocking Israel's restaurant stylings, I'm just not adept enough to know where to go and what hechshers make the most sense and so on. It's almost harder than keeping kosher in the U.S.

If you have suggestions of delicious kosher restaurants in Jerusalem that won't break the bank and beats this, be sure to let me know!

Say Cheese! for Delicious Gluten-Free Cheesecake

2011-05-16T23:04:00.000-04:00

While perusing one of the local kosher grocery stores that I don't usually frequent because of it's lame selection of produce and other goods, I happened upon this little gem.

Yes, it's a single-serve Say Cheese Gourmet Cheesecake that happens to be gluten-free, sans preservatives, and overall not too horribly bad for you. The three flavors at the store were the classic Marble, Cappuccino, and Chocolate. I was really torn between the cappuccino and the chocolate, but I wanted to let Tuvia have a go at it, too, so I opted for the cappuccino.

With 95 calories, 4.5 grams fat, 1 gram sugar, and 10 grams protein these single-serve cheesecakes really do the job when you have a craving but fear overdoing it on the indulgence.

The ingredients include Non-Fat Cream Cheese, Farmer Cheese, Egg Whites, Splenda, Corn Starch, Vanilla Extract, Lemon Juice, and Gourmet Coffee. I'm not completely jazzed about the Splenda, and it wouldn't surprise me if the company switches over to some kind of Stevia or Agave product at some point, and Corn Starch, too, doesn't excite me, but for 95 calories and enough cheesecake to satisfy you, you honestly can't go wrong.

And, if you do like I did and split it with your sweetie, you're really doing well.

Note: These products are cRc certified dairy.

A Sabra Adventure

2011-05-16T23:00:00.000-04:00

In case you missed it, I visited the Sabra factory in Virginia last week! They recently announced that all of their hummus is GLUTEN FREE! Huzzah!

I blogged about it over on Just Call Me Chaviva.

A Disappointing Gluten-Free Arctic Treat

2011-05-07T23:34:00.000-04:00

Sometimes, Amazon.com reviews lie, and they lie big time, but that's just me.

During a recent trip to Whole Foods, a product in the freezer case piqued my interest: Artic Zero Chocolate Peanut Butter All Natural Frozen Dessert. At 32 calories for a half-cup, I was jazzed. After all, you can't even find sorbet that is that low calorie and is gluten-free and natural. I mean, 150 calories for the entire pint? I might as well eat the entire thing, and maybe that's what my plan was in purchasing it.

So, over Shabbat last week, Tuvia and I cracked the pint open, and scooped out larger-than-1/2-cup portions and dug in ... to disappointment. Tuvia originally said that it was "bland" and mostly flavorless. I said it tasted like nothing but creamy peanut butter, straight out of the jar, which is my least favorite thing on the planet (I'm a crunchy kind of girl). And the chocolate? Non-existent.

Eighty-five Amazon.com reviewers gave the product 4 out of 5 stars, which, let's be honest, shocks me. This stuff isn't worth it. A few bites in, we were both disappointed and uninterested. We chucked the rest of the pint and probably won't venture down the Arctic Zero road again -- even for a quick sweet-tooth craving.

Bummer.

Cookbook Reviews!

2011-04-23T21:50:00.000-04:00

Over Shabbos, I spent my time exploring four new cookbooks I picked up -- one on the advice of my awesome cousin-in-law Rachel, one on the inspiration of the blog from which the book gets its name, and the other two Tuvia found while purchasing the other two books. Some of the books are amazing and at least one left me less than impressed.

I'm trying to cutback on using cornstarch (which is the heavily used item in my once-favorite cookbook You Won't Believe It's Gluten-Free! -- bummer) because it's super high on the Glycemic Index, and after Passover my plan is to add sugar-free to my list of dietary tricks. Thus, here are my quick thoughts on each of these cookbooks, of which sugar and gluten are not popular!

Sugar-Free Gluten-Free Baking and Desserts by Kelly E. Keough | So, this is one of the cookbooks that Tuvia saw and thought I'd enjoy. At the outset, it looks outstanding, but it has ZERO photos of the food you're baking, and most of the recipes call for thirty types of flour not to mention weird sugar substitutes of which I've never even heard. The only thing I am looking forward to is the Slam Jam recipe on page 93. Other than that? No dice. This cookbook is a pass, unless you like complicated recipes.
Gluten-Free, Sugar-Free Cooking by Susan O'Brien | Stop what you're doing and buy this cookbook. I tabbed probably 40 recipes in this cookbook. The author offers a bounty of simple, delicious-sounding recipes, so I've forgiven her for not having any photos. There's a Salmon Chowder (page 71) recipe that I'm hoping mimics the delicious stuff Tuvia loves at Fish of the C's in Teaneck, NJ. There is a Bean Burger recipe (page 133), gobs of sweet and savory things to do with quinoa, and everything you can think of from Breakfast dishes to Desserts and Sauces. I am beyond excited to make EVERYTHING in this cookbook. I mean, there's even a Quinoa Tabbouleh recipe (page 162)!
Simply Sugar and Gluten-Free by Amy Green | This is the cookbook that I originally had planned on buying because I'd come across Amy's blog and was crazy impressed. After I got over the fact that the book's title is grammatically incorrect (right now it suggests that everything in the cookbook is full of sugar and gluten-free -- it should be Simply Sugar- and Gluten-Free), I was jazzed that there was a cookbook out there. Alas, no pictures in this cookbook either. I get that it's expensive, but, come on people, you're killing me here. This cookbook is much like the first up there that recipes are complicated and require weird flour mixes and things of which I've never heard. The only two things I'm looking forward to in this cookbook are the Slow Cooker Apple Butter (page 48) and Slow Cooker Ketchup (54). I've been wanting to make my own ketchup for a long time -- the store-bought stuff is packed with sugar. This cookbook? Pass. Just check out Amy's blog for what you need/want.
The Eat-Clean Diet Cookbook by Tosca Reno | During the first two days of Passover, I spent quite a bit of time looking through this cookbook at my cousin-in-law's place. I also looked over the basic Eat-Clean Diet book that explains the "diet" and what it requires. This cookbook is CHOCK full of natural recipes full of all of the things we should be eating. The "diet" plan has a lot more protein and veggies than I can even fathom eating in an entire day, but if you're eating the right foods, your body adjusts. The Super Pudding (page 283) looks amazing, and Moroccan Chicken and Lentils (page 158) is something even Tuvia will eat. And then there's the No-Cook Applesauce recipe (page 121), which has me super excited. Basically, Tosca takes healthy and amazing foods that will fill you up and uses them in new and tantalizing ways. I. Am. STOKED. Here are the eight basic principles of this diet that are more common sense than anything:

Eat five to six small meals spread out by two to three hours every day.
Combine lean protein and complex carbs at every meal.
Drink two to three liters of water each day.
Carry a cooler packed with clean-eating foods to get you through the day.
Avoid pre-packaged, over-processed refined foods.
Avoid white sugar and flour, saturated and trans fats, colas, juices and alcohol.
Consume healthy fats (EFA), fresh fruits and veggies!
Stick to proper portion sizes.

A Sugar- and Gluten-Free Blog!

2011-04-17T00:14:00.000-04:00

I've recently undertaken an effort to add "sugar free" to my many food particularities. This, of course, is something I'm doing quite painstakingly -- after all, once upon a time I prided myself on the ability to eat anything and everything. My father used to joke that someday my stomach would rebel from all of the burritos and Indian food and Chinese and hot and spicy delicacies.

But here I am. The gluten-free change did me quite well around this time last year when I took it on shortly after Passover. More recently, I've discovered some new sensitivities (that, let's be honest, I've been ignoring for a long time) that result from sugar consumption (typically Shabbos is my most miserable time).

So, I've taken on a sugar-free effort. I'm trying, that is. I went hardcore for two days and then crashed for some TastyKake gluten-free chocolate chip cookies. But I've made efforts over the past week, avoiding anything that says straight-up "sugar" or "high fructose corn syrup" in them. Agave is my new best friend, and Truvia is my sweetener of choice (although I drank my coffee black all week).

I consider myself incredibly lucky, then, that I've discovered the following blog: Simply Sugar and Gluten-Free [fabulous food made healthier]. I even just ordered her cookbook!

(Although, a note, from my anal-retentive self is that it should probably be "Simply Sugar- and Gluten-Free." Yes, it looks stupid, but it's correct with the extra hyphen.)

And the best thing? She's got a million links to a million other recipes on other blogs that do gluten-free food or sugar-free food or ... both. There also are gobs of links to dairy-free cooking. This is a foodie's dream!

Passover + Matzo Public Service Announcement

2011-04-14T20:32:00.000-04:00

MY PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT:

Gluten-free folks, I regret to inform you, but those $5 boxes of Yehuda "Gluten-Free Matzos" are not *really* matzos. They are "matzo-style crackers." They do not fulfill the mitzvah and have egg in them anyhow. They're fine for chol ha'moed (I'll be eating them), but not for the Seders! The GF Oat Matzos are $28/box. Sorry!

Giving the Kosher-for-Passover Goods an Early Try ...

2011-04-10T14:11:00.000-04:00

Passover is looming, and I couldn't help but lazy it up this Shabbos and buy a few Passover sweet treats for dessert instead of making my own. The buys? Both were Shabtai brand and one was a "Pecan Pie" and the other was a layered Strawberry Cake. The cake is what I was most excited about, but the Pecan Pie had me stoked, as well.

Friday night we cracked open the kosher-for-Passover Strawberry Cake and -- to the surprise of us all -- it was delicious. It didn't taste like it was kosher l'Pesach according to my Shabbos guests. There were cute little strawberries on top of the cake that we guessed were made of marzipan, and the cake was super moist and fluffy, definitely light and not heavy, which was a huge plus. I'd recommend this cake, hands down, even though the price -- at $17 was a little ridiculous. Don't tell my husband, mmk?

Saturday we tried out the Pecan Pie, which I put in quotations at the beginning of this post because, let's be honest, this wasn't a Pecan Pie. What was it? It was a lady-finger crust with (dry) chocolate cake and a thin layer of pecans on top. Pecan Pie it was not. However, the crust was amazing and everyone at the table commented on how non-Passover-like it was. There were mixed opinions at the table -- those of us expecting Pecan Pie were disappointed and those who didn't really care were pleasantly surprised and devoured their pieces. I wouldn't recommend this -- buy your own crust and make your own Pecan Pie if that's doable on Passover. Otherwise? You'll be disappointed. You've been warned!

Gluten-Free Naan? Oh Yes!

2011-04-10T01:33:00.000-04:00

I can't believe I missed Aarti Sequeira's recipe for gluten-free naan on her blog. I love naan, and it's one thing I seriously miss from my menu. Lucky for me, the host of "Aarti Party" on The Food Network managed to mix something up, and I'm eager to give it a try!

The whole blog post is over at Aarti's blog, but I've copied and pasted the recipe below. FTW!

GLUTEN-FREE NAAN
3/4 cup lukewarm water (about 100 degrees Fahrenheit)
1 teaspoon active dry yeast
1 teaspoon sugar, plus 1 teaspoon extra
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons plain whole milk yogurt
2 1/4 to 2 1/2 cups of Gluten Free All Purpose Flour mix (I use Bob’s Red Mill)
1 1/4 teaspoon xantham gum
1 teaspoon fine sea salt
1/8 teaspoon baking powder
Melted butter for slathering on the finished naans

From Aarti's blog.

1) In a large glass, dissolve dry yeast and 1 teaspoon sugar with warm water. Let it sit on your counter for about 10 minutes, or until it’s frothy.

2) Meanwhile, sift flour, xantham gum, salt, extra 1 teaspoon of sugar and baking powder into a large, deep bowl. Once yeast is frothy, stir oil and yogurt into the glass, and stir to combine. Pour into the dry ingredients, add the seeds if you’re using them, and using a fork, gently mix the ingredients together. When the dough is about to come together, use your hands. It will feel like there isn’t enough flour at first, but keep going until it transforms into a soft, slightly sticky and pliable dough. As soon as it comes together, stop kneading. Cover with plastic wrap or a damp tea towel, and let it sit in a warm, non-drafty place for 1 to 3 hours.

3) When you’re ready to roll, make sure you have two bowls on your counter: one with extra flour in it, and one with water. The dough will be extremely soft and sticky; this is good! Separate into 6 equal portions and lightly roll each one in the bowl of extra flour to keep them from sticking to each other.

4) To shape naan: either shape the naans with your fingertips, pushing each ball into a teardrop shape about 1/4″ thick. Or, using a rolling pan, roll each piece of dough into a teardrop shape, narrower at the top than at the bottom. It should be 8 to 9 inches long, 4 inches wide at its widest point and about ¼-inch thick. Once you’ve formed the general shape, you can also pick it up by one end and wiggle it; the dough’s own weight will stretch it out a little. Repeat with the rest of the dough.

5) Warm a large cast iron skillet over high heat until it’s nearly smoking; make sure you have a lid large enough to fit the skillet. Have bowl of melted butter at the ready.

6) Dampen your hands in the bowl of water and pick up one of your naans, flip-flopping it from one hand to the other to lightly dampen it. Gently lay it in the skillet, and set your timer for 1 minute. The dough should start to bubble.

7) After 1 minute, flip the naan. If it has blackened, don’t worry – that’s typical of traditional naan! Cover the skillet, and cook 1 more minute.

Remove from the skillet, brush with butter, sprinkle with a little coarse sea salt, and place it in a tea towel-lined dish. Repeat with the rest of the naans and serve.

Passover Cometh!

2011-04-04T10:41:00.000-04:00

Passover is coming, and that means it's a gluten-free foodie's dream ... but is it?

Read more on my guest post over at Joy of Kosher!

Aye Aye Aye ... Icelandic Yogurt!

2011-03-29T19:04:00.000-04:00

Woe, oh woe is me ... over the weekend, while attending two catered functions ... I must have eaten something laden with gluten, because since Friday night I have had the worst stomach ache, stomach cramps, and everything that comes along with all the badness that is gluten. There are some who don't buy the gluten-free diet for the alleviation of things like what I suffer from as an IBS patient (that is, that thing that they say those of us have when they can't figure out what other gastrointestinal ailment we really have), but I think that the way I have felt over the past few days destroys that myth. I was guaranteed some gluten-free goods at both the events I was at, but something clearly wasn't.

Lesson: Don't eat anything whose ingredients I can read or eat at a restaurant where the chef gets a question mark on his face when I say "no gluten."

I've been unable to eat much of anything the past few days, so I've been relying on gluten-free cereal (Barbara's, nom nom nom) and dried fruit and, lucky for you readers, some as-yet untested yogurt of the Icelandic variety.

I give you siggi's Icelandic style skyr strained non-fat yogurt. I opted for the acai berry variety, which was surprisingly delicious. I say this because, well, this isn't your average run-of-the-mill yogurt. It's unique. Let's let the siggi's website explain:

Skyr is the traditional yogurt of Iceland. It is made by incubating skim milk with live active cultures. The whey, the water naturally found in milk, is then strained away to make for a much thicker, creamier, concentrated yogurt. So to make just one cup of skyr, with all that water going out, you need 3 - 4 times the amount of milk required to make a regular cup of yogurt. As a result of this process skyr comes out with 2-3 times the protein count of standard yogurt.

