Gluten Free Food Reviews

PBfit Review: Healthy and Delicious for the Whole Family

October 4, 2018 By Joi Sigers

Delicious PBfit – All Natural, Vegan, and Gluten-Free

While I’m normally the class clown, I want to be somewhat serious for a minute.

I guess that’s somewhat of a benefit to being the person who’s never serious, when you ARE serious, people know it’s… well… serious.

Think back to when you were in grade school. If you’re a parent or grandparent, odds are you have trouble thinking of overweight kids or even teachers. I can, honestly, remember the names of the overweight kids because they were so few.

Today, sadly, things are much, much different. You cannot go to the store, it seems, without seeing precious children who are already dealing with weight as an issue – at an age when they’re only “issue” should be homework or keeping their little brother from snitching on them!

I don’t have to tell you how unhealthy and dangerous carrying extra weight is. I won’t insult your intelligence with any diabetes statistics. You know that there is an epidemic in our country – with children and adults. An epidemic that HAS to be confronted head-on with better nutrition.

Chocolate PBfit Smoothie with Apple and Banana

The problem is… kids have incredible appetites! They’re growing and busier than any self-respecting Type A bee, so that’s only natural. Starving them is most certainly NOT the answer. Fun activities and healthy food are the answers needed and, fortunately, healthy food couldn’t be easier.

I’ll let you in on a little secret, too. It’s delicious! In fact, eating healthy is so delicious – and makes you feel so much better – that the entire family will benefit.

PBfit is one of my family’s newest obsessions and it will surely become one of your family’s as well. With 87% less fat than traditional peanut butter and 1/3 the calories, all natural PBfit makes meals and snacks healthier and even more delicious than ever.

You simply mix a little water with the PBfit mixture and… badabing!… delicious and creamy peanut butter. You only make the amount you need for the moment, so it’s always fresh and fantastic. If you want to add a little chopped peanuts or even a mashed banana, have at it. While the options are endless, it’s never better than when it is in its simplest form – good old fashioned peanut butter.

Chocolate PBfit Peanut Butter

It’s wonderful spread on bread, toast, or English muffins (with or without banana slices – YUM!) but I actually prefer dipping apple slices into the peanut butter. I also love making smoothies with the traditional PBfit as well as the Chocolate PBfit (it makes outstanding peanut butter, too… very reminiscent of Nutella).

When making your favorite smoothie, simply toss in some PBfit for extra protein and flavor. It is absolutely perfect in chocolate and banana smoothies. I usually throw an apple in, too, for good measure.

After all, an apple a day and all that…

There are a lot of excellent sounding PBfit recipes on the official website. I’m slowly but surely going to workmy way through each of them. Seriously, this is outstanding – you are going to love each of these – Chocolate PBfit, Organic PBfit, and the Original PBfit.

Kids will get a huge kick out of “making” their own peanut butter and you’ll never have to let them know how much healthier it is for them. Heck, even I get a kick out of “making” my own peanut butter and my qualification for “kid” expired quite a while back!

Each of the three varieties is IDEAL for smoothies and even milkshakes. They smoothly incorporate into the other ingredients – seemingly even better than traditional peanut butter does. I’ve actually been surprised just how smooth and creamy my smoothies are.

Below is a recipe from PBfit that’s a perfect example of the options when it comes to smoothies.

PBfit & Jelly Smoothie

1 cup frozen blue berries
4 tbsp pbfit
1 scoop vanilla protein
1 tsp low carb sweetener, monk fruit
3/4 cup milk of choice
*** optional, 1 tsp goji berry powder for color added nutrients

Blend and enjoy!

Find more recipes, nutrition information, and a lot more on PBfit.com.

PBfit sent me the samples in the picture above in exchange for telling my readers about their product. They also graciously shared the PBfit & Jelly Smoothie recipe and picture with us. The raving words and opinions are all my own, of course (as are the rest of the pictures). I was blown away by PBfit – I honestly had no idea how delicious it would be, for one thing, or how many different ways it could be used for another.

You can find PBfit in most grocery stores as well as on Amazon. I hope you’ll check it out – you and your family will absolutely love this!

Review: Absolutely Gluten Free Tahini Bars (Delicious!)

September 27, 2018 By Joi Sigers

Okay, I have a confession to make before I get to the review of these delicious snack bars. When I first received these bars to review on the food blog, I took SCADS of pictures. I took them in their packaging, I took them out of their packaging. I took them alongside coffee (amazingly delicious with coffee), I took them on snack trays.