Now, I've never been to Iceland, and I was completely sold on Chobani yogurt, but this stuff is outstanding. It's incredibly thick and creamy, but lacking that sort of sour twang that comes with Greek yogurt. I know what you're thinking: But Chavi! It has no fiber! And to that I say, "oh well." On the WeightWatchers Points Plus system, the yogurt is a mere 3 points, and with 16 grams of protein? You really can't go wrong there.

The product is deliciously gluten-free, kosher, and the paper wrapper around the yogurt cup is removable for easy recycling! The simplicity of the ingredients really appeals to me, because, well, let's be honest -- there is so much junk in everything we eat, it's nice to have something au natural.

Have you tried this delicious yogurt? Let me know what you think!

Rice Krispies Go Gluten Free!

2011-03-26T23:36:00.000-04:00

Get your Rice Krispie Treat recipes ready ...

After hearing from so many gluten-free families out there, we’re happy to bring you NEW Kellogg’s® Rice Krispies® Gluten Free cereal, made with brown rice. It’ll be available in June, so be sure to ask your local supermarket to stock up!

Huzzah! Color me excited. And if you don't have the recipe on hand, here's the classic Rice Krispie Treat recipe.

This classic, delicious snack has been making memories for kids and parents alike for generations.

INGREDIENTS:
3 tablespoons butter or margarine
1 package (10 oz., about 40) regular marshmallows - OR - 4 cups miniature marshmallows
6 cups Rice Krispies®

INSTRUCTIONS:
1. In large saucepan melt butter over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat.

2. Add KELLOGG'S RICE KRISPIES cereal. Stir until well coated.

3. Using buttered spatula or wax paper evenly press mixture into 13x9x2-inch pan coated with cooking spray. Cool. Cut into 2-inch squares. Best if served the same day.

MICROWAVE DIRECTIONS:
In microwave-safe bowl heat butter and marshmallows on HIGH for 3 minutes, stirring after 2 minutes. Stir until smooth. Follow steps 2 and 3 above. Microwave cooking times may vary.

Hat tip to TriumphDining for this good news!

Can't Win Them All: Soy Jerky

2011-03-17T15:55:00.000-04:00

While in Texas, I was turned on to an interesting gluten-free treat that I couldn't pass up: Primal Strips, a meatless, soy-based beef jerky-style substitute.

Now, it being soy-based, I was willing to pass it up. I learned, probably before I even learned about my gluten sensitivity, that I have a serious sensitivity to soy. I used to buy Soy Chorizo and it was amazing ... I mean, killer. I loved that stuff. But, unfortunately, never again.

Primal Strips has a variety of soy-based beef jerkypstyle substitutes, but there was only one that I felt comfortable eating, because the hashgacha is Triangle K. Now, I know what you're thinking: Why would you eat anything Triangle K? My policy, according to my rabbi, is that anything processed sans oil is legit. That means juice, for example, is okay. So I opted to give this jerky a try.

Unfortunately, I won't eat it again because, well, it did upset my stomach. So I'll advise you of this -- if you're gluten free but not sensitive to soy, go right ahead.

And the product? It was delicious. It really did taste like beef jerky. It was flavorful, had the perfect consistency, and it has a good amount of protein. If I could eat it again, I would. I'd eat it every day for the rest of my life.

Better to have loved and lost then never to have loved at all, right?

The Goods at SXSW Interactive

2011-03-16T14:29:00.000-04:00

Not recommended.

I have reviewed pretzel products in the past, and in general my feeling was that they tasted like twigs. I love pretzels but not enough to eat twigs, folks. While at SXSW Interactive this past week, I was delighted to discover a food booth setup that had tons of gluten free and vegan items, including some really nasty stuff I've tried in the past, as well as a few products I have been jonesing to try, including Nana's cookies. Seriously -- bravo to SXSW for thinking of those of us who can't partake in grilled cheeses and waffle-cone tacos.

I scoped out the options and was shocked to find out that the Glutino brand of pretzels was kosher OU. With my bad experiences with pretzels in the past, I was hesitant, but hungry. So I picked them up, along with a Nana Chocolate Cookie (kaf-k, parve).

The cookie smelled good, and on touch it was moist, but the moment it hit my mouth it felt like wet sand. It was dry, but moist. How ever can I explain this? Overall, not worth the calories or the money, especially when there are plenty of delicious gluten free cookies out there, not to mention recipes worth consideration.

The Glutino pretzels on the other hand were shocking -- they tasted like real pretzels! There was no weird texture issues or anything, which was a relief. Of course, I'm obligated to mention that although these pretzels taste amazing, they have ZERO nutritional value. There is no fiber, no protein, and a surprising amount of salt (especially for a product that doesn't taste really salty). I just wish that Glutino would make the rest of their stuff kosher. They have some gluten-free, kosher stuff, but their frozen meals aren't. And that, folks, is that for which I long!

Oh! And bravo to Popcorn Indiana for providing single serve bags of their classic kettle corn!

Stay tuned for a few other gluten-free, kosher food reviews from the road, on a trip that challenged me last year before I was even GF!

Kosher Food & Wine Experience: Gluten-Free Style

2011-02-27T00:42:00.000-05:00

If you missed it, I blogged about the Kosher Food & Wine Experience in New York on Tuesday and what there was and wasn't as far as gluten-free nosh.

Check it out here!

Loving the Luna!

2011-02-23T12:39:00.000-05:00

I used to rely on Luna Bars for my snack cravings when I was running around, but after going gluten free, I wasn't sure that they were an option. A lot of the protein and fiber bars out there have traces of wheat or are all about the wheat in their ingredients. Soy is something I'm sensitive to, but not in small doses (still depressed that I can no longer eat the delicious soy chorizo I found), so I find myself drawn to a lot of the bars that are out there, including those based on "soy crisps."

I was excited to discover several new gluten-free Luna Protein Bars the other day at Whole Foods. Yes, the packaging on a few even said gluten-free goodness was inside!

According to Luna, all of their Protein Bars will be gluten free by April, and right now their Mint Chocolate Chip and Chocolate are gluten free. I picked up a Mint Chocolate Chip and, well, it's like raw cookie dough covered in chocolate, and I'm all about that kind of sweet and delicious goodness! I highly recommend you grab some, and stay tuned for their upcoming gluten-free bars!

Betty Crocker, I Love You.

2011-02-06T15:01:00.000-05:00

I'm such a sucker for sweets. And with a Super Bowl XLV party at our place around the corner, I had to figure out some delicious gluten-free treats to make that everyone would enjoy, not just me. Thus, I made some amazing goodies, thanks to Betty Crocker (no, they didn't pay me to post this, they're just that amazing). Sometimes, a mix is the best and easiest way to go, and the Betty Crocker gluten-free website has a bajillion recipes that are so worth your time and energy (which will take little, because these recipes are crazy easy).

Thus, I give you the Brownie Goody Bars and some Easy Grasshopper Bars and Chex Honey Nut Cherry Crunch!

Well, That's a Wrap.

2011-01-27T11:12:00.000-05:00

Before finding a really good gluten-free sandwich bread (Udi's all the way, folks), I was jonesing for some wraps to sort of recreate the wrap/sandwich experience. Some days, I really do jones for a wrap, but trying corn tortillas never worked and most of the gluten-free wraps I find are without kosher certification.

Enter Food for Life's Brown Rice Wraps. Both kosher and gluten free, I found these in the Whole Foods frozen foods section with all the other gluten-free stuff. I was hopeful, excited, giddy!

But a burst bubble it is. These are just as bad as corn tortillas in that they rip and tears when you attempt to fold them, making it impossible to "wrap" anything. If I want a quesadilla, I'll use corn tortillas. If I want a wrap? Well, no dice on that one unless I make my own, which I'm not dedicated enough to do.

Have you given up the wrap option? Found a good substitute? Let me know!

You Can-Can With Chili in a Can

2011-01-20T13:28:00.000-05:00

I'm a heat-eat-and-go kind of girl, so when I find boxed or canned soups that actually taste good, I get really excited. I love the Trader Joe's boxed soups, and there are a few other brands out there that produce some winners. But finding the gluten-free ones among the weeds can be complicated.

While in the Poconos at our super find (a health food shop with lots of gluten-free and kosher goodies), I spotted Eden Organic Black Bean & Quinoa Chili, and I got pretty excited because I love chili and I know that black beans are a hardcore source of fiber and all things filling. Some delicious chili over chips with a bit of cheese makes for a quick and easy and filling meal, so ... how did it taste?

The texture is a little funny, but I credit that to the quinoa, which takes some getting used to. The spice is just right, with a bit of a kick at the end of a bite. I wouldn't say it's the best thing I ever ate, and I also wouldn't say that it's better than something homemade, but in a pinch and on the go, it will get the job done. And it's gluten-free, vegetarian, and the ingredients are all deliciously natural.

Ingredients: Water, Organic Black Beans, Organic Quinoa, Organic Tomato Puree, Organic Onion, Sea Salt, Organic Garlic, Organic Chili Pepper, Shiitake Mushrooms, Organic Red Bell Pepper, Organic Short Grain Brown Rice Flour, Maitake Mushrooms, Organic Spices

Nom nom nom. As for the nutrition, those counting Weight Watchers Points Plus can expect to pack 5 points plus for half a can, which is about a cup worth of chili. Why so high? Well, it's black beans and quinoa, folks. Throw it on some chips, roll it in a brown rice rap, nosh with some rice, do what you will. I guarantee you it'll fill you up fast. Want to nab some? Check out Amazon.com.

Gluten-Free Bread: The Final Find

2011-01-07T13:09:00.001-05:00

I blogged this on my main blog, too. Also, Tuvia and I agree: This tastes like soft pretzels :)

Best Gluten-Free Challah ... Ever from Chaviva Galatz on Vimeo.

A Muffin Walks Into a Bar ...

2011-01-06T14:18:00.000-05:00

I love that they came packaged like an actual package of muffins! Great job, Larabar!

I've written about Larabars in the past, and I recently posted about a really really horrible version of the nutritional bar that just #failed. But I just got a package in the mail from the awesome folks at Larabar with a brand new product, so I can't help but blog about this new item that probably will be in a store near you soon, if it's not already.

The flavor? Blueberry Muffin!

The new bar features more ingredients than some of the bars: dates, cashews, blueberries, blueberry juice concentrate, lemon juice concentrate, vanilla extract. It's a little divergent from the typical "berries and nuts" that Larabar uses, but it works -- almost.

I honestly think the sticker was my favorite part about this package of goodies ...

I passed along two bars to my friends S and P so that you could get a varied review of this new Larabar, and here is what they had to say.

S: I think it was too sweet, even for natural sweet. It tastes good but I would rename it Blueberry Nut Muffin, and I don't really taste the blueberries. I tasted more dates and cashews.

P: The Blueberry Muffin Larabar is very yummy, but it has an unsuspected crunch that could be avoided to make it amazing.

I'm free advertising.

I agree with them on two things. One, the crunch is sort of weird, because most Blueberry Muffins don't have crunchies in them, so if you're looking for texture as well as flavor, it sort of smacks you in the face. Also, the blueberry taste was pretty mild. I've eaten two of these since getting the package earlier this week, and I wish there was more of a punch of blueberry-ness to them.

Does that make them taste bad? Nope. In fact, this may make the list with my other favorites like the Pecan Pie and the Jocolat (mmm ... chocolate Larabars ...). And for those following the new Weight Watchers Points Plus system, at 8 grams fat, 26 grams carbs, 3 grams fiber and 4 grams protein, this bar comes in at 5 WW Points Plus. Not too bad for a nutritional bar, especially considering some of them out there pack the same points value and taste like bird seed.

So give 'em a try, let me know what you think. Do you have a favorite Larabar? If not, you should.

Bird Food is For the Birds, Folks.

2011-01-04T16:57:00.000-05:00

Housekeeping: If you missed it, I just blogged about a microwavable, full-size chicken available from Empire Kosher that is delicious and gluten-free. Check it out!

This post is neither short nor sweet. I have, unfortunately, a bad review to write. Not a mediocre or a "maybe I'll try this again" review, but a really, really bad, this was nasty review.

Tuvia and I were out in the Poconos, as you know from my Gluten-Free Challah post. We spent a good deal of time schlepping around the Herb Shoppe in Port Jervis, New York, looking for new gluten-free goodies, and we came across quite a few that will be blog fodder for the next week. I was excited to find one particular thing, which was a quinoa-based nutrition bar. I'm constantly on the search for easy-to-schlep nutrition bars to keep in my bag so I don't get home at the end of the day starving. But this one, this one was ... uck.

The "Delicious Nutrition Bar" is made by NatureCrops: Naturally Simple, and it was Quinoa & Strawberry flavored. I was happy about the nutritional content, because it's got a good amount of fiber and protein, which is key in nutritional bars. Otherwise, you're just eating sweets and getting nowhere. This NatureCrops bar has a mere 2 grams fat, 22 carbs, 6 grams protein, and 5 grams fiber (20 percent of your daily value!).

Bird food. Imagine how it smells.

But the good stuff stops there. It just ... stops. Abruptly. Listen, have you ever tasted bird food? Like, the big bags of bird food they sell at Home Depot and Lowes? The industrial bird food full of seeds and more seeds? Okay. Well, if you haven't, imagine what that smells like. And then eat that smell. And that's what this bar tastes like. It tastes like bird food. Dusty, musty, industrial bird food. That has been molded into a hard, teeth-breaking brick. And the strawberry? Not sure where that got lost. It's nonexistent.

That's all I'll say. I don't know about you, but I don't like bird food. Because it's for the birds. Taste at your own risk! Yes, Organic can go too far.

Note: The hechsher (kosher symbol) on this product is Adjut Israel, out of Argentina, which, as it turns out, is recommended by the cRc out of Chicago. But seriously, don't waste your time with this product. Barf.

S'mores? It Can Be Done!

2011-01-01T21:24:00.000-05:00

Welcome to 2011, which I have decided to call The Year of the Gluten-Free Foodie!

Why? Well, company after company is announcing changes to their recipes, mostly in the direction of less sugar and gluten-free goodness. Among those are Fruity and Chocolate Pebbles, as well as a bunch of the Frito-Lay products. More are sure to follow suit, as chain restaurants (the non-kosher kind) lose the bad food and gain healthful menus. This means that the food industry in general is figuring out "healthful" over "indulgent." Things will continue to be tasty, I'm sure. If anything, the many gluten-free foods I've been trying have left me confident in the future of the gluten-free diet.

Tonight, in honor of the New Year's festivities that we missed because of Shabbos, Tuvia and I partook in some delicious s'mores -- the gluten-free kind.

All it took was some Hershey's Milk Chocolate, Elyon Gluten-Free Marshmallows (OU and some other more hard-core hechsher), and Jo-Sef Cinnamon Cookies (OU). Unfortunately, the sad thing about the gluten-free business right now is that all of the graham crackers I've been able to track down have not been kosher. That's super for the non-kosher world, but for those of us jonesing for a graham-cracker crust or s'mores, well, something is needed. Thus, I was stoked to find the Jo-Sef crackers that are, truth be told, a lot more like graham crackers than I would have thought. Even Tuvia was pleased with their s'more-making ability!