I photographed them in my kitchen and I even photographed them beside my flower bed, where I loved to snack away while working with my beloved zinnias.

Now… understand… I regularly write reviews on the food blog (as well as my other blogs), so photographing products, e-mailing the pictures to myself, saving, and posting them are as old hat to me as putting ice in my tea glass.

And yet.

For the first time in my life, I lost 95 percent of the pictures I took! I’m sick about this because this is a wonderful snack and one of the foods I’ve been sent that I was the most excited about!

I’ve checked and rechecked ,my iPhone, my iPad, and my e-mail. Know what I came up with? TWO PICTURES – TWO, OUT OF PROBABLY THIRTY! And – it gets worse. The two I actually found? Basically the same picture – just different angles.

{Insert thirty screaming emojis right here.}

At any rate, I want to tell you all about these snack bars (the press release is published at the end of my review, so you can read even more about them).

The bars are available online (through Amazon) and come in these delicious varieties: Pistachio, Vanilla, and Cocoa Nibs. Being a chocoholic, I was completely prepared to favor the cocoa nibs like a favored child but the vanilla and pistachio bars said, “Not so fast, mom…” Each of the three are just phenomenal and (as is the case with my three beautiful daughters), I couldn’t pick a favorite if I had to.

Tahini Flavor

I will point this out, in complete fairness and full disclosure – you need to like the flavor of tahini to appreciate these snack bars. There is more tahini flavor in these little guys than in any hummus I ever made or met. Given the name, this isn’t much of a surprise, is it? The flavor of cocoa nibs, vanilla, and pistachio is evident in each of the three varieties, but make no mistake about it, tahini is the star of the show and she does not forget this fact.

{Review Continued Below… Beneath the second of the two remaining pics…. sigh}

While I feel absolutely SICK about the missing pictures, I do have to cut myself just a little bit of slack. One of my daughters was very, very sick this past summer and my mind was, understandably, elsewhere. She had chronic diarrhea, nausea, pain, and (since she was unable to eat) was losing weight at an alarming rate. After many doctors, procedures, and even a scope, it was determined that she had a horrible case of gastritis and needed weeks of medication and recovery. She spent nearly her entire summer sick and hurting while her mom (that’d be me) spent it worried sick.

I’m not using this as an excuse for the picture catastrophe (all I can figure is I e-mailed them to myself, deleted the pictures, and they never made it to my e-mail). I’m actually using this as a testimony to these bars. While Emily was recovering, the Tahini bars were often the one thing she could hold down – and they seemed to settle her stomach. I always attributed this to the simplicity of the product. They’re free of so many things that are difficult to digest and contain ingredients that are beautifully natural and easy to handle.

They, literally, were a God-send for her.

If they’re easy on someone’s digestive system that’s under complete attack, they must be as good as they’re cracked up to be!

After I tried these delicious gluten-free bars, I researched the Absolutely Gluten-Free band – completely determined to buy everything they make! I was delighted to see that they make a great selection of gluten-free foods – and, yes, I have every intention of trying them all!

I hope you’ll visit their website and find these bars (Pistachio, Vanilla, and Cocoa Nibs) on Amazon or in your local stores, if you can find where they’re carried. These would be IDEAL for after-school snacks or treats for the office desk, lunch box treats, and handbag. For a while there, I had one in my purse at all times!

Press Release:

NEW! SNACK BARS TAKE THE TAHINI CRAZE TO HEALTHY, DELICIOUS NEW HEIGHTS

Absolutely Gluten Free Introduces TahiniBAR, the Energy Bar Made From Sesame Seeds

Available in Three Exciting Varieties: Cocoa Nibs, Pistachio, and Vanilla

Absolutely Gluten Free, maker of all-natural crackers, flatbreads, and pizza that are both delicious and gluten-free, is taking on the energy bar category with the launch of TahiniBAR, a grab-and-go sesame seed snack that weighs in at only 100 calories. All varieties are certified OU Kosher and dairy-free.

TahiniBAR is leading the pack in many of today’s hottest food trends:

Demand for authentic Mediterranean food, particularly seed-based spreads like hummus and tahini, is on the rise in the United States, with even more growth in the forecast.

The market for healthy portable snacks has seen dynamic growth; bars are more widely available and consumed on a more casual basis than ever before.

The gluten-free movement continues to gain traction as shoppers become more mindful of diets that support health and wellness. In fact, more than 30% of Generation Z and Millennials say they are willing to pay a premium for gluten-free products.