Flaming marshmallow!

Makeup-less, I enjoy my s'more!

I'm not going to bother giving you guys the nutritional information on this, because, let's be honest, s'mores are not a healthful option for anyone. Sometimes, we just have to celebrate and splurge.

Cheers and Happy New Year!

A Gluten-Free Challah Excursion

2010-12-31T01:27:00.000-05:00

The video speaks for itself. And the recipe? You can find it by visiting The Kosher Cupcake.

A (Second) Attempt at Gluten-Free Challah from Chaviva Edwards on Vimeo.

(Note: I didn't put almonds on the bottom of my pan ... and it's all good either way.)

(Note 2: I typically use YouTube, but I've discovered that YouTube sucks, because it mutes your audio if you post any -- even six seconds -- of copyrighted music. Sigh. Stupid. And they did it retroactively, too, which means that I have a bunch of old videos that are completely mute. I am absolutely livid!)

Dreaming of Cherrybrook Kitchen

2010-12-25T23:51:00.000-05:00

This Shabbos, I decided to go easy on the desserts. By this, I mean easy-to-make. We were ordering in Chinese to honor the ages-old tradition of "Chinese Food on Christmas," so I wanted the desserts to be just as quick and easy. I happened to be at Christmas Tree Shops and spotted a mix that I had very recently purchased at Whole Foods ... except it was HALF the price ($6 vs. $3)! So I stocked up on the boxes, even though I had no experience with the product myself, in the hopes that it would turn out to be as amazing as it looked.

The product? A brownie, sugar cookie, and chocolate-chip mix by Cherrybrook Kitchen. For this Shabbat, I made the brownies and chocolate-chip cookies, and, I'll admit, I was elated to just be able to lick the bowl. Earlier this week I made a birthday cake for my husband to take to work that was super gluteny, and I couldn't even touch the bowl after making it.

Both of the boxes were super easy to throw together. Both required a certain amount of butter and water, among one or two other easy ingredients. The cookies came together super fast, they were easily rolled into balls, thrown on a cookie sheet, and cooked for about 9 minutes before I took them out and immediately chowed down. The brownies were just as easy, but I saved those for the actual meal (no sense cutting into a perfect pan of brownies before your guests dig in).

This morning I ate a few cookies for breakfast (shame on me) and by the end of the meal, the entire plate of cookies was gone. The 9 folks sitting at our table devoured the cookies with pleasure and with echoes of "wait, these are gluten free? are you serious?" I was pleased. The brownies were referred to as "fudge-like" and were equally finished by the end of the meal. These desserts flew, and I was the only gluten-free foodie at the table.

These easy-to-make desserts mean one thing: You can please all discerning palates easily with a gluten-free (and vegan) mix that doesn't break the bank. Sure, you can sit down and mix random weird flours and hope for the best, but Cherrybrook Kitchen has done it for you, so why question perfection?

Head out to Whole Foods or your local grocery store in the gluten-free section and find these yummy boxed desserts. They have cake mixes, pancake mixes, cookie mixes and more.

Oh, and each cookie? Only 1 point on the new Weight Watchers Points Plus plan! Hoo-rah!

Gluten-Free Desserts Made Easy!

2010-12-16T15:15:00.000-05:00

Color me stoked to see the new Recipe Email from Live Gluten Freely ... it's peppered with amazing sweet treats like Easy Grasshopper Bars and Egg Nog Cake. Most of the recipes start with a bake-mix a la Bisquick or Betty Crocker and go from there. Being in a serious sweets-making mood, you can bet I'll be making several of these over the next week.

Luckily, being married means making something, taking what I want, and sending the rest in to work with my husband. Let their waistlines extend!

For your viewing pleasure, here's the Easy Grasshopper Bars recipe. Let me know if you try it out and what you think!

Chocolate drizzle and cool minty cream cheese frosting top indulgent chocolate bars. Mmm!

------------------------------------
Prep Time: 20 Min
Total Time: 1 Hr 15 Min
Makes: 36 bars
------------------------------------

Bars
1 box Betty Crocker® Gluten Free devil's food cake mix
1/3 cup vegetable oil
2 tablespoons water
1 egg

Frosting
1 container Betty Crocker® Rich & Creamy cream cheese frosting
1/4 teaspoon mint extract
3 to 4 drops green food color

Glaze
1 oz unsweetened baking chocolate
1 tablespoon butter

Heat oven to 350°F. Spray bottom only of 13x9-inch pan with cooking spray. In large bowl, stir bar ingredients until soft dough forms. Press dough in bottom of pan. Bake 15 minutes. Cool about 10 minutes.
In frosting container, stir in mint extract and food color. Spread over bars.
In small microwavable bowl, microwave glaze ingredients uncovered on High 30 seconds; stir until smooth. Drizzle over frosting. Refrigerate 30 minutes or until set. For bars, cut into 6 rows by 6 rows.

Nutrition Information:

1 Serving (1 Bar)Calories 120(Calories from Fat 45);Total Fat 5g(Saturated Fat 1g,Trans Fat 1/2g);Cholesterol 5mg;Sodium 95mg;Total Carbohydrate 19g(Dietary Fiber 0g,Sugars 13g);Protein 0g;Percent Daily Value*:Vitamin A 0%;Vitamin C 0%;Calcium 0%;Iron 2%;Exchanges:1/2 Starch;0 Fruit;1 Other Carbohydrate;0 Skim Milk;0 Low-Fat Milk;0 Milk;0 Vegetable;0 Very Lean Meat;0 Lean
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

The Gluten-Free Sample Truck?

2010-12-16T15:02:00.000-05:00

Hat tip to my good friend Andrew for sending this my way. How on earth have I never seen this thing in NYC before!? How can I find it!?

Frosted Cupcakes a la Katz

2010-12-13T14:03:00.000-05:00

Mmm ... chocolate cupcake ...

I've been known to have a serious sweet tooth. This, of course, can be a problem when you're gluten-free because a lot of candy bars and sweets have wheat and other gluteny things in them. In fact, I bought a little box of Peppermint Chocolate candies at Target in the $1 section, and upon arriving home thought "Well, I should probably double-check, just in case" and there, lo-and-behold, was the ingredient "wheat flour." Sigh. Another one bites the dust.

So, consider me happy that there are companies like Katz Gluten Free that constantly think of new ways to satisfy my sweet tooth. Their newest products? Chocolate Frosted Cupcakes -- with sprinkles! And Vanilla Rugelach. As you might have guessed by now, this is both a review and a giveaway!

Chocolate Frosted Cupcakes: After the fiasco of getting my wedding cupcakes weeks and weeks after I got married, I'm glad there's a company that is producing the pre-packaged thing for my consumption pleasure. These cupcakes are moist, taste like real cupcakes, and the frosting and sprinkles create a real kid's kind of treat for the children's and adult's crowd. The cake is more cake-like than dust-like, which is a huge thing with gluten-free sweet treats. I give these cupcakes an A.
Vanilla Rugelach: My husband partook in these with me, and he wasn't a fan of them. Although I think they taste fine, they aren't the best ones out there on the market (see: Heavens Mill). They do, however, get the sweet-tooth job done in a pinch, and you can keep these in the freezer for a just-in-case moment or if you're having some gluten-free guests over. Also? The Cinnamon Rugelach schmeared with some frosting makes for a great cinnamon roll substitute!

Check your local grocer, because the Katz Gluten Free line is making its name known in the frozen foods section. My advice to everyone, gluten-free or not, is to keep some of these treats on hand at all times. You never know when you'll need something gluten-free for a guest or for your kid's class as treats.

There are two giveaways. One is here, one is on the Katz site.

To enter the Grand Giveaway conducted by Katz, visit http://bit.ly/BoxofKatz by January 3, 2011.
The giveaway here will end one week from today (that's December 20, 2010).

To enter, simply post in the comments the one food you wish was available in gluten-free form.
One winner will receive a sample pack from Katz Gluten Free.

Also, don't forget to visit Katz for free shipping on all orders over $30 throughout the holiday season! You can also find Katz on Facebook and Twitter.

Gefen Gluten-Free Goods On Their Way!

2010-12-09T22:13:00.000-05:00

I know I've already blogged about my fun adventures at Kosher Fest 2010, but I didn't get to post about the good news from the folks at Gefen. Ready for it?

Stay tuned for Passover ... there are oodles of gluten-free goodies coming!

And, if we're lucky, they'll make their products available year-round. Otherwise? Be sure to get ready to stock up, because I think these products will really be something. Among them are Crisp Flats (Gluten-Free Crackers), Gluten-Free Coffee Cake Mix, Sugar-Free, Gluten-Free cake mixes, and Gluten-Free Matzo-Style Squares!

The bummer on the last item, which actually is Yehuda brand, is that they don't contain oats, so they won't work as a substitute for matzo on Passover. A girl can dream, though, right? They are imported from Israel, so my Israeli friends, prepare yourself for at least mimicing the matzo-eating experience during Passover.

I'm hoping I'll get some product samples to let you all know about nutritional content and taste before hand, but we'll see. Are you as excited as I am?

Gluten-Free in Israel

2010-12-07T08:10:00.000-05:00

Well, I'm back from my adventures in Israel as a gluten-free foodie, and I've learned a variety of things. If you're thinking about travelling to Israel, hopefully this will help you out. I imagine it can inform your decisions traveling anywhere, too!

As we arrived at the airport, Tuvia says, "Did you remember your gluten-free rolls?" Bah! I'd forgotten them at home. But, I said, it's all good, there are tons of health food stores around where we were staying in Nachla'ot. Surely there would be something. Not. We checked three places the next day and all had gluten-free bread, but none with oats. I don't buy gluten-free challah for Shabbat unless it has oats, it's not worth the price to not be able to say motzei (gluten-free challah/bread w/o oats is only she'hakol).

LESSON LEARNED: Always pack a little bit of something. Otherwise? You'll go several Shabbatot without being able to wash or participate in bensching after eating.

Evidently, oat-based challah is not a thing in Israel -- yet. I'm hoping they get this fixed, because, well, what's the point of challah that you can't wash, say motzei or bensch on? I will say, however, that the GreenLite challah that they sell in Israel that is shehakol is delicious!! Highly recommend it.
GreenLite also has some amazing cakes. They taste like actual cake, and, dare I say, taste better than anything I've had from Katz Gluten Free or Heaven Mills. I wonder if they import GreenLite to the U.S.?
Always check out menus for restaurants that might have a gluten-free bun option or gluten-free bread options. In Israel, I discovered that (kosher) Aroma cafes/restaurants traditionally keep gluten-free bread at their stores (unfortunately, on Friday, my Aroma was out of the GF bread) and they sell some delicious gluten-free chocolate chip cookies.

My pick for a gluten-free burger and some delicious food? Black Bar 'n' Burger near the Mamila Mall and the Old City. You can get any of their three main burgers on a gluten-free bun, and, guess what, it tastes like a real bun. It was actually the first time in a few months that I've had a burger on a bun!

Beware: You really have to stick to the gluten-free thing, and it's hard. I went to Israel during Chanukah, which meant that there were Sufganiyot (jelly donuts) on every corner. Year-round, there are pastry shops on every corner -- Israelis love their baked goods. It's hard, but if you're disciplined, it's worth it. But be disciplined because I think even I might have eaten something that had gluten in it because I was plagued with a stomach ache for a few days. Blech.
Check out sites that (although I'm not sure how often they update) have info on stores and restaurants in Israel like http://www.celiac.org.il/En.htm.

Oh, and don't drink the water :)

On My Way to Israel!

2010-11-23T19:54:00.000-05:00

Hey folks! I've been a little quiet (lack of new products, although I do have some yummy Larabars I still need to down and review), and I'm going to be even more quiet until December 5!

Why?

I'm heading to Israel with the husband! I'm excited to try out a few of the places in Jerusalem that serve gluten free food, including a burger joint and a pizza place. I'll be reviewing them here, so stay tuned!

Raisin Bread a la Udi's!

2010-11-16T12:24:00.000-05:00

I've expressed my love of Udi's in the past, so I was elated when the folks at Udi's offered to send me three products for review:

Cinnamon Raisin Bread (coming soon!)
Plain Bagels (available now at Udi's Gluten Free website)
Cinnamon Raisin Bagels (coming soon!)

When the package came, my first sample was the Cinnamon Raisin Bread. I was elated that another version was out there that could compete with the Canyon Bakehouse Cinnamon Raisin Bread. The latter, I wrote, "tastes like real bread" and "gets crispy in the toaster." I seriously thought gluten-free raisin bread couldn't get better, but I honestly was wrong. Udi's Cinnamon Raisin Bread is larger, and thus more substantial. The bread tastes like the bread I ate before becoming gluten free, no lie. My only beef? The cinnamon flavor isn't so strong with this bread. It's more Raisin Bread than Cinnamon Raisin Bread, and that's fine with me. Slap some margarine on this and run out the door in the morning -- that's what I do!

The nutritional information on 2 slices (60 grams) of Udi's Cinnamon Raisin Bread is 160 calories, 4 grams fat, and 1 gram fiber, which is 3 Weight Watchers points. How does this match up with Canyon Bakehouse? Well, Canyon Bakehouse's Cinnamon Raisin Bread is 2 slices at 30 grams for also 3 WW points. My advice? Go for the Udi's -- you get more bread for the same nutritional value!

I haven't tried the Cinnamon Raisin Bagels yet, unfortunately, but I have tried the Plain Bagels, so I can comment on these classic Jewish eats. I'll be completely honest with you all here: I avoid bagels like the plague. Bagels are a popular "Jewish" food, but in the end, they're never worth the nutritional value that they waste in your day. My advice is to get some, throw 'em in the freezer, and eat them sparingly, only when you're really jonesing for some.

Did I enjoy Udi's Plain Bagels? Unfortunately, the bagels don't give the same consistency as the bread did, so I wasn't completely jazzed about them. There was a grainy kind of texture that just felt awkward in my mouth. In the end, it got the job done, as you can see from my delicious-looking egg white, cheese, and bagel sandwich. At 280 calories, 9 grams fat, and 3 grams fiber, these bagels will put you back 6 points on Weight Watchers if that's your bag.

In the end, I have to say I'm going to continually and actively buy Udi's bread products -- they are, without a doubt -- the best and only gluten-free breads that taste like bread, act like bread, and aren't nutritionally corrupt.

Then again, every time I find that one product that answers my gluten-free, kosher prayers ... another one comes along! Stay tuned for more!

So You Eat Vegis?

2010-11-13T23:21:00.000-05:00

I couldn't pass up posting this. I'm amused! This was taken at Whole Foods in Paramus, and I've been back a few times since spotting this a few weeks ago and, yes, it's still spelled wrong. Enjoy your vegis (which, of course, rhymes with Regis) at Thanksgiving!

Yes, Gluten-Free Beer Exists!

2010-11-13T23:00:00.000-05:00

And? It's good. It's really good.

Although, to be completely honest, I'm wondering something. Have my taste buds changed since going gluten free? Is my perception of food quality and taste altered by not eating wheat and barley and ... well, the five grains (that we Jews love)? If it has, well, that's a bummer, but lucky for me the people reading this blog tend to be people who either cook for people with a gluten-free, kosher palate or who are themselves as such, so they probably have the same taste sensations as I do, so we'll carry on.

Gluten-free beer. Yes. It exists, and you can probably find it at your local Whole Foods -- at least, that's where I found mine. It's called New Grist by Lakefront Brewery in Wisconsin, and it's kosher via Star-K (it's even labeled as such on every six-pack and even the bottles, shazaam!). A sorghum- and rice-based beer, I was hesitant about tasting, but it was a special occasion, and others partook in the beer with me.

It was Shabbat night, we were in Crown Heights staying by an old e-friend of mine, Mottel, and his wife and their adorable baby (who, by the way, was born just days before Tuvia and I were hitched). Mottel threw a bottle of beer into the cholent (which, by the way, came out amazing), and a few of us cracked into a bottle. Me being the only gluten-free person in attendance, I didn't expect others to actually give it a try. Upon first taste, I was completely elated: It was good. It tasted like real, light beer. It could stand in against Coors or Bud or any of the other brands, easily. In a blind taste test, I really think someone wouldn't be able to identify the difference. The other fellow that tried the beer wasn't completely jazzed about it, but he drank it and wasn't grossed out.

Listen. I'm not a huge beer drinker, but sometimes you just long to enjoy a cold one with your buddies or your husband or your Shabbat hosts. This was one of those incidents, and I have to say I'm glad I took the opportunity to give a gluten-free beer a shot. And at $9.99 for a six-pack? You really can't beat the price. It costs $35 for a box of gluten-free matzo, and yet you can get a six-pack of gluten-free beer for $10. It's a crazy world we live in, right?

I'm excited to see if Israel has any gluten-free alcohol in the works, and if I happen to find some when I'm in Israel in a few weeks, you'll be the first to know!

Stay tuned for a post on some upcoming products from Udi's, including Cinnamon Raisin Bread and Plain Bagels, as well as another post about some Focacia Bread (yes, you read that right) that I found at Whole Foods that also is gluten-free! Life is getting so much easier ...

Soyummy: The Simply Bar

2010-11-11T12:19:00.000-05:00

The sweet tooth is strong with this one, but I don't like to waste my energy consumption on candy and what would be considered sweets. I scoured the various health and high-protein bars at CVS this morning after class and spotted a number of yummy-looking gluten-free ones, but few with kosher certification. So I busted out my nifty hechsher card that I got from the folks from the CrC in Chicago, and scanned the list. yes, COR in a circle with a number after it is kosher! It's the Kashruth Council of Canada, and the numbers represent the facility number for the COR.

Score. So I picked up what is known simply as The Simply Bar. I was skeptical because the packaging is super simple and the main ingredients are nil. To be honest, it looked a little ... too health-foodie. I purchased, ripped the plastic package open, and took a bite.

It tasted like a rice crispy treat. A delicious, cinnamony (my flavor choice) rice crispy treat! I pretty much inhaled the rest of the bar because the consistency and the flavor were down-right perfect. In truth, if I can find these in bulk, I'll probably pick up an a whole bunch. I love rice crispy treats, but I don't like how bad they are for your nor do I like how much of a pain in the tush they can be to make (so sticky!). With 150 calories, 2 grams fat, and 1 gram fiber (not to mention EIGHTEEN grams protein), this crunchy treat will only set you back 3 WW points.

This bar comes in several flavors, including Cocoa Coffee, Chocolate Peanut Butter, Lemon Coconut, Cinnamon, and Cocoa Raspberry. The product is gluten and dairy free (yay!), and it is soylicious. Yes, soy is problematic for some with my condition (which, by the way, is not Celiac, but is a gastro-intestinal ailment), but in small-enough doses, I survive. And, in a bind, there are far worse things I could be eating.

Enjoy!

Chuck Me the Chickpeas!

2010-11-07T10:30:00.000-05:00

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: I'm a snacker. I'm always on the prowl for the next good kosher, gluten-free snack. Being on the prowl means eyes forever peeled and when I do spot something I've never had before, I buy it. Yes, regardless of price, I buy it. Why? I have an adventurous spirit, that's why!

Thus, I present for your pleasure, Sheffa snacks: "The Best Earth Can Offer." What does that mean? The website's information speaks for itself:

Sheffa is an ancient word for abundance. It’s also the sublime energy that moves through all creation, Earth-supporting and nourishing, giving in a boundless flow to all beings. Sheffa is what food should be—a wealth of enjoyment and sustenance. After all, food is energy. Real food is loaded with simple, pure energy that flows from nature.

And this statement is accurate. The little 1.5 oz bag I purchased was abundant, in flavor and quantity, not to mention satisfaction. Snacks shouldn't taste like rice cakes, but they also shouldn't pack the calories and fat that a bagel and cream cheese does. Snacks should be perfect, just right, and amazing.

The bag I nabbed at Glatt Express was the Spicy Snack Mix, which sports "crispy chickpea noodles, roasted corn, and toasted seeds with mixed spices and a healthy kick of chili." That first ingredient took me aback. Chickpea noodles? Yes. The ingredient on the back of the bag is ground chickpeas! Seriously, who would have thought you could make noodles out of chickpeas (and I'm a serious sucker for these things). The other options are Sweet, Tasty, and Zesty, and the company also makes a product that is Salad Sprinkle specific. In truth, you could throw a single bag of these on anything -- salad, chili, you name it. I ate them plain, but I was starving and in a rush.

The roasted corn is something I've never tried before but am totally in love with. It's crunchy and crispy and creates a perfect punch with the chickpea noodles and pumpkin and sunflower seeds. There's nothing unnatural in this snack pack, which sings to my health-conscious senses, and the product is vegan, wheat free, gluten free, as well as sans GMO, trans fats and cholesterol.

My plan? Find out where I can buy this snacks en masse and save them for a crunch in a salad or soup. Also, check out the website for recipes and more product info! (Note: You can buy them on Kosher.com! FTW!)

OU parve, this product has 118 calories, 5 grams fat, and 2 grams fiber for a Weight Watchers snack value of 2 points, making it the perfect snack!

World's Greatest Veggie Chili? Er ...

2010-11-06T23:29:00.000-04:00

I usually make my own vegetarian chili -- a variety of beans, some cans of stewed tomatoes, chili powder, onions, etc. It usually turns out great, but there's that whole process of cooking that gets in the way of ease of enjoyment. Nothing ever tastes as good as when someone else has made it, right?

While perusing the aisles at Glatt Express in Teaneck, I happened upon Slurpin' Good Soup, which also happened to be gluten-free. (Note: Their website is SlurpinG Good Soup, and so is their Facebook page. My advice: If you're going to brand yourself, be consistent. Be "Slurpin'" or "Slurping." Don't double-dip.)

I picked up the only flavor they offered, which was Vegetarian Vegetable Chili. The ingredients are simple enough,* and the soup attempts to pull that veggie crumbles taste without the usually gluten-filled actual veggie crumbles. The problem is that this chili ends up a little too watery for my liking and the texture is a wee bit unsatisfying. Also? There's something funny about the texture of the beans with the gigantic pieces of zucchini that also is kind of unsettling. I'm guessing that this chili would be excellent over a baked potato with some cheese on top, but I wouldn't recommend eating it plain -- it just lacks that chunky, thick texture that a homemade chili packs. Of course, if you like your chili watery, be my guest.

With OU kosher parve certification this product offers four *very small* servings at 110 calories, 1 gram fat, and 6 grams fiber for each serving, which is only 1 WW point! However, I opted for two servings in one, which ups you to 4 points on WW (thanks to all that fiber ... oops). So stick to a serving size, and plan on supplementing the meal with a baked potato and some other veggies!

Note: While reexamining the packaging, I see that it says "Boil-in-Bag" ... which ... surprises me. There's no directions on how long to boil, and the "Boil-in-Bag" is small enough that I completely missed it. Maybe it would have tasted better cooked right? Oops.

Note Two: Evidently, this product can be purchased at Best Glatt in Teaneck? I need to see if this is legit. I'll keep you posted!

*Water (too much!), Tomatoes, Kidney Beans, Garbanzo Beans, Zucchini, Cannelini Beans, Black Beans, Peppers, Onions, Garlic, Lemon Juice, Cornstarch, Low Sodium Sea Salt (huh?), Pepper and Spices.

Hop on the Chobani Train!

2010-11-04T16:06:00.000-04:00

Naturally gluten-free, Chobani greek yogurt is my favorite go-to snack or breakfast treat. The plain is 100 calories with zero fat and fiber (bummer on that last note, but I carry on). Chuck some granola and honey or agave on a little bowl of Chobani and you're set. Don't believe me? Try it for yourself. And while you're at it, head over to the giveaway for Six Chobani Coupons and join in on the giveaway fun!

Haven't hopped on the Greek Yogurt bandwagon? Now's your chance!

This product is certified by the OU and is dairy.

Pass the Sausages, Please.

2010-11-03T14:12:00.000-04:00

While at Kosherfest, I vowed to not eat any meat -- I wanted to be able to down all the cheese and sweets I could, because, well, I expected those would be the bulk of the gluten-free options available. Near the end of my time at the fest, however, I got a huge whiff of meaty goodness and my perpetual iron deficiency got the best of me.

There, on a corner booth, was Jack's Gourmet Kosher sausages and fine meats. Sweet and spicy, moist and tender, gluten-free, and kosher. Kosher sausage that actually tasted like sausage. Those of you who have grown up eating kosher might not appreciate the taste of well-made sausage. I have to hand it to Smokey Joe's in Teaneck for taking on kosher sausage, but most of their's fall apart and are more like ground meat in sausage-like shapes. Although I try to maintain a weekday vegetarian status, I wouldn't hesistate to cook up some of these sausages for a Saturday lunch or dinner motzei Shabbos.

And it isn't just sausages. There are brisket and pastrami options, too. If you are, however, into sausage, there is Sweet Italian, Hot Italian, Spicy Mexican Style Chorizo, Cured Bratwurst and Boerewors. I happily can tell you that I tried the Sweet and Hot Italian sausages, as well as one other kind that appears not to be listed there (or maybe I just forgot). Don't be mislead -- the Hot Italian isn't hot hot, but it is seasoned to perfection and cased incredibly well. All of these sausages looked the part, and the ones I tasted definitely played the part.

Hopefully these sausages will end up on the market soon, because I have yet to see them anywhere. They are certified by both the OU and Va'ad of Flatbush (hardcore double supervision), and I'm not sure of the nutritional content as of now. If I can get ahold of any, I'll be sure to post it here. The company's website is in the works, and I hope to see them on Twitter, too (after all, it is 2010).

Happy sausaging!

Pop, Pop, Popchips!

2010-11-02T11:58:00.000-04:00

I'm a snacker. I'm not scared to admit it. I love to snack, and this typically is my downfall and where those extra pounds find their comfort. Being gluten free and kosher, however, limits my snacking because I can't simply walk into a convenience store and grab a Slim Jim or some candy off the shelf, I have to look at the label, which leads to the calories and fat and sugar and I usually go hungry rather than snacking on something that'll kill me.

But then there are Popchips. I discovered these gems at a SXSW Interactive party (when I got to be within feet of Ashton Kutcher, that is), and I dismissed them at the time as not being so great. This was, however, before I went gluten free and had to revamp my entire kosher stash of snacks. A couple of weeks ago, starving from poorly planned meals and on a break from class, I jetted toward the vending machine. Lo-and-behold, there were the Popchips, the only semi-not-bad-for-you looking item available. I purchased a bag, and scarfed. My take on these all-natural chips? They taste good, and for something that's neither fried nor baked, I was impressed. As the slogan goes "love. without the handles." The chips are stuffed with air and popped, which is where the name comes from, and the result is a crispy, crunchy chip that is packed with flavor (which include Original, BBQ, Sea Salt & Vinegar, Salt & Pepper, Parmesan Garlic, Cheddar, and Sour Cream & Onion). I love the snackers' credo from the Popchips website:

we, the snackers of the world, raising our right hands out of the chip bag, do solemnly swear to engage in more recreational eating; to throw more popcorn in the air to catch in our mouths; to double-dip into the onion dip as necessary; and to spoil our dinners on a regular basis.

The BBQ popchips are 120 calories, 4 grams fat, and 1 gram fiber for approximately 19 chips, which will run you 3 Weight Watchers points. Not perfect, but also not going to ruin a healthy day. All natural, no trans fat, and delicious as can be, I highly recommend these K-of-K certified popped treats.

Also, check out this list of the 50 Best Blogs for Kosher Living (I'm on there!).

Lemme at the Larabars!

2010-10-31T21:21:00.000-04:00

I'm doing some refresh posts on some of the foods I've mentioned in the past, but with which I haven't spent much time. Among these is the Larabar, G-d's gift to the on-the-go kosher consumer who wants something sans preservatives and junk that will provide a sweet-tooth fix or a grumbly stomach.

The Larabar is unique in that it usually has five ingredients or less, and all of the ingredients are natural. If you ever thought it was impossible to use nuts and spices mashed together to make Apple Pie, then you were wrong. Carrot Cake? Peanut Butter Cookie? What about a Cinnamon Roll? Yes, Larabar did it. How they did it, I'll never understand. But when I have a serious sweet tooth and am craving something full o' gluten, I opt for a Larabar because I can get that Carrot Cake taste sans the gluten. Amen.

Take Pecan Pie. Ingredients? Dates, Pecans, and Almonds. That is it. No more, no less. And? It tastes like Pecan Pie. They don't lie, and they don't mislead you. It's the real deal. The nutritional content varies greatly from bar to bar, but the Pecan Pie bar will run you 220 calories, 14 grams fat, and 4 grams fiber. Yes, that's FIVE points on Weight Watchers. Okay, okay. So you have to really want to waste your points on one of these bars. (For those not in the know, for someone my size trying to lose weight, I get 28 points a day, so, five points is a lot to bargain.)

I'll admit, I don't buy them that often, and when I do, they tend to be a last resort "geepers I'm starving and have an hour commute" kind of thing. The recent issuing of the Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Larabar had me giddy. The ingredients? Cashews, Dates, Chocolate Chips, and Salt. How do they do it? I don't get it. I really don't. It's mad science, is what it is. Still, five points. Sigh. It's those nuts!

I can honestly say that I love every single one of the Larbar flavors, and I am also pretty fond of their Jocolat flavors. Jocolat is a Larabar on delicious, chocolate steroids. German Chocolate Cake and Chocolate Coffee are two of my favorites. The upside of the latter is that it is only FOUR points, because it is upped on the fiber end thanks to gosh knows what. The ingredients in Chocolate Coffee are more numerous, but still natural: Dates, Walnuts, Hazelnuts, Unsweetened Chocolate, Cocoa Powder, Cashews, and Coffee. And? They're all organic! Hoo-rah!

My suggestion for avoidance: the Jocolate Chocolate Mint. Unless, of course, you enjoy eating a chocolate bar and gargling mouthwash at the same time. In that case, go right ahead, because that's what it tastes like. The organic peppermint flavor is barf-worthy. Run away, folks, run away.

Do you have a favorite Larabar flavor? Do you think a Larabar nosh is worth the calories and fat? Do they fill you up? Let me know!