Finally, consumers are expecting intriguing new textures and flavors, and they want to indulge in ingredients like fruits, nuts, and chocolate.

Sesame seeds are truly one of the most ancient foods on earth. In fact, sesame plants are the oldest known plant species to be grown primarily for their seeds (pods) and oils rather than for their leaves, fruit or vegetables.

Health Benefits – Sesame seeds are an excellent source of copper, manganese, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, iron, zinc, molybdenum, and selenium. These translate into a variety of health benefits including cholesterol-lowering phytosterols, heart health, improved blood pressure, hormone balance, as well as cancer fighting and fat burning properties. Sesame also helps boost nutrient absorption and energy levels, too.

TahiniBAR satisfies all of these demands in a novel new format. Like tahini and its decadent dessert cousin, halvah, the energy bars are made from all-natural roasted sesame seeds. Sesame seeds help boost energy levels and are a good source of vitamins, minerals, protein, fiber, Calcium, Iron, Zinc and potassium. Much lower in calories than many other bars, this 100% gluten-free treat is available in three delectable varieties – Cocoa Nibs, Pistachio, and Vanilla – and sold in packs of 7 bars (4.4 oz.). The MSRP is $3.99 – $4.49 per 7- bar package.

Absolutely Gluten Free is headquartered in Bayonne, NJ, and currently has a line of gluten free flatbreads and crackers, Superseed Crunch, Blondies and cauliflower crusted pizza, among other items, available in stores nationwide. Follow them on FB and Twitter @AbsolutelyGF and online at www.absolutelygf.com.

Plush Puffs: Hand-Crafted Gourmet Marshmallows That Will Blow Your Mind!

March 30, 2018 By Joi Sigers

Have you ever heard of Plush Puffs Gourmet (Handcrafted) Marshmallows? If not, hold on to your smores, your summer is about to get deliciously exciting. These are unlike any marshmallows you’ve ever tasted or seen. These hand-crafted artisan marshmallows are packed with so much flavor you’d think you were eating an entire dessert. While they are excellent in hot chocolate and even coffee, I think they’re at their best either eaten right out of the box (especially the Toasted Coconut or Caramel Swirl marshmallows!), roasted over a campfire, or teamed up with graham crackers and chocolate for the world famous smores… something I wouldn’t venture into summer without.

Toasted Coconut Plush Puffs

My favorites are the Toasted Coconut and the Caramel Swirl. They’re out of this very world. Given that coconut is one of my personal culinary obsessions, it’s not surprising that this was the first one I tried. They’re just as delicious as you’d imagine – so soft and fun to eat!

Caramel Swirl Plush Puffs

I tasted the Caramel Swirl Plush Puffs and was as blown away by them as the coconut ones. My daughter, Brittany, is all about caramel, so I sent the rest of the box with her to work. About an hour later, she texted me and said, “OMG! THESE ARE ADDICTIVE!!!” – including all kinds of happy emojis.

Addictive is the perfect word for these little beauties.

Caramel Swirl Plush Puffs

The Plush Puff Story

Once upon a time (Halloween time that is) a young boy asked “hey Mom, let’s make pumpkin marshmallows today”. Mom said, “hmmm, that sounds interesting, let’s give it a go!”. Well, that Mom called another Mom (who both coincidentally already worked as chefs together) and they went to it. After many painstaking hours in the test kitchen and many “almost batches”, Plush Puffs were born! Much to our delight, a whole bunch of other flavors turned out beautifully, and finally a special flavor we added last fall Pumpkin Praline! From the first hit, Toasted Coconut to the Chocolate Chipetta, they have all been a labor of love. In fact, it is still hard to resist more than one taste test when the batches are being made. – Read More…

Peppi-Mint Plush Puffs Marshmallows

The Peppi-Mint Plush Puffs Marshmallows are especially pretty, aren’t they? They have a really strong peppermint flavor and, if you love peppermint, you’ll find them to be a beautiful match made in heaven! Like the two flavors above, these would also make wonderful smores and would be downright gorgeous roasted over a fire.

Mochaccino Plush Puffs

Last but certainly not least are the Mochaccino Plush Puffs. The minute you open the box (even before you open the bag), you know what you’re in for. The aroma reminds me of a coffee shop… something that I find especially exciting. These (along with the Toasted Coconut marshmallows) are my favorites for floating in hot chocolate. Both are unspeakably delicious!

Visit Plush Puffs Hand-Crafted Marshmallows for more information.