Note: Larabar and Jocolate products vary from parve to dairy and they are OU kosher.

Gimme Some Garden Lites!

2010-10-31T15:14:00.000-04:00

Photo courtesy www.gardenlites.com

My biggest gripe about being kosher is that there aren't frozen entree meals that pack a healthy and filling punch (I lived on Lean Cuisines in my pre-kosher days, and it's part of what helped me lose 25 pounds). The gluten-free thing applies here, as well, but it's far less of an issue than at least getting something for the busy or on-the-go person to grab from the freezer, heat up, and nosh. The only frozen options out there for the kosher consumer are fried and greasy things to eat up on their own, or the occasional burrito or the like. For the gluten-free consumer, there isn't much of anything. In fact, I would venture to guess that the only meal-like kosher, gluten-free option for the health-conscious consumer is Garden Lites, which I blogged about in the past. Here's hoping a Garden Lites diet can help me lose some weight and get health-i-fied.

I stopped by the Garden Lites booth at Kosher Fest last week, and I was delighted to speak to a fellow weight/health-conscious individual who mentioned Weight Watchers while dishing out some of the Garden Lights Zucchini Marinara. I explained that I end up eating soup for meals every day and struggling with hunger throughout the rest of the day. The kind gal behind the Garden Lites booth explained that she eats the Zucchini Marinara every day for lunch and has lost some weight as a result. Color me sold. The great thing about Garden Lites is that all (so far as I know) of their products are gluten-free. That includes the delicious souffles and the various vegetables-masquerading-as-pasta products, too.

The Zucchini Marinara, which tastes just like spaghetti marinara, contains 110 calories, 5 grams of fat, and 3 grams of fiber for the single-serve size. I know that the souffles come in multi-serving sizes (as I found out with that post from May 2010), but I am pretty sure the Spaghetti and Zucchini Marinara versions are perfectly portioned single-serve options. Do you realize folks, what this means? This means this is ONE point on Weight Watchers. ONE POINT. You could eat two of them and still be doing yourself some good. Throw some yogurt with that and some more filling veggies and you're doing yourself a seriously filling favor. It's quick, it's all natural, it's easy, it's delicious, which is probably the most important qualifier here. I guarantee you, you will not miss eating real pasta.

The options with Garden Lites are truly endless, whether you're heating something like this up and throwing into a thermos for lunch or warming up individual veggie souffles for Shabbos, I guarantee you will not be disappointed. No, they're not paying me to write this, I'm just a very, very, very satisfied and excited customer. These truly are the only healthy quick and frozen option out there for the kosher, gluten-free consumer, so eat 'em up!

EDIT: While adding my Garden Lites to my daily WW intake, I noticed that the calorie/fat/fiber actually comes out to TWO weight watchers points. Weird. Not sure how I messed that one up, but be forewarned!

I Found the Bread!

2010-10-27T15:21:00.000-04:00

I've been searching for bread, and I had all but thrown up my hands and dispensed with the happiness associated with a PB&J sandwich. And then? Someone mentioned Udi's to me. I searched their website and discovered a variety of stores nearby had them, but I was perplexed as to why I hadn't spotted them anywhere. After all, when I go grocery shopping, I search aisles near and far for new gluten-free, kosher food. Bread products are something that are few and far between, and the ones that are out there are full of calories and fat and bad stuff.

But Udi's? I finally asked a woman at Whole Foods and found stacks of Udi's and Canyon Bakehouse near the actual fresh-baked goods section. There were breads of every flavor, cinnamon rolls, and even a variety of muffins. I was elated. Abso-freakin-lutely elated. But I didn't get my hopes too high up. I've tried other GF breads in the past and been disappointed time and time again. Bread that soaks up the jelly and gets soggy, bread that tastes like sawdust or grass.

My first taste was of Canyon Bakehouse's Raisin Bread. Each slice runs 90 calories, and for two slices on Weight Watchers you'll pack a mere 3 points. It's soft, gets crispy in the toaster, and it tastes like real bread. No deception here. I wouldn't lie to you. It's the most delicious raisin bread I've ever had -- gluten free or not. These folks know exactly what they're doing.

As for Udi's? Well, wow. For two slices you consume 140 calories, 4 grams fat and 1 gram fiber. On Weight Watchers, that's also 3 points. Some lettuce and tomatoes and other veggies, with some mustard, and you have yourself a delicious, gluten-free sandwich. One that actually tastes good. That tastes real. The bread is substantial, the crust is crispy, and the best part: IT DOES NOT GET SOGGY. Yes, this Denver-made bread stays bread. It doesn't become a sponge for whatever you put on it. I had a PB&J sitting in my bag all day and when I took it out for dinner, it was soft and the jelly stayed inside the bread. B"H. It's about time. I can die a happy woman.

I purchased some of Udi's cinnamon rolls, which look and smell amazing. A single roll will run you 5 points on WW, but considering most of the options for "cinnamon roll" in Weight Watchers amount to 8 points or more, I'd say Udi's are worth splurging on. I'll let you know how they go when I get to them. I also look forward to picking up some of the pizza crust, bagels, and more. I finally have two companies worth relying on for gluten-free baked goods that won't hurt my belt but will fix those cravings for a grilled cheese or fresh tomato and cheese sammich.

Have you tried these eats? What do you think? Let me know!

Note: Canyon Bakehouse products are certified O-V by the Vaad Hoeir of St. Louis, and Udi's is certified GF and Scroll K by Vaad HaKashrus of Denver.

Kosher Fest: Live Blogged!

2010-10-26T09:49:00.000-04:00

For those of you looking for my Kosher Fest blogging, I'm currently live blogging what I can over on my main blog: www.kvetchingeditor.com.

Check it out! I'll post a complete post here later today.

KosherFest, Here I Come!

2010-10-20T17:14:00.000-04:00

Is anyone else going to KosherFest on Tuesday and Wednesday of next week? I'll be there. Hopefully tracking down some HEALTHY, low-calorie and low-fat kosher eats that happen to be gluten free, as well.

A girl can dream, right?

PS: Watch my regular blog on October 27 when I'll be reviewing Susie Fishbein's newest cookbook, Kosher by Design: Teens and 20-Somethings, which marks gluten-free recipes!

Brownies, Challah, and Grape Leaves!

2010-09-25T23:42:00.000-04:00

Quick food notes for your viewing pleasure.

Trader Joe's Gluten-Free Brownie Mix? A huge win. Squishy, gooey, absolutely crisp on the outside and unfinished on the inside. Just the way everyone likes them.

Katz Gluten Free Oat Challah Rolls? A semi-win. They're good, or, at least, they were until my husband decided to inform me that they tasted like Passover rolls, which, unfortunately, left an untasty taste in my mouth.

Good Neighbors Stuffed Grape Leaves? AMAZING. I found these gems at Whole Foods when I was scouting for some Coconut Milk creamer (it's parve and kosher and gluten-free, which makes the husband and me happy). They also have some falafel patties with tahini that are gluten-free, but, unfortunately, they were moldy and I had to return them. They didn't have anymore of the falafel patties, which I chock up to the fact that they probably all were moldy. *Huge Sigh.* At any rate, the grape leaves come 8 in a package, and they're really good as far as keeping you stuffed. I should figure out how to make them on my own.

A Request!

2010-09-21T13:19:00.000-04:00

Do any of you have good advice on bread replacements? I'm not talking about Rice Bread or some kind of gluten-free concoction that is just as bad if not worse than plain ole' white bread. I'm asking, how do you do wraps or rolls without flour wraps?

I purchased some corn tortillas and I'm going to see how it goes, but I'm hesitant. The texture is unique/awkward, and although good for quesadillas, I'm not sure how they'll be for PB&J.

So, let's talk tortillas and wraps! Kosher and gluten-free, that is.

Cake and Pie. Yum!

2010-09-13T19:36:00.000-04:00

I dream of a day when healthy, natural, pre-packaged gluten-free and kosher goods are the norm. Right now there are very few, and it makes me cry. I miss Lean Cuisines from my pre-kosher days. But enough of the lament ...

Two of my newest acquisitions: Heaven Mills Cheesecake and Apple Pie. My gluten-loving husband devoured the cheesecake, and as I sit here eating the apple pie, I'm ooing and awing at the deliciousness. I don't know how Heaven Mills does it, but just about everything they produce is delicious. Their pita bread tastes exactly like pita, which made for some yummy lamb-turkey Mediterranean-style patties a few weeks back were heavenly thanks to that pita. Now that I think about it ... I never got my cinnamon rolls. Time to contact Kosher.com!

PS: The apple pie actually is better than the real thing ...

More Katz, More Yum!

2010-08-23T21:22:00.000-04:00

The kosher, gluten insensitive's best friend, Katz Gluten Free, is hosting a stellar giveaway, and I'm here to review a few of their sweet treats and tell you how to enter. Are you ready?

Chocolate Cupcakes ($5.49 for six) ~ These are more brownies than they are cupcakes, but they get the job done, especially when frosted. I threw some parve vanilla frosting (the unhealthy jarred kind, unfortunately, but a girl wants what a girl wants), and these little cakes are absolutely heavenly. Of course, you could buy a gluten-free mix and make your own, which might be cheaper, but it most definitely won't be as easy and convenient as these cupcakes, which, by the way, you can freeze and keep handy, defrosting only when you need them. If you've got a sweet tooth, feel free to pull one out at a time, ice it, eat it, put the rest back in the freezer!
Chocolate-Dipped Cookies ($4.70) ~ Nom nom nom. I can't stop eating these, which could be a good thing, it could be a bad. The package says there's six servings in this little container, but I've been eating on them for over a week, a little at a time. They're not grainy at all, which is a problem with a lot of gluten-free treats, so Katz has this recipe down pat. The chocolate adds a perfect kick of smoothness to the cookie, too. I highly recommend these.

Of course, just a few posts ago I mention how yummy their rugelach and cookies are. I emphasize this on their chocolate chip cookies, which I give to my regular eaters ALL the time. They don't notice the gluten-free-ness of them, which makes them a perfect Shabbos dessert or kiddush snack!

And now, for the giveaway information! You have until SEPTEMBER 13 to enter. That's a lot of time, so spread the word!

This blog will be giving away one $25 coupon to KatzGlutenFree.com, as well as a free sample pack to a runner-up. So comment comment comment on this post!
Then, head over to Katz Summer Desserts to enter the grand raffle, and mention MY BLOG in the referral box.
Follow the kind Katz folks @katzglutenfree, and maybe hang out with them on Facebook, too.

As incentive, I have to let you all know that the site with the most referrals has the chance to win $50. So go, enter, and do me a favor while putting yourself in line for something good!

KATZ: Kosher and Gluten-Free!

Rachael Ray + Gluten Free = YUM!

2010-08-19T21:12:00.000-04:00

Banana Donuts with Banana Frosting? Gluten Free? Um, YEAH!

Drool. I just discovered the newest recipes in Rachael Ray's magazine for the gluten-free consumer like me (and you!), and I've come to find out that the segment's creator actually has a blog on the Rachael Ray site, too.

I'm personally taken with the idea of Onion Rings that are made with Pancake Batter! (Just use Bob's Red Mill for that) and using Waffles as the "bun" for sandwiches. I'm scouring the website now, but I recommend y'all go over and take a look. I mean, a Polenta Sandwich, where the Polenta is the bun? Genius!

Also, check out my recent review of Log Cabin's new All-Natural, Gluten-Free Maple Syrup over on my "regular" blog!

Bora Bora Superfood!

2010-08-19T14:04:00.000-04:00

I try to make a point of packing food when I go into the city, but when I have plans, I don't like to schlep a backpack and purse and lunchbox around with me. In an effort to minimize, I packed a sandwich and some Nut Thins crackers, and I was tied over during the lunch hour. But then? Hunger smacked me across the face when I was on a way to meet up with a far-away friend in town to visit ... at a bar. I didn't want to go to the bar starving, 'else I'd probably feed the hunger with booze, which would do me no good at all.

Thus, I stopped into a Rite-Aid and scoured the power bar aisle, hoping to find a Lara Bar (my favorite gluten-free, kosher, healthy bar treat), but to no avail. The aisle was full of bars that were packed with protein, but most of them weren't kosher. Nearly defeated, I spotted something unique and very exotic looking: The Bora Bora bar. Yes, it was kosher, packed with good things like fruits and nuts, and I was sold.

The bar didn't last very long; I pretty much devoured it. Here's a diagram of the yummy treat:

The ingredients of this bad boy include "Organic Toasted Coconut, Organic Dry-Roasted Almonds, Organic Honey, Organic Brown Rice Syrup, Organic Whole Grain Crisp Rice, Organic Sunflower Oil (Organic Sunflower Oil, Natural Tocopherol, Organic Rosemary Extract)." That's a lot of "organic" stuff, and I don't know if that makes a difference, but why not? The only thing on there that I can't identify is the "Natural Tocopherol," so if you have a clue as to what that is, be sure to let me know.

This specific Bora Bora Superfood Bar will run you 210 calories, 14 grams fat, 2 grams fiber and 7 grams sugar, which, for a bar that actually got me through until about 8:30 p.m., is pretty darn good. And it tasted so super sweet, but only had 7 grams sugar! Hot dog!

Note: Bora Bora bars are OU certified, gluten free, USDA certified organic, vegan, non-GMO ... etc. This bar is not only good for you, but it's also good for the environment and the world. So go buy some already, mmk?

Katz Gluten Free: Gimme, Gimme!

2010-08-16T16:38:00.000-04:00

Katz Gluten Free Chocolate Rugelach

Katz Gluten Free is known in the Jewish community as the big dog of gluten-free kosher production of baked goods, and for many of us, it allows us to be normal. Yes, they make rugelach and bread and marble cakes and all of those sweet treats of Shabbat, but without the gluten and other harm-causing ingredients that give us woes. I've tasted a smattering of these items, and I can say that some of them are definitely winners, while others should be locked away and reformated for taste and texture. The great thing about what Katz has to offer is that, in my experience, baked goods really take a trial-and-error approach, so having them right there in your grocers freezer or in your own freezer is a life-saver when you have friends coming over and want to engage in food goodness with them without feeling like you need to eat cardboard. Did I mention that I've had plenty of friends sample these gluten free sweet treats (the rugelach and chocolate chip cookies, that is), and most are amazed at how delicious they taste!

Read on for the winners and losers from Katz so far for me!

The winners?

Their sliced Challah Bread ($5.99) is amazing. Like all gluten-free bread, it tastes a lot better when toasted, but straight out of the bag it's pretty darn good. Just avoid anything that's liquidy and might seep into the bread. If there's one thing I've learned about gluten-free bread, it's that you shouldn't put anything on it that will get sucked into the bread, because gluten-free bread is a literal sponge. Marshmallow fluff, jelly, etc. They all end up all over your fingers in seconds after seeping through the bread.
The rugelach, especially the chocolate and cinnamon, are amazing!
I definitely recommend the Honey Muffins (6 for $5.99), which, by the way, are yummy straight out of the freezer, as are just about all of the Katz Gluten Free sweet treats. Just open the container, which you keep stored in the freezer for longevity, and nosh. I can't tell you how yummy they are.