If You Don’t Like Ghee, It’s Only Because You Haven’t Had the BEST Ghee: Ancient Organics

January 4, 2018 By Joi Sigers

Ancient Organics Ghee

I have a couple of confessions to make.

When I first tried ghee, I thought it was horrifyingly bad. So bad that I was certain I’d never touch it again.
I am a complete and total Ghee addict.

So how did I get from bullet point number 1 to bullet point number 2? I tried a different ghee!

As someone who has to eat gluten-free, I read a lot of Paleo articles, use Paleo cookbooks, and stalk the Paleo crowd on social media. While I don’t follow the Paleo diet exclusively, I do incorporate it into my cooking and eating. Paleo cooking uses A LOT of ghee, so I figured it’d be worthwhile to simply try a different brand rather than completely throw ghee out the back door (something that my store-bought ghee had me tempted to do).

My husband ordered a jar of Ancient Organics Ghee on Amazon and, as soon as it came, we tested it out.

What a difference a label makes! Seriously, I cannot even begin to figure out how Ancient Organics Ghee gets it so deliciously right when other ghees get it so frightfully wrong.

Maybe the description below will give us a little insight…

Product Description from Ancient Organic’s Amazon Page:

Ancient Organics Ghee is a premium cooking oil celebrated for its taste, nutritional benefits, and medicinal qualities—it is unlike any other ghee on the market today. Our Ghee is hand-crafted over an open flame and made in small batches, ensuring you will always get the freshest Ghee. With an uncompromised commitment to quality and an obsessive attention to detail, we guarantee you won’t find a more pure, better tasting Ghee. Ghee is the complete distillation of butter— the end result of a long, slow, careful clarification process that removes all the moisture, lactose and casein, making it completely shelf stable AND a perfect choice for people who are lactose intolerant. The difference between Ghee and clarified butter lies in their flavor and shelf stability: Ghee is superior on both counts Ayurveda recognizes ghee as an essential part of a balanced diet and is considered to be the very best oil one can eat. It has been used for centuries as a digestive and elimination aid, for energy, sexual vitality, skin and eye health, as a lubricant for the joints and for alkalizing the blood. Comprised of full spectrum short-, medium-, and long-chain fatty acids, Ghee contains Omega 3 and Omega 9 essential fatty acids along with vitamins A, D, E and K. Our Ghee is one of the highest natural sources of CLA (Conjugated Linoleic Acid) because we use only the highest quality organic butter of pastured cows. Our golden Ghee has a delicious caramelized and nutty taste that will enhance the flavor of any culinary creation. It has one of the highest flash points (485ºF) and it is simply the best choice for high temperature cooking. Substitute our Ghee for olive oil, butter or vegetable oil in or on anything from soups, potatoes, rice and vegetables, with eggs, pancakes, oatmeal, smoothies or popcorn—the possibilities are truly endless. Try it—you will love it!

What is Ghee?

Ghee is a healthy alternative to cooking – far better than vegetable oil. Ayurveda, the ancient medical science of India, recognizes Ghee as a very important part of a healthy diet. It also considers ghee to be the best fat one can eat.

Ghee is as easy to implement in your cooking and eating as it gets. Use it in place of olive oil, vegetable oil, or butter. Ancient Organics Ghee is so delicious we even have an after-dinner routine we’ve followed for over a year. We spread a little ghee on a small square of dark chocolate, then sprinkle Pink Himalayan Salt on top.

It is outrageously delicious. Trust me.

Eggs fried in ghee are also out of this world good. The high-temperature quality of ghee performs beautifully in sautes and stir fries.

I’ve even added a little ghee to soups and oatmeal and found that it gives a rich flavor that brings out the best in every other flavor.

Heck, it even takes popcorn up a couple of notches. Last summer I popped some popcorn for an afternoon baseball game. Instead of melting butter, which I’ve done for popcorn for 112 years, I reached for the ghee and melted a tablespoon of it. OMG. I have not used butter for popcorn since.

But here’s the thing – it has got to be Ancient Organics Ghee. Has. Got. To. Be. The rest I’ve tried are nowhere near as good. I can’t explain it but I can darn sure taste it. This particular brand occasionally runs out on Amazon (which tells you all you need to know about how great it is). Before we learned to stock up, we’d every now and then find “not available” or “In stock on… (insert later date)” on the Amazon page. This led to the need to order other brands and/or experiment with store-bought ghee.

Seriously – they don’t even taste like the same thing!