The losers?

The Sliced Whole Grain Bread ($6.19), which is a serious ... blech. Hardcore blech. The texture was grainy and turned into sand or sawdust in my mouth. I ate two pieces and chucked the rest of the loaf. I just couldn't do it. Go with the sliced Challah Bread, really.

I will note that these aren't the healthiest snacks out there, but they are sweet, delicious, scrumptious treats that stand on their own as dessert for Shabbat or for a friendly get together. And when you're looking for something sweet, you're not necessarily looking for the healthiest item out there. If you're curious about nutritional content, you can check out the Katz Gluten Free website.

And, I'm happy to announce that Katz is now putting out an oat-based gluten free challah roll! I have relied heavily on Heaven Mills for my oat-based rolls, which allow for ha'motzi, which means I can participate at the Shabbat table, but now Katz has some, too! Huge score for Katz!

Have you tried any of the Katz products? What is your favorite out there?

I Got a Schmear. Where's My Cracker!?

2010-08-16T03:02:00.000-04:00

I'm always looking for edible, gluten-free crackers. The problem? The delicious ones are few and far between. The edible ones are even fewer and farther between. It's depressing really. I've seen a variety of recipes for crackers, including some in my "You Won't Believe It's Gluten Free!" cookbook. But, who really wants to make their own crackers? Crackers are a snack, right? They're the kind of thing that you want to open your pantry and just find. You don't want to have to prep, mix, cook, cool, and deal with the possibly negative after-affects of a bad batch of gluten-free crackers.

So, I give you a few options:

Trader Joe's Onion and Chive Corn Crackers, which are tiny little coins of salty goodness. I like to schmear some Weight Watchers cream cheese on mine and call it a snack gone yum. Sixteen crackers gives you 140 calories, 7 grams fat, 0 grams sugar and 2 grams protein, which, to be honest, is pretty giving for a snack food. The taste factor for these crackers will blow you away, too. In fact, I challenge anyone who thinks gluten-free crackers can't be good to give these a go. They don't taste gluten-free, but they are. And? They're kosher! Hurrah.
Blue Diamond Natural Pecan Nut Thins. Nom nom nom. These "Nut Thins" come in a variety of flavors, including Almond, Pecan, Hazelnut, not to mention flavors like Bar-B-Que and Ranch. My personal favorite is the Pecan Nut Thins, and all I can say about these is that they're good on their own, without a schmear. They're flavor is subtle, but the rice in the mix really comes through when you're noshing. In the same case, sixteen crackers will run you 130 calories, 3.5 grams fat, less than one gram fiber and 0 grams sugar, which, to be honest, makes them better for you than the Trader Joe crackers.

My suggestion? Switch off, back and forth, between these two crackers. They're really a staple for your cabinet, and if you don't have Trader Joe's nearby, then hit up your regular grocery store for the Blue Diamond crackers, I promise you won't be disappointed. Keep them in your car, in your bag, and anywhere else you tend to get a Jones for something snackable. There really aren't any other crackers out there like these that will fill you up, make you feel good, and will treat your gluten insensitivity kindly!

Let me know what you think ...

Give Me Granola, or Give Me Death!

2010-08-15T22:24:00.000-04:00

One of my most favorite treats for breakfast or a snack is some delicious Greek Yogurt (I usually go for the Stonyfield Oikos kind) with a boatload of granola chucked on top. The bummer on this is that most granola, made with oats, is questionably bad for the gluten-free crowd, as oats are one of those contentious sticking points: are they gluteny or not? Luckily, the consensus (for me) is that it's best to buy those with a GLUTEN FREE slapped on them (like Bob's Red Mill).

Thus, imagine my delight when I happened upon Trader Joe's Gluten-Free granola blends. There's the fruity, the nutty, and the Cranberry Apple Nut. I can't tell you exactly what makes this granola tick, but I can tell you that it tastes better than any other gluten free snack I've had as of late. What I can say is that it's better than any granola I had before with wheat.

As for the nutritional content, three-quarters cups will run you 270 calories, 13 grams fat, 11 grams sugar, and 5 grams fiber. And I'm oozing at the simplicity of the ingredients: Corn flour, water, evaporated cane juice (sugar), rice flour, rice bran, raisins juice concentrate, honey, salt, canola oil, sunflower seeds, flax seeds, raisins, sesame seeds, dried coconut, walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds, dried cranberries (cranberries, sugar), pecans, dried apricots (apricots, rice flower), brazil nuts, natural vanilla flavor, natural maple flavor, sea salt. Oh, and it's OU-D!

Give me something with pronounceable ingredients, a reliable hechsher, and health-food goodness that will neither break the bank nor make my gluten sensitivity blow up, and I'm a happy camper.

PS: If you're jonesing for some gluten-free goodies from Trader Joe's, you can find their Gluten Free Foods list here, and their Kosher Foods list here.

Who's a Funky Monkey?

2010-08-12T15:05:00.000-04:00

At last week's Jewish Social Media Schmooze, I walked away with some delicious, gluten-free goodies, including some Fries from Snikkidy and, a new favorite, Funky Monkey Snacks. Here's the 411:

Funky Monkey Snacks are all-natural real fruit made using a proprietary freeze-drying process that creates Fruit That Crunches!® while retaining fruit's natural goodness. Funky Monkey uses full slices and pieces of real fruits, not the small dices found in other freeze-dried fruit products. Each ounce of Funky Monkey contains three servings of fruit, providing a snack that is delicious, healthy and convenient.

Yes, THREE servings of fruit! (It's recommended that you get four servings of fruit each day, by the way.) Talk about awesome. That's getting plenty of fruit, and experiencing something interesting. I've had freeze-dried fruits before, but these pack a crunch that others don't. For some, the texture might be off-putting, but it's like the perfect balance between fruit chips and fresh fruit. My personal favorite is "Carnival Mix," which consists of freeze-dried organic banana, organic pineapple, apple, and papaya. Other flavors include Applemon, Bananamon, JiveALime, MangOJ, Pink Pineapple, Purple Funk -- and believe me, they're ALL good.

The best part? They're gluten-free (and the products are free of plenty of other allergy-inducing items: Gluten Free, Wheat Free, Dairy Free, No sugar added, no preservatives, no coloring, no flavoring, raw food, vegan, and Kosher Parve)!

So pick up some Funky Monkey snacks and get funky with your healthy bad self!

A Lemon Cookie a Day ...

2010-07-19T15:39:00.000-04:00

Okay, so it won't keep the doctor away, but these yummy, moist lemon cookies might just keep a smile on your gluten-unfriendly face.

Nana's No Gluten Lemon Dreams Cookie Bites are the perfect amount of sweet packed into a nosh that's more than just a "bite." What amazes me is that these cookies taste like the lemon cookies my mom used to make, but they lack all of the stuff that normal cookies come chock full of. No refined sugars, no dairy, no cholesterol, no eggs, no hydrogenated oils, no trans fat, no cane or beet products ... the list goes on and on. Despite no oils or eggs, these bites are incredibly moist and don't offer the strange aftertaste that a lot of gluten free cookies dish.

These cookies are K-of-K and pas Yisrael, and I purchased them at the local Whole Foods for something between $2 and $3. The variety that they have to offer is huge, so be sure to give them a go.

Pleasing Pancakes.

2010-07-18T13:22:00.000-04:00

I'm a sucker for Pancakes, and the Trader Joe's Gluten-Free Pancakes that come in frozen packs of three usually get the job done for me. But sometimes, like on Sundays, I want to make a fresh batch of pancakes drizzled with some sugar-free syrup and a bit of butter to slap on a plate next to some scrambled eggs. I'd been told that Bob's Red Mill has some excellent pancake mix, but I'd always been hesitant, despite my luck with their other products (cookie mix, brownie mix, etc.).

So, today, with a hankerin' for some fresh pancakes, I broke open the bag and took the plunge. I have to say they're really delicious, and they taste a lot like whole-grain pancakes would probably taste. They have that grainy, whole kind of flavor that makes one feel, well, healthy.

All it took was 1.5 cups of the mix, one egg (I used egg white substitute), one Tbls vegetable oil, and 3/4 cup milk (I used vanilla coconut milk). Mix it. Throw it on the griddle. Call it a yummy day.

The upside is that these pancakes don't taste like crap (like some gluten free goods), the husband was willing to eat them, too, and he actually enjoyed them! The more food I can find that people who aren't gluten sensitive will enjoy, too, the happier I am. I don't like having to make two of everything, so this fixes that problem.

Thanks Bob's Red Mill!

(Note: Bob's is Underline-K, which actually is administered by Heart-K, the LA Kashrut authority.)

The Doctor's Orders: Don't Eat This.

2010-07-12T18:13:00.000-04:00

I really miss eating a lot of the Morningstar Farms products (like their black bean yummies, why can't they go gluten free for some of their products, eh), so I thought I'd try the Dr. Praeger's Gluten Free California Burgers.

Two words: DISGUSTING and HORRIBLE.

They mush, they taste horrible, they have no burger-like consistency, and, did I mention they're disgusting and horrible? Don't buy them, don't waste your time, run in the other direction.

Make your own!

Trader Joe's Sesame Crepes

2010-06-30T16:03:00.000-04:00

I'm not a fan of sesame seeds, period. When I used to find them on challah, I'd shake it and pick at it until the sesame seeds were gone, gone, gone. But when I saw the Sesame Crepes at Trader Joe's for 99 cents (that's for two crepes that will take you about a week to consume), I was intrigued. They are gluten free (go rice flour!) and kosher, parve, so I had to buy them for experiment's sake.

I can't exactly describe the flavor or the consistency ... but they're chewy, just sweet enough, and delicious. I drizzled (okay, this isn't so healthy) some chocolate syrup on mine and wow did it give it the perfect dessert flavor I was looking for. The sesame seeds really don't overpower the flavor of the crepe, I can tell you that much. There are other suggestions for what exactly to do with your "crepe" here (including popping in the oven for a more chip-like dish, which I'm sure would be yummy dipped in some recently melted chocolate).

Let me know what you think if you give them a go. I'm a sesame seed hater, but these have me excited for more!

I Haven't Tried It, But ...

2010-06-20T16:17:00.000-04:00

I'm guessing that this is kosher, right? It's simple, American-made beer. Any thoughts?

Drink Up: Tread Lightly Ale by New Planet Beer Co.
By The Denver Post

$8.99 per six-pack (bottles)

There's been a surge in awareness of celiac disease in the U.S. over the past decade or so, and the once-obscure affliction has spawned many a product for people who are unable to digest gluten. As many sufferers were forced to give up beer altogether, a few enterprising brewers set to work on developing beers that eliminated malted barley from the recipe. A proud entrant in this space is New Planet of Boulder with its drinkable blond refresher. TLA uses sorghum, corn extract and orange peel along with hops, yeast and water to achieve a gluten-free brew that tastes like beer. It's a bit light in appearance — pouring a clear light yellow, with a small fizzy head that disappears within seconds and lots of big bubbles. In fact, it looks for all the world like ginger ale. Its aroma is sweet, with notes of apple, and on the palate this beer unfolds light orange, corn and apple, balanced by a touch of hops. It's highly drinkable and with alcohol by volume of 5 percent is sessionable. Celiac sufferers should come back into the beer-drinking fold with this summer-drinking pils. New Planet Beer Co., Boulder; newplanetbeer.com

Marcus Chamberland; mchamberland@denverpost.com

A New Recipe Site.

2010-06-15T19:22:00.000-04:00

I've started ANOTHER blog in which to catalog all the awesome gluten-free and kosher recipes I discover the web over. Feel free to take a look at Gloriously Gluten-Free & Kosher Recipes. Email me recipes you love, and I'll throw them up on the site if they seem pretty easy and enjoyable!

Thanks!

Best Bagels EVER + Giveaway!

2010-06-15T14:30:00.000-04:00

I have discovered the ambrosia of Gluten Free eating. Yes, bagels. Delicious, substantive, bagels. I'd tried some brands (including the Enjoy Life ones), but was less than satisfied with the taste and consistency, not to mention still hungry after consumption.

I give you, the Glutino Bakery! I'm not sure if all of their bakery goods are kosher, but I do know that their Cinnamon Raisin Bagels are deliciously Montreal Va'ad kosher, and that makes me a happy camper because these bagels are flavorful, the same size as normal bagels, and they, get this, TASTE like real bagels!

They've got all the regular flavors, and I'm pretty sure I've eaten one every day this week since buying them on Saturday night. I'm going out to get more, today, too. Some of the plain for bagel sandwich goodness and, maybe, I'll pick up some of their bread, too. You can't go wrong with gluten-free products that taste like real bread!

The nutritional content is kind of depressing, but I shouldn't complain. They left me feeling full and satisfied, and they're substantive enough for an entire meal. If you're interested, check out the nutrition here.

--------------- GIVEAWAY!!! ------------------

And now: a giveaway! I recently blogged about the yummy ketchup fries from Snikkidy, and the kind folks there contacted me with an opportunity for both me and my lucky Gluten Free readers! The giveaway? A free sample of the Snikkidy Cheddar Cheese Fries!

How can you enter for a chance to win? Well, just post your favorite Gluten Free Recipe here in the comments section (either the link or you can write it out, too), and you'll be up for a chance to receive the free sample from the kind, awesome folks at Snikkidy! Contest closes Friday evening around 7:30 p.m. Spread the word!

Adventures in Frozen Foods.

2010-06-10T21:51:00.000-04:00

Last week, while heading back to Connecticut after the big wedding week in New Jersey, Tuvia and I stopped in Monsey to check out Supreme Health Food market above Rockland Kosher, because rumor had it that they had boatloads of gluten-free goods. And boy howdy ... did they ever.

I opted for two frozen items (start small, they say), which were Dr. Praeger's Gluten-Free Fish Sticks and Mimi's Gourmet Chipotle Black Bean Chili with Rice. I had the latter earlier this week for dinner (over a bed of delicious gluten free tortilla chips), and noshed some of the fish sticks tonight for dinner.

I was really happy with the chili (sof, sof, something frozen, gluten free, and amazing), which on a nutritional scale is pretty excellent: 250 calories, 6 grams fat and 11 grams fiber. Yes. You read that right: ELEVEN GRAMS FIBER! For a frozen meal, this really hit one out of the park. The chili had a beautiful zing to it, with just enough of a kick to not blow me over with its heat. The consistency of the chili and rice was nice and thick, and the rice managed to not dry out during cooking. My only beef is that the cooking instructions are pretty off. It says to microwave at 4 minutes with the plastic open on one side. I did that, of course, and then had to remove the plastic and cook for another 2 minutes! What gives? Of course, even with the cooking instruction faux pas, this is definitely a 10. I can't wait to try the OTHER flavors! This product is OU parve.

As for the fish sticks? Sigh. It tasted like pre-chewed fish wrapped in a soggy (despite cooking in an oven) outer shell. I honestly felt like I was eating pre-eaten fish ... it was not a pleasant experience at all. So I doused each stick (which crumbled as I ate them) in ketchup and forged forth. Disappointing, too, was the nutritional content for a mere three fish sticks: 120 calories, 8 grams fat, and 1 gram fiber. I'll admit I'm shocked by the fat content, considering it doesn't even taste like real fish! And three fish sticks? That's almost nothing in the long run. Dr. Praeger's has some other gluten-free frozen foods, and I'm excited to try the California Burger, but after my experience with the fish sticks, I'm not so stoked.