I hope you’ll try as soon as you can. You’re going to love it. If one size is temporarily sold out, buy the other size. If you get a “In stock on..” message, throw it in your cart and wait!

Yes, it’s costlier than some other ghees, but it is infinitely worth it.

Selina Naturally Celtic Sea Salts Allow You to Get Deliciously Creative

December 27, 2017 By Joi Sigers

Selina Naturally Salt Flakes are Excellent in Soups and Stews

I was recently sent a wonderful selection of gourmet salts from Selina Naturally (Home of the Celtic Sea Salt Brand) and I’ve been having the time of my life with them in the kitchen. As I’ve confessed on the food blog before, I am obsessed, fascinated, and merrily addicted to seasonings – especially the infamous supercouple salt and pepper. At last count, I had 17 varieties of salt and 6 varieties of peppercorns and pepper blends in my spice cabinet and on my spice shelf.

They don’t just sit there unused either, trust me – I go through them like my cats go through cans of tuna.

As someone who cooks daily (multiple times), writes restaurant reviews (Genuine Kentucky), and quite honestly loves food – I can tell you this…. most bland food is a shake or two of gourmet salt away from being good food and most good food is a shake or two of great salt away from being excellent food. Not just any salt, mind you… great salt.

There IS a difference and you CAN taste it.

The gourmet sea salt products from Selina Naturally are the very definition of great salt. What’s more, they can make your food more delicious while sparking your creativity in the kitchen.

My favorites are the Salt Flakes, Flocons De Sel with Sczechuan, and the ingenious Liquid Salts (there’s even a garlic liquid salt available).

The liquid salts are ideal for salads and raw food and are pretty much custom-made for individuals on a low salt diet.

The Five Peppers Salt Flakes is composed of aromatic flakes of crystallized salt, white pepper, black pepper, green pepper, pink pepper, and allspice. It’s as phenomenal as it sounds.

(Review Continued Below…)

From Selina Naturally:

The new line “Fossil River® Salt” https://www.selinanaturally.com/shop-by-category-fossil-river-salt from Spain comes in a variety of three different categories of salt. To make this salt, with its ultra-fine, diamond-like crystals, it is extracted from underground rivers and then deposited in saline pools where the water is gradually evaporated, leaving all the minerals intact.

A first to the market low sodium liquid spray salt, which is complimented with five different flavors, Plain, Cucumber, Truffle, Mediterranean, and Garlic. These sprays can be used on a prepared dish or used in manufacturing for a perfect low sodium compliment to the product.

The second of these River Salts is a Flaked Flavored River Salt, Salt Flakes®, a range of spice-infused salts that enhance the flavors and textures of every dish. Available in five flavors, Balsamic Vinegar, a detoxing Charcoal, Grilled Meat, Aromatic Herbs (all purpose), and 5 Peppers.

The last but not least are the gourmet flavors, Flocons De Sel®, these salts make any cook look like a chef, with their exotic flavors. Available in Nutty Smoked, Seaweed, Sesame Wasabi, Szechuan Pepper, and a Rose and Wine that looks like fireworks on the grill.

Why Celtic Sea Salt?

All of Selina Naturally’s sea salts are naturally harvested from the ocean according to traditional methods. This process assures that all of the nutritious natural minerals remain intact. This does more than just ensure that these salts taste superior to other salts, the process even helps your body metabolize it!

The unique combination of minerals in natural sea salt provides optimal nutrition for the normal functions of the body. In fact, the composition of naturally harvested sea salt replicates the natural mineral content of the water in your body.

{Continued Below….}

The Pink Celtic Sea Salt is delicious on anything you can think of but our favorite ways to enjoy it are:

Avocado: Using an Avocado Slicer, I make segments of avocado which I then treat to a lime juice shower. After they’re covered with lime juice, I give them a healthy smathering (just because Webster’s doesn’t recognize a word doesn’t mean it isn’t a great word) of Pink Celtic Sea Salt.
Chocolate Treat: Okay… you’re going to have to trust me on this one. Take a section of dark chocolate (very healthy for you, you know) and spread it with the best ghee on the market or butter if you don’t have the best ghee on the market. Top the whole production off with (again) a healthy smathering of Pink Celtic Sea Salt.

You’ll want to click through and see all of the creative and delicious Gourmet Sea Salts Selina Naturally has. They’ll rev up your meals and you’ll become as addicted to them as I am. You can find a TON of recipes on their website – I’ve honestly lost track of how many I’ve saved under favorites. At last count, I think it was 14.