Here's to fresh -- not frozen -- gluten-free, kosher food!

IMPORTANT NOTE!

2010-06-08T14:00:00.000-04:00

Everything posted on March 24, 2010, and previously was NOT Gluten Free. Those items were kosher, but I had not gone Gluten Free yet. Please read prior to March 24, 2010 (Review: Wheatables Nut Crisps) with caution!

Gluten Free Bread: The Final Frontier.

2010-06-08T10:39:00.000-04:00

EDIT: I've FOUND the perfect bread. It's by Udi's! Check out my post here. (10/27/10)

I sort of feel like, if you can't have some kind of sliced bread or English Muffin or something, you're just completely up a creek. My one attempt to make Gluten Free challah has left me a little despondent in the "make your own bread" department, and luckily I've found Katz and Heavens Mill, both who make frozen, Gluten Free, kosher challot! But sliced bread -- it's as American as apple pie and sliced cheese. How can people get by without sliced bread?

I've been really reluctant to buy any of the gluten free, kosher sliced breads out there because they're all as hard as a rock and have shelf lives a year away. While grabbing some good ole Lactaid Milk from the store yesterday, I was inspired to grab a package and give it a go. It wasn't on sale or anything, something just said "Chavi, you want bread, you want it BAD. You want a PB&J sandwich!"

Thus, we have Ener-G's Tapicoa Bread, which is parve, kosher, Gluten Free, and more. I opted to toast it this morning for an egg and cheese sandwich, and it got just perfectly crisp. It doesn't toast the same way as normal bread; instead, it sort of toasts a little harder, so watch it when you're toasting. It actually tastes really good, kind of a little sour like sourdough bread, but with more substance than sourdough offers (I just hope that sour taste is normal?). I will warn you of one thing: This bread is a little, well, small. Not that size matters, but if you're looking for a gargantuan loaf, you'll be sorely disappointed with just about every Gluten Free loaf out there.

Nutritional content? 80 calories, 3 g fat, 2 g fiber, and 1 g sugar for one slice of bread. Double that, and you're not beating the caloric content of Arnold's Flats (sad), but it gets the job done.

I'm looking forward to some PB&J and cheese & tomato sandwiches. Summertime, for me, is all about sandwiches and the ease of schlepping them around with a bag of chips and some veggies. I'm glad I finally took the plunge with this bread -- the question now is whether I'll be willing to try other Gluten Free breads or if I'll stick to what I now know.

Have any experience with Gluten Free sliced bread? Let me know which brands you dig.

Taking the Good with the Bad, er, Disgusting

2010-06-07T17:59:00.000-04:00

In the past two weeks, I've purchased a wide variety of Gluten Free, Kosher goodies, and they've had ... less than stellar ... results on my palate. So, let's just get to it.

Item Number One: Organic Mary's Gone Crackers Sticks & Twigs, Chipotle Tomato. These are described as a "Light'N Crunchy Pretzel-Snack, Wheat-Free * Gluten-Free." What the bag should say is "tasteless, as good as sticks and twigs ... OFF THE GROUND!" I was really excited about these, because they look like pretzels, so they should taste like pretzels, right? I mean, they're just gluten free, not taste free, right? My first bite left me with a disgusting taste in my mouth. I ate another piece, in the hopes that I could nab a taste of the Chipotle or the Tomato, but I got nothing. I had a few more pieces before dismissing the product. Before, when tasting some of the gluten free goodies out there, I've given them a shot because they don't taste right on first bite but as they go down, the flavor arises. With these, however, there's nothing. So that's all there is: a burnt taste without any particular flavor. Sigh. I won't even give you the nutritional content because it's not worth your time. They are, for your information, OU (parve). These crackers put me out $2.50 at Whole Foods.

Item Number Two: Crunchmaster Multi-Seed Crackers, Crunchy Oven Baked, Rosemary & Olive Oil. The bag says these are "All Natural, Low Sodium, Cholesterol Free, as well as Wheat Free and Gluten Free." Much like Mary's Sticks & Twigs, these crackers are without any particular flavor. I mean, there's something there, but it doesn't taste like Rosemary or Olive Oil. I should know, I cook with them regularly. The odor of the bag, also is a turn off. It's like opening a bag of bird seed that's been sitting outside for a few weeks. I might hold on to these and slather them with cream cheese in the hopes that it redeems the bland flavor, but probably not. These crackers are OU-D and put me out about $3.49 at Whole Foods. Sorry, Crunchmaster, but this did not fulfill your promise that "this variety will excite your taste buds from the first crunch."

Item Number Three: Snikiddy All Natural Baked Fries, Classic Ketchup (that's the flavor). Redemption! These gluten and wheat free goodies are Kof-K Dairy, and don't contain preservatives or corn syrup. I know what you're thinking -- gross, disgusting, repulsive, WHY!? But seriously, they're oddly delicious. The ketchup flavor comes from behind after a few bites, and it has that tang of regular fries and ketchup (minus the heat and sogginess of regular fries, but if you're a crispy fry person this will sing to you). The brand sells a variety of other baked goodies, like Cheddar Cheese, Regular, and Parmesan Garlic (drool) Baked Fries. They also have some Cheese and Pizza puff snacks. The bonus is that they're delicious and not so bad for you in terms of nutrition. A serving of these Fries is 4.5 ounces and clocks in at 130 calories, 4.5 grams fat, 1 gram fiber, and 2 grams sugar. Probably the best of nutrition for these Baked Fries is that they only have 190 mg of sodium, compared with a regular, similar serving of fries, which has more than 700 mg (and that's before the ketchup!). I picked these up at Whole Foods, and I can't remember how much they cost, but it was around $2.00. Go buy them! Can't you see how happy they've made me!?

On a side note, mad props to Katz's Gluten Free for offering to send me a sampling of their Gluten Free foods (mmm, baked kosher goods), which I'm pretty stoked about. I finally tried their Gluten Free Rugelach in Cinnamon two Shabbatot ago, and I have to say they're pretty outstanding. I was worried that they'd be dry or tasteless, but they really turned out well. I'm stoked to try more of their Gluten Free treats!

Sock Me a Souffle!

2010-05-25T22:13:00.000-04:00

How devastating to realize the Everything Crackers I started to eat were NOT gluten free. That just shows how I should be more careful when I shop gluten free -- not everything in the "gluten free section" is gluten free. Devastation!

The upside is that instead of my crackers and cream cheese, I got to dive into a Garden Lites Butternut Squash Souffle. This thing was ... wow. Just amazing. Probably the most delicious thing I've had to eat this week. The unsettling part, however, is that this little container is meant to serve four, and I just sat here and ate the whole thing.

The container is about the size of those Warm Delights things that I no longer can eat. Aside from being a little dense, this definitely would not feed four people -- maybe two, never four.

It's Star-K pareve, and it clocks in at 70 calories, 1 gram fat, 2 grams dietary fiber, and 3 grams sugar per serving. I managed to down the entire thing (I'm so happily full, too), so that was 280 calories, 4 grams fat, 8 grams fiber, and 12 grams sugar -- roughly. I don't feel bad about that at all, seriously.

The souffle gets a kind of crispy yumminess on top, and there's just enough sweet -- brown sugar? cinnamon? -- to give the souffle a kick. It tastes more like dessert than dinner, but sometimes, that's what the stomach wants.

I highly recommend this Garden Lites, gluten-free treat!

2010-05-11T16:02:00.000-04:00

I went on a Great Gluten Adventure today, hitting up Trader Joe's and Whole Foods, the latter only because I couldn't find a few things at TJ's. My trek showed me a lot of gluten free products that aren't kosher, but darn well should be.

Kettle Cuisine, for example, sells little boxes of soupy goodness. For those of you out there rocking a gluten-free diet, try these and let me know how they are. I sent in a letter begging them to consider kosher status, so we'll see if it moves them to kashrut. (After all, several of their soups already are dairy free, it wouldn't take much to go the whole nine yards, right?) Then there's Glutino, which has a few kosher products, but not their delicious-looking frozen meals. So? I sent them off a note, too. Help! There's a lack of delicious, kosher frozen meals, let alone gluten-free ones.

I can vouch for Garden Lites as being both kosher and gluten free. I've tried one of their deshes -- the zucchini portabello -- and I wasn't too disappointed. I've got their Butternut Squash Soufflé in the freezer waiting for a nosh, too. The great thing about these is that they're low calorie. The bummer? They're not the slightest bit filling. It's more of an accompaniment for a meal than a meal in itself.

But today -- what did I buy today? Here's a fun photo!

The cool thing is, if you walk into your local Trader Joe's, they'll hand you a list of their gluten-free products (sorry, no kosher product printout in-store). Among my goodies purchased (most at Trader Joe's, that is) include Reduced Guilt Gluten Free Tortilla Chips, Keifer Strawberry Milk, Coffee Latte & Cream Bars (SO EXCITED), Gluten Free English Muffins ... and from Whole Foods, Cinnamon-Raisin Bagels, Xanthum Gum, and Van's Gluten-Free Cinnamon-Apple Waffles.

Two things in that photo that I left off my list: probiotic yogurt from TJ's and Gluten-Free Pancakes from TJ's. You see, I used to buy these pancakes ALL the time; I had a secret love affair with them. I had no idea, at the time, that they were GF. The probiotic yogurt, OU-D, is amazingly delicious, low in sugar, and has probiotics, which means I can stop taking the probiotic pills that are jacking with my meds.

I can vouch for the Van's Waffles, as I've had the blueberry and they taste just as good (if not better) than Eggos or other brands.

Can you tell I'm jonesing for doughy, bread-like food items?

Thank HaShem for Trader Joe's (and less so for Whole Foods, to be honest). Also, mad props to the folks at Stop & Shop for selling kosher, gluten-free chorizo -- it made my Mexican Shabbat killer. I just wish I could remember the name to tell you all. I'll have to buy some more and note the name. So stay tuned!

Happy shopping, folks! I'm off to find some of these ...

Note: The best way to stay gluten free and kosher is to eat FRESH. Fresh, fresh, fresh. Vegetables, fruits, and the kinds of things that aren't processed. The benefit, however, of shopping gluten free is that a lot of the products lack the processed junk and unnameable contents of regular kosher food. Eat smart, and stay healthy!

Tofu Shirataki Noodles: Oh. Yes!

2010-05-10T18:42:00.000-04:00

I'm on a new journey: the gluten-free kind. And I know what you're thinking, tofu? Shirataki? What are these bizarre words you're throwing around!? I've always been an anti-tofu kind of person, but that's because I've never liked the texture or taste. Once upon a time a vegetarian friend of mine made some delicious vegetarian lasagna with tofu crumbles, but since then, I haven't been able to stomach the stuff.

According to House Foods, "Tofu Shirataki is a great pasta alternative made from blending the root of the Konnyaku -- a member of the yam family and tofu." I picked up a few bags of these OU-certified noodles because, well, they came in bags filled with some kind of liquid, and my interest was sparked immediately. How many types of pasta do you buy in a bag filled with liquid? Of course I had to pick up a few bags (angel hair and fettuccine), which you can see here (doesn't it look tantalizing?).

The directions are simple: drain, soak, cook for about a minute, then do what you want with it. So that's what I did. The whole point of the draining and soaking is so you don't get that "bagged noodle" flavor, and it pretty much did the job. There was a bit of weird flavor, but I think that's largely because they're made of tofu and, well, I don't like that flavor.

So I topped mine with some simple pasta sauce and some parmesan cheese. And it was DELICIOUS. It tasted like real pasta -- for the most part -- and I ate the WHOLE THING! It was only 20 calories for half the bag, so I don't really feel bad or guilty about it. Other nutrition specs for HALF the bag: .5 grams fat, 3 grams carbs, 1 gram protein, 2 grams fiber.

I picked my bags up at a local Shoprite, but you can also find these at Whole Foods and other retailers. And, if you don't trust me, these noodles are endorsed (the package says so) by the illustrious Hungry Girl.

Gluten Free: The Way to Be!

2010-04-28T00:24:00.000-04:00

Well, I've gone gluten free in hopes of clearing up some intestinal curiosities, and I'm doing this all on my own. I recently purchased a book, but mostly I've been winging it at the store. Tonight I picked up a couple different types of Gluten Free Chex Cereal, and I've already given the Gluten Free Cinnamon Chex a delicious test run ... and wow. This is probably the best cereal I've had in a very, very long time.

The cereal packs enough sweetness to make the 3/4-cup serving enough to satisfy the taste buds and fill you up. The "Touch of Real Cinnamon" is a nice kick to the Chex, and I imagine the plain, Rice Chex will be just as good. It's a satisfying, gluten free option for the kosher consumer (OU-D), and at $3.00 a box at my local Super Wal-Mart, I can't complain.

I'm not rocking Weight Watchers anymore, but am instead focusing on sugar, salt, calories, fat, and fiber in whole via LiveStrong.com, and I recommend you do the same. Here's the content for this anytime treat.

Calories: 120

Fat: 2 g

Sodium: 190 mg

Sugar: 8 g

Fiber: 0

The bummer here is that there's ZERO fiber, which means that the full feeling I'm feeling is probably fleeting. The sugar count is below my 9 gram limit in any single serving, and the Rice Chex has a sugar content of 2 grams, I believe. The calories and fat are low, too, which means not-so-bad-for-your flavor.

Olive Chips (I Love Chips), But ...

2010-03-14T09:35:00.000-04:00

I'm very much on the road over the next few days, so that means the following: No fresh, hot kosher food. Of course, I do have some La Briute meals to tackle, which I'm excited about, but other than that I got nothing. La Briute meals, infamous for steaming up a storm, can't really be opened and/or used in the airport or on a plane, so I'm stuck eating non-hot food while sitting in an airport where everyone around me is noshing hot, yummy-smelling (albeit uhealthy) McDonalds and Potbelly sandwiches and ... sigh. The smell of hot eggs is tantalizing. Reason #5,768 to move to Israel -- at least when I'm at the airport there would be kosher options. Big, heavy, insatiable sigh.

I did pick up a few bags of chips (so not healthy), including the Food Should Taste Good brand chips, the flavor being Olive and described as Black, Green, and Kalamata Olives with Garlic and Sea Salt. They're OU-D, although it seems to me that it must be DE (dairy equipment) because it's Lactose Free and there isn't anything remotely "dairy" in the ingredients. The bummer about most bags of chips, including this one, is that there isn't anything really nutritionally awesome about them. The FSTG brand chips usually pack a lot of punch with fiber, but they're typically just as high in fat as everything else. This specific bag comes in at 210 calories, 9 grams fat, and 5 grams fiber. For those keeping track at home, that amounts to 4 WW points. Hefty for a bag of chips. Sufficient for attempting to stav off my hunger.

The taste? Nothing special. These chips neither wowed nor disappointed me. I could have asked for a lot more, but because my expectations and standards are pretty low right now (Chaviva = hungry), I really can't give a proper estimation of where this bag would fall on a five-star scale.