Fun and Delicious: The Little Kernel Miniature Popcorn (Review + Delicious Recipe for Honey Peanut Butter Granola Bars)

November 13, 2017 By Joi Sigers

Have you seen -or heard of – The Little Kernel miniature popcorn? I hadn’t when I was first contacted to try it in exchange for a post on the food blog. But one look at the Little Kernel guy and I was hooked. That combined with the fact that I’m BEYOND obsessed with popcorn made me downright giddy at the prospect.

The Little Kernel is a better-for-you snack with a unique, hulless, “miniature kernel.” Popped in 100% pure olive oil, each popcorn is gluten-free, non-GMO, dairy-free, kosher and certified whole grains.

My favorites were the Sweet & Salty Kettle and the Butter Flavored while my husband was wild about the Truffle Sea Salt. I have a funny relationship with Truffle salt – I like it for a few bites, then, I’m ready to move on.

If you love truffle salt as much as my husband does, however, this will become your new addiction.

As for me and my taste buds, we’re sticking with the Sweet & Salty and Butter Flavored. I’m intrigued by the other flavors available too – especially the White Cheddar and Pink Himalayan Salt. They both sound out of this world good.

Where to Buy The Little Kernel Miniature Popcorn:

The Little Kernel is on Amazon – something I love since I pretty much live on Amazon. It’s super-easy to just throw a bag or two or twelve in the cart along with whatever lovely little something caught my eye at the time. Just click the link (Amazon) and shop for the variety of Little Kernel you’re craving.

You can also order The Little Kernel Miniature popcorn from their website.

You are going to love this popcorn – it’s uncommonly delicious and just a lot of fun to eat.

One of my favorites, Sweet & Salty, stars in the great recipe below from @snacksalldayeveryday. Just be sure to order plenty of The Little Kernel to use in the recipe AND for popping directly into your mouth.

Trust me on this one.

Honey Peanut Butter Granola Bars

Recipe Credit: @snacksalldayeveryday

2 cups of rolled oats
3 1/2 cups The Little Kernel Sweet & Salty
1/2 cup puffed rice
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup peanut butter
3/4 cup honey
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions:
1. Combine all dry ingredients in one bowl (using about 1/2 cup of popcorn only).
2. In microwave, combine peanut butter, honey, and vanilla extract and melt until smooth.
3. Combine this with dry ingredients and then line a dish with this mixture (tightly packed about 3/4 inch high).
4. Chill in fridge for 20 minutes.
5. Then combine remaining popcorn with honey and add this on as a second layer (tightly packed).
6. Chill for another 15 minutes or so, cut, drizzle with melted chocolate, and serve. No baking necessary.

Dive In!

Easy Gluten-Free Lasagna with Explore Cuisine Green Lentil (No Boil!) Noodles

September 6, 2017 By Joi Sigers

Gluten-Free Lasagna with Explore Cuisine Organic Green Lentil Noodles

Gluten-free lasagna just got easier and healthier – and if you love lasagna like Garfield the cat and I do, this is the kind of good news you’ve been waiting for.

Explore Cuisine makes a wonderful line of gluten-free pastas that will change your entire pasta game. They’re delicious – dare I say far more delicious than they sound like they’d be. I mean, let’s be serious, even those of us who love vegetables to distraction would be a little skeptical about Green Lentil Lasagna Noodles. I know I was! When I first used them to make lasagna, I was half-tempted to make one with traditional gluten-free noodles too, you know… just – in – case.

I didn’t take this crazy precautionary step and it turns out I didn’t need to. These noodles have a really wonderful, understated flavor that couldn’t work more beautifully with tomato sauces if it had to.

Not only are these noodles gluten-free and delicious, they don’t have to be boiled before building your lasagna. I am so over the process of handling limp HOT lasagna noodles, so that’s a dream come true for me and my hands.

{Continued Below…}

Explore Cuisine Organic Green Lentil Lasagna on Amazon

About Explore Cuisine:

Explore Cuisine products are vegan, organic, gluten-free, and kosher, ensuring your health and igniting your taste buds! For example, our delicious bean pastas contain nearly 20-25 grams of protein per serving and are low in carbs and sodium while simultaneously containing a high fiber content. With Explore Cuisine, you’ll experience the incomparable taste of pasta with all the benefits of nutritious beans! Read More…

There is a wonderful recipe for Vegetable Lasagna on Explore Cuisine’s blog – just click the link to check it out. It’s out of this world – fresh and delicious.

The first lasagna I made with these noodles was, however, my “go to” lasagna I’ve been making for 112 years. The recipe is below and, thanks to these no-boil noodles, it couldn’t be easier.

A Few Notes:

If you use a pasta sauce that already contains garlic – leave the garlic out of the recipe. The same is true of one with bell peppers, or onions.
You can add a small (drained) can of sliced mushrooms in with the onion and bell pepper.
I like my lasagna extra saucy, but if you prefer your lasagna a little more “traditional,” only use one jar of pasta sauce instead of 1-1/2.
Always check pasta sauce for the gluten-free label. Some actually are not gluten-free. Always, always check.

Easy Gluten-Free Green Lentil Lasagna

Ingredients

2 Packages Explore Cuisine Organic Green Lentil Lasagna
2 lbs Ground Chuck
1/2 Cup Finely-Chopped Bell Pepper
1 Cup Finely-Chopped Sweet Onion
3 Cloves Garlic, Finely Chopped
1 TBS Kosher Salt
1 TBS Oregano
1 TBS Basil
1-2 28 oz Jars Prego or Ragu Pasta Sauce (I usually use 1-1/2)
2 Cups Ricotta Cheese
2 Eggs, Slightly Beaten
1/4 Cup Grated Parmesan
1 Pint Ricotta Cheese
16 oz. Cottage Cheese (small curd)
8 oz Shredded Mozzarella Cheese

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
In a large skillet cook ground beef until brown.
Add onions, bell pepper, and garlic and saute until onions are transparent.
Add the salt.
Stir in pasta sauce and heat on medium low for a few minutes.
In a large bowl, combine ricotta cheese, cottage cheese, grated Parmesan cheese, basil, oregano, and the two slightly beaten eggs.
Spread a thin layer of the meat sauce in the bottom of a 13x9 inch pan or dish.
Layer with the uncooked Explore Cuisine Organic Green Lentil Lasagna noodles, cheese mixture, mozzarella cheese, and meat sauce.
Continue layering until all ingredients are used, reserving 1/2 cup of the mozzarella.
Cover pan with aluminum foil.
Bake for 45 minutes. Uncover, and top with remaining half cup of mozzarella cheese.
Bake for 15 more minutes.
Remove from oven, and allow lasagna to stand 10 to 15 minutes before cutting.

World Coconut Day – Mega Post of New Coconut Deliciousness!

September 2, 2017 By Joi Sigers

Raspberry Coconut Oatmeal Fruit Squeezes

One of my absolute favorite flavors in the world is coconut. It has been since I was knee-high and used to raid my mom’s bags of flaked coconut. She started buying extra – one for me to “find and raid” and one she kept safely hidden in a higher cabinet to use for baking.

Until I learned to climb.

Although I don’t have to work so hard for it these days, I love coconut today as much as I did then. I noticed something fairly recently – there is an explosion of coconut-flavored goodies…. about darn time!

The new dreams come true for coconut-lovers shown here were sent to me in exchange for telling you all about them. I jumped at the chance like I used to jump on the counter for a coconut raid.

Brooklyn Organics Coconut Craft Ginger Ale is a highly unique and beautifully beverage for anyone looking for a light flavor of coconut, but also a bold fizz. USDA Organic-certified and gently sweetened with plant-based Stevia, Brooklyn Organics is made with ingredients that are good for you and for the planet.

The fact that it’s so darn delicious makes it even sweeter.

Another excellent soft drink alternative is Sparkling Ice Coconut Pineapple – a slightly carbonated bottled beverage with B-Vitamins, Vitamin D and antioxidants. Nutrients you would never expect to come in a bottled beverage. The fact that it contains Zero Calories, Zero Carbs, is Gluten Free, and Sodium Free are icing on the cake. NO calories. Love that in a beverage.

Sparkling Ice bottled waters are the best way to wean yourself (or your kids) off of bottled soft drinks. This particular Sparkling Ice is a personal favorite. It’s beautifully tropical and downright addictive.

Munk Pack has come out with delicious and convenient on-the-go nutrition with their Raspberry Coconut Oatmeal Fruit Squeezes. I have to admit, before trying one I wasn’t sure whether I’d like it or not. I mean I LOVE coconut, raspberry, and oatmeal.. three of my obsessions, if we’re being honest. I just wasn’t sure how they’d play together – plus, the thought of oatmeal from a squeeze pouch instead of a bowl with butter sort of blew my little mind. But I’m a gamer, so I tried it and was honestly speechless. My first thought was, “This honestly shouldn’t be this good. It has no right to be this delicious.”