For better or for worse, however, they weren't too salty for Tortilla Chips, and the subtle olive flavor was enough to give it a unique and sharp kick. I'm offering up three out of five stars here, but only on flavor. The caloric/fat content are depressing (as are most chip contents), so an overall of two out of five stars.

Freeze Dried Apples: They're Alive! Alive!

2010-03-10T14:10:00.000-05:00

I've got a pot of Manischewitz Vegetable Soup (the bagged kind, except this came in a box!) on the stove, so that will be a forthcoming review. For now? Let's stick to fruits!

In the many mishlaoch manot baskets we received for Purim, there were a few little special and unique gems that got me drooling. One of these was the Brothers-All-Natural Fuji Apple Crisps. Now, these are "Real Sliced Fuji Apples!" But there's something special about them: They're FREEZE DRIED. I'm a sucker for dried apple slices (which I procure happily from @OhNuts), but freeze dried apples? Freeze dried anything makes me pretty uncomfortable, but I was willing to give these a try.

The interesting thing about these is that the moment they hit your tongue, your saliva and the freeze-dried apple work together to produce the most amazing, fresh-tasting apple you've ever tasted. The apples really come alive and taste even better than a fresh apple!

An entire OU-parve bag is only 39 calories, 0 grams fat and 2 grams fiber, not to mention about 6 grams sugar. The great thing is that the ingredients are simple: 100% freeze dried fuji apples. The bag is the equivalent of about 1.5 Fuji Apples, too.

Overall? This is a knock-you-out-of-the-park snack. As adults, you sometimes want to feel like a kid, and being able to experience the coming alive of an apple in your mouth is something that will make you giggle like a child and will make your child giggle in excitement.

Burgers Bar, Teaneck Style

2010-02-15T00:11:00.000-05:00

EDIT: Burgers Bar in Teaneck *now serves* gluten-free everything! They stock gluten-free rolls, so you can get that burger without worry! (July 2010)

This originally was posted over on my other blog, Just Call Me Chaviva.

I happened to win a "Tweet for Meat" free burger coupon on Twitter from @BurgersBar, so we decided to head to the recently opened Teaneck joint. There are a few others open in the U.S., but the chain is known mostly in Israel, especially for its location just up the stairs from the Kotel in Jerusalem (where Tuvia and I happened to eat in December!). I'll admit, it was no Jerusalem experience. We stopped in at around 2 in the afternoon, so the joint was not jumping. We were probably one of three or four tables of people, so service was fast and very friendly.

My biggest beef (no pun intended!) with Burgers Bar in Teaneck was the quality of the veggies they had for the burgers. They had no problem throwing a bunch of brown, obviously bad lettuce on my burger. It was really disappointing, to say the least. I ordered a spicy burger and regular fries, and the fries weren't quite as crisp as I was looking for and the burger wasn't quite as spicy as I remembered my burger in Israel. The quantity of food was on par with the price, and it definitely made filled me up.

Overall, it was probably a 2.5 out of 5 star experience. The restaurant just opened, so I'll give them some time. If you're heading over, don't look for a "BURGERS BAR" sign -- it still says Discount Liquidation! The ambiance will surprise you, as it's very clean, very crisp, and very hip. They're open amazingly late (2 a.m. most days and 3 a.m. on Saturdays) for the late-night crowd, but I've heard they can get quite busy, so plan accordingly. And, don't be like me -- let them know if the veggies are less than stellar.

(Location: 1383 Queen Anne Road, Teaneck, NJ)

Coffee Addicts, Unite!

2010-01-30T23:46:00.000-05:00

I'm unabashedly addicted to coffee and tea. I spend my spare time -- and my working time -- in coffee shops, mostly of the Starbucks variety where I live. Back in Nebraska, I was known to spend upwards of 8 hours a day sitting in a comfy chair in the Coffee House working on Hebrew and other homework. Lucky for me, this addiction was happily welcomed when I came to Judaism so many years ago. The coffee shop is the meeting place for anyone, no matter their creed, because coffee is a pretty acceptable item of the kosher variety. The great thing about this is if a non-kosher friend wants to hang out or grab a nosh, I can always suggest a coffee shop because there's always an option. Coffee. Milk. Sugar. Or, of course, some variation therein. For those who enjoy more exotic varieties of coffee, there's the always-amazing www.kosherstarbucks.com, which lists the "recommended" and "not recommended" coffee drinks. If you haven't visited the Kosher Starbucks page, then you should. You'll probably be surprised at the coffee options that ARE available to you.

I know this isn't exactly related to being kosher, but I have to throw this photo out there. With as much coffee as Tuvia and I consume, and with our wedding having a bit of a coffee flare, these were the most appropriate earrings I could find. I wonder if I can get some special chuppah-appropriate ones made!?

Purchased these from the Things Olde and New store.

Go Greek, Be Happier!

2010-01-21T13:37:00.000-05:00

Greek Yogurt is all the rage these days, and if you haven't hopped on the bandwagon of Greek goodness, then you're seriously missing out. The yogurt is much thicker than regular yogurt, and it's also a lot better for you. I know a lot of people who aren't willing to do yogurt -- the texture grosses them out something fierce -- but you might really be missing out, especially if you're trying to lose some weight.

In a recent study in the International Journal of Obesity, researchers found that obese adults who ate three servings of fat-free yogurt a day as part of a reduced-calorie diet lost 22% more weight and 61% more body fat than those who just cut calories. A plus for Greek yogurt, in particular, is that it doesn’t give you the sugar overload of what you usually find in U.S. grocery stores. To save on fat and calories, reach for a low-fat version. (source)

I've tried a lot of different kosher Greek Yogurt varieties in the past few months, because everybody and their brother is jumping on the Greek bandwagon. Unfortunately, some of them that are out there are pretty disgusting. I'm a fan of putting honey with my Greek yogurt, which is sort of the thing to do if you're really rocking it Greek-style. There are a variety of other flavors out there, too, including blueberry and even chocolate. The key, for me anyway, is to find yogurt that puts the yummy goodness on the bottom for mixing in. Now, don't get me wrong -- I always hated those fruit-on-the-bottom yogurts. But there's something tantalizing about finding a big pool of honey or chocolate at the bottom of a cup of thick, creamy Greek yogurt.

Thus, I recommend Stonyfield Organics Oikos Greek Yogurt, especially the Honey and Chocolate varieties. Talk about a sweet, dessert-like treat that won't break the caloric bank. These OU-D tubs of yummy can be found on their own, in pint-size tubs, or in the four-packs. I'll admit that a single tub (that's 4 oz.) from the four-pack is plenty for a single serving. For this it's 90 calories, ZERO fat and zero fiber. (That's 2 WW points.)

Something just feels good about eating this yogurt. It feels like all the enzymes are doing the right kinds of things in the body. So overcome your fear of yogurt, it really isn't that bad. And make it Greek. Recent studies have shown that those who maintain a Mediterranean Diet have a reduced risk of depression (up to 30 percent!). That, my friends, is inspiration to rock it Greek style!

Quick-and-Healthy Oatmeal!

2010-01-19T11:03:00.000-05:00

Instead of doing up a few packets of oatmeal that are undeniably unhealthy, I recommend cracking open a bag of Bob's Red Mill Rolled Oats. A half-cup of oats plus three-quarters a cup of water, throw it into the microwave for 1.5 minutes, then put a tablespoon of brown sugar on top and enjoy! I prefer to throw some of Cary's Sugarfree Syrup (OU-Parve) in the mix, creating a perfect Maple-Brown Sugar Oatmeal breakfast. It's an incredibly filling meal at only 4.5 WW points. Throw in some fruit, maybe a glass of milk, and you're asking for healthy goodness.

On that note, I'd recommend many of the Bob's Red Mill products, including their Brownie Mix, which I picked up and made a few months ago. They were creamy and soft, not to mention moist. The hechsher on these products is granted by a group out of LA, and the hechsher can be found on the cRc website, and my rav has okayed it for me. For those of you interested in more information on the certificate of kashrut on Bob's products, please click here.

Trader Joe's, I Love You!

2010-01-18T20:47:00.000-05:00

I'm a serious sucker for all things Trader Joe's, mostly because they have an abundance of deliciously kosher items -- including dairy desserts to die for, English-style crumpets, and soups that are killer on cool winter nights. Every time I go into the not-so-nearby TJ's, I find something new to try, which makes dining interesting and ever-changing.

Tonight, for dinner, I opted for the Trader Joe's Latin Style Black Bean Soup (kuf-k), which comes in at 70 calories, 1 gram fat, and 4 grams fiber in one cup of soup. That's a mere 1 point for a single serving. I took a cup and a half, topped it with some low-fat sour cream, and dipped in some Trader Joe's Organic No-Guilt Tortilla Chip (14 chips for only three WW points). The great thing about the Tortilla Chips is that not only are they OU, but they're also pareve. I've discovered that a lot of tortilla chips are dairy, although more likely dairy equipment. But talk about a delicious, low-points, and kosher-licious meal.

Earlier today I noshed a Trader Joe's English-Style Cinnamon Crumpet, which, to be completely honest I was surprised at on first purchase. I'd never had a crumpet before, and I wasn't sure exactly what it was: English muffin? pancake? biscuit? To be honest, it's sort of a combination of them all. It looks spongey, and while toasting the smell was tantalizing. At first bite, the crunch with the cinnamon had me reeling. I think the crumpet has become my new favorite bread-like treat. A single crumpet is 110 calories, 0 grams fat, and 2 grams dietary fiber. A sweet, filling treat for 2 WW points isn't bad.

For those of you who are as obsessed with Kosher options at Trader Joe's as I am, I suggest checking out the Trader Joe's Kosher Products Appendix. I don't know how often they update it, but it gives some insight into all of their products' hechshers.

On that note, I can recommend most of their kosher soups (especially the ones of Tomato varieties), except for the Butternut Apple Soup and Sweet Potato Bisque. To be honest with you, they're pretty disgusting on the palette. Hit up the other options, and let me know what you think.

Starbucks + Cookies = YUM!

2010-01-12T12:14:00.000-05:00

I'm stoked for the changes at Starbucks, and by changes I mean loose-leaf teas and new snack options. I prefer loose-leaf tea, and this stuff is KSA kosher! The snacks, on the other hand, run the gamut of kosher and not kosher, but there are enough food goodies now that I don't have to worry about starving to death while sipping my favored Grande Nonfat Earl Grey Tea Latte.

I picked up some of Dr. Lucy's Chocolate Chip Cookies, which happen to be Star-K certified, not to mention Gluten, Peanut, Milk, Egg, and Tree nut FREE! At first opening, the bag smells kind of stale, and the anticipation of some cooky kinda cookie by some hippie-dippie doctor had me assuming these were going to be hard-as-a-rock and stale tasting. Luckily, they weren't. The first bite was underwhelming, without a doubt. But as you're chewing and swallowing, you get the definite taste of a delicious chocolate chip cookie of the likes of Chips-A-Hoy.

The package says there's about 1.3 servings (random, right?), which is four cookies (at least in my bag). The calories for a serving (that's three cookies) is 130, fat is 5 grams, and fiber is 2. Let's be honest and say I'm going to eat all four cookies at once (because saving one is ridiculous). This means I'm eating 169 calories, 6.5 grams fat, and 2.6 fiber. On the Weight Watchers plan, that looks like 3 points, which is nothing for a delicious and filling snack.

Another option is the Two Moms in the Raw granola bar things, which, to be honest, seem a little too fruit-and-nut for me. I was, however, intrigued by the hechsher on the packaging, which is an Apple-K. Turns out it's the hecsher of the rabbi at Chabad of Westchester who operations National Food Certifiers, and his posek is Rabbi Baruch Lesches of Lubavitch Monsey. I think it's pretty jazzy that there's a rabbi out there who is focusing specifically on the natural and organic food industry, and surprisingly it was founded in 1997! They are pas yisrael and don't rock any goods that have dairy in them -- life's probably easier that way, and for the folks out there who can't stomach dairy, this is equally good news. So perhaps, just maybe, next time I come in I'll give these ago, assuming my rav can tell me that the Apple-K is reliable. I'm not so familiar with them, so if anyone has any insight or experience, please comment!

Mad props to Starbucks for balancing out all those new non-kosher sandwiches with some kosher snacking options (that are probably better for you anyway).

PARVE Cream Cheese Frosting -- in a can!?

2010-01-08T10:40:00.000-05:00

Tonight, in honor of my conversion (and less so my engagement), friends in the community are throwing a big Shabbos potluck. My task? Dessert! However, I've been exceedingly busy this week with doctor's appointments and painting a bathroom (that looks outstanding) and baking was the last thing on my list. I picked out a few recipes, but they were going to take me an hour or more to even put together and bake, so I axed that and headed to the grocery store. Duncan Hines has a lot of parve cake options, which are KEY for serving dessert at a meat meal. The biggest problem was finding frosting -- most are dairy! What's a girl to do? Stand in the baking aisle and check EVERY kosher can of frosting, that's what.

But no more! As if a gift from HaShem, I give you the New Pillsbury Kosher PARVE Cream Cheese Frosting in a Can!

So not only is it PARVE, but it's also in an easy-to-use can, which is awesome. Especially when it comes to frosting the delicious Red Velvet Cupcakes I'm making. The can will cover 18 to 24 cupcakes, which is just perfect for what I'm rocking. I'll admit it sucks that what makes this parve is the fact that it's full of completely unknown materials and ingredients, but sometimes, in a Shabbos pinch, that's okay.

At 150 calories for 2 Tbls (as well as 6 grams fat and 0 fiber), it's not the most horrible thing one could consume, especially for dessert. And the taste? Wow. If you could box sweet, creamy, fluffy clouds in a can, it'd taste like this frosting. It's KILLER.

Go out and buy a dozen -- it'll be worth it! (This can was about $3.99.)

If you're in Connecticut ...

2009-10-27T00:15:00.000-04:00

I recently went with Tuvia to the one and only Klein's Kosher in Waterbury, CT. My beef cravings were met with a delicious side of fries!

Read the review on Yelp here!

Easy Pickles, the Chavi Way :)

2009-10-18T11:22:00.000-04:00

You know what I want to know? Why there aren't any healthy kosher frozen meals. Every kosher frozen meal out there is not only loaded with badness, but they're also about $10 a pop. Why hasn't anyone cornered this market? I'm devastated. Healthy frozen meals was how I managed myself on Weight Watchers before. I miss those days.

But I'm here to talk about pickles. If you're tired of buying pickles, there's an easy answer to not buying more pickles again for a few months! Are you ready?

Go to your local big-box store (Costco, BJ's, etc.).
Buy the cheap $3.99-ish jar of Whole Pickles.
Eat the pickles.
Go to your local grocery store and buy a bunch of cucumbers.
Go home, chop them up, or throw them into the empty jar with the juices.
Wait several weeks.
EAT PICKLES!

Someone told me that this worked, but I didn't believe them. Guess what? It does work. It's the easiest way to pickle pickles, without all the pickling spices and everything. It's the cheap and easy way to have pickles galore for days to come.

It Begins With One.

2009-05-12T21:33:00.001-04:00

Look out Kosher world. I'm about to critique your tuches!

*Nosh* ~ The Gluten-Free Kosher Critic