I mean, oatmeal in a pouch… room temp??? The thought still blows my mind, but here’s the thing – these are outrageously delicious. The predominant flavors are raspberry and coconut, in that order. They’re healthy, convenient, and darn tasty – meaning they’ll make the perfect snacks for you or your kids. The fact that they’re in convenient, throw them away when you’re finished packets adds an extra touch of happiness.

Munk Pack also makes a wonderful gluten-free Coconut White Chocolate Macadamia Protein Cookie that’s just as delicious. Convenient to throw into lunch boxes, these cookies have a phenomenal coconut flavor that makes you think you’re eating a fresh coconut on an island in the Pacific… with white chocolate macadamia thrown in just to blow your mind.

I’m sure I don’t have to tell you how much I love that. Seriously – each bite, out of this world.

These cookies would be excellent at Christmas – for eating AND stocking-stuffers.

Last, but by far from least, Carrington Farms has come up with something I love – a NEW Premium MCT Oil made from Organic Coconuts. Unlike conventional coconut oil, this premium MCT coconut oil remains in a convenient liquid form that can be used for cooking, sautéing, and baking. It contains over 93% Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCTs) and is easily digestible.

I use coconut oil and olive oil for all of my cooking and baking and I’m really excited to see this from Carrington Farms. I love that it’s made from organic coconuts and the fact that it’s in a liquid form.

Carrington Farms Organic Virgin Coconut Oil Paks

Carrington Farms Organic Virgin Coconut Oil Paks are conveniently packaged in single-serve Paks and contain 1 tbsp of organic unrefined cold-pressed coconut oil – the perfect amount to add to your morning coffee or your beauty regimen when you’re on-the-go.

Tandoor Chef Frozen Meals: Flavorful Gluten-Free Options

May 31, 2017 By Joi Sigers

I’ve written a Tandoor Chef frozen meals review on the food blog in the past. They are intensely flavorful and completely unforgettable… in a good way. While I love to cook, when it comes to lunches, I like them fast and easy. As someone who works from home, I only have a certain number of productive “desk hours” each day, so I prefer a quick lunch that only spends a few of these precious minutes. If I’m the only one having lunch, in fact, I usually bring it to my desk with me and keep on keeping on.

Needless to say, I always have my favorite frozen meals on hand. Along with a small salad (you know how obsessed I am with salads), they make a quick, easy, and downright delicious lunch.

Tandoor Chef has a wide range of frozen meals, including vegetarian and gluten-free options. I’m having trouble finding many of the gluten-free options in my area, unfortunately, but anytime my husband and I visit surrounding cities or states, I always keep my eyes out for ones I haven’t tried. I hoped to find a new variety to review in this post but it’s much easier said than done!

As it is, I will simply point you to a page listing (with pictures) Tandoor Chef’s Gluten-Free Meals. As soon as I find one I have yet to review, I’ll let you know all about it!

In addition to gluten-free options, Tandoor Chef also has vegetarian and vegan entrees. They also have a recipes section I think you’ll love.

Tandoor Chef can be bought on Amazon… if it comes to that, that’s what I’ll do. I just noticed they carry a lot of the entrees my grocery stores don’t!

Gluten Free Food Reviews

PBfit Review: Healthy and Delicious for the Whole Family

PBfit & Jelly Smoothie

Review: Absolutely Gluten Free Tahini Bars (Delicious!)

Press Release:

Plush Puffs: Hand-Crafted Gourmet Marshmallows That Will Blow Your Mind!

If You Don’t Like Ghee, It’s Only Because You Haven’t Had the BEST Ghee: Ancient Organics

Selina Naturally Celtic Sea Salts Allow You to Get Deliciously Creative

Fun and Delicious: The Little Kernel Miniature Popcorn (Review + Delicious Recipe for Honey Peanut Butter Granola Bars)

Honey Peanut Butter Granola Bars

Easy Gluten-Free Lasagna with Explore Cuisine Green Lentil (No Boil!) Noodles

World Coconut Day – Mega Post of New Coconut Deliciousness!

Tandoor Chef Frozen Meals: Flavorful Gluten-Free Options

Pig Bowl

Subscribe to Get Cooking

Gluten Free Food Reviews

PBfit & Jelly Smoothie

Press Release:

Honey Peanut Butter Granola Bars

Footer

Pig Bowl

Subscribe to Get Cooking