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You are here: Home / Archives for Reviews / Gluten Free Food Reviews

Gluten Free Food Reviews

Stouffer’s Gluten-Free Macaroni and Cheese…. Delicious!

April 30, 2022 By Joi Sigers

Stouffer's Gluten-Free Macaroni and Cheese

Stouffer’s Gluten-Free Macaroni and Cheese

While it’s no big secret that homemade macaroni and cheese is superior to anything out of a box (if, that is, the cook is good at what they do), many times you simply want a fast, easy, simple way to add macaroni and cheese to your day. It’s times like these, I’m thankful for quite a few really good gluten-free macaroni and cheese brands on the market. When it comes to box varieties, Annie’s (Amazon link) and Kraft (Amazon link) make outstanding gluten-free macaroni and cheese.

I recently saw something in the frozen food aisle that jumped out at me… it jumped with such precision that it landed right in my cart… Stouffer’s Gluten-Free Macaroni and Cheese. I have to admit, while I was anxious to try it, I wasn’t expecting it to be as good as it is. Another brand (one that makes MANY outstanding frozen gluten-free products) has a gluten-free macaroni and cheese on the market and it is ghastly.

I’m very pleased to say that Stouffer’s Gluten-Free Macaroni and Cheese isn’t the least bit ghastly – what it is is extraordinary. I have already bought more. They make for a delicious (and quick and easy) side for just about anything.

I’ve been known to simply slice a tomato and have this macaroni and cheese as my entire lunch. When a co-star is this good, it slides over from the role of side, right into the spotlight.

A Greta Garbo move if I ever saw one.

If you’re unable to find this deliciousness in your local supermarket (or Wal-Mart, Target…), you might check Amazon. They carry so many grocery products these days, they may just have it.

Filed Under: Gluten Free, Gluten Free Food Reviews Tagged With: gluten-free food reviews, gluten-free macaroni and cheese

Caulipower: Quite Possibly THE Best Gluten-Free Pasta

February 1, 2022 By Joi Sigers

CauliPower Linguine Pasta with Meat Sauce

Caulipower Linguine with Meat Sauce

Years ago, when I had to give up gluten and wheat (health reasons), the first f0ur things I thought of were…

  • doughnuts
  • pasta
  • fried catfish
  • pizza

These are four of my favorite things in life and have been since my life began. I was afraid there’d be no hope to enjoy these great loves ever again and, frankly, with doughnuts, my prediction held true. There ARE gluten-free doughnuts, of course, but they are not the ones I remember from bakeries.

Until fairly recently, the pizza and pasta prediction also held fast, but lately, great strides have been made and (as a pasta and pizza fanatic) I couldn’t be more thankful.

However… when it comes to gluten-free pasta, it has always been a case of, “this one is pretty good” or “this one’s acceptable” instead of anything close to, ‘Holy cats, this gluten-free pasta is outstanding and tastes like the pasta I remember!”

Then I found Caulipower’s new gluten-free pastas – let’s just say it’s a GAME CHANGER.

(Review Continued Below….)

CauliPower Pasta

Caulipower Linguine

Caulipower is a brand I’ve been familiar with for a while because I buy their gluten-free pizza crusts (Amazon link) and gluten-free pizzas (they’re outstanding and I actually now prefer cauliflower crust to regular gluten-free crust). When my youngest daughter told me they had come out with gluten-free pasta, I’m not even exaggerating… I went to the store immediately. They’re in the frozen section and, while I first wondered about them being packaged frozen, I now LOVE the fact. This allows them to cook in just three minutes!

THREE MINUTES! Simply boil the water, add the frozen pasta, stir, and get ready to plate the deliciousness. The first one I tried was the Caulipower linguine because I’ve had difficulty finding linguine in a gluten-free pasta AND I love it.

For anyone who loves “meal prep hacks,” pasta night doesn’t get any better. Simply make up your pasta sauce (I always add ground beef, garlic, onions, green pepper, and mushrooms) and put it into a container in the refrigerator. When it’s time to make supper, warm up your sauce and cook your three minute pasta!

CauliPower Linguine Pasta

CauliPower Linguine Pasta

I love that the portion is perfect for two people (with a little left over even) and the fact that it cooks so quickly makes it IDEAL for busy weeknights. The best thing, however, is the fact that it is delicious! I added a little salt to the water like I do with all pasta, then added it to a meat sauce I had made beforehand.

While you could, of course, simply top the pasta with sauce, I thought adding it TO the meat sauce would make sure there was no cauliflower taste to detect. Mind you, I am obsessed with cauliflower, so it would make me giddy if there was a cauliflower taste but my husband is not a cauliflower fan, so I wanted to make sure that IF there was any flavor there, the sauce would mask it.

I tasted the pasta before adding it to the sauce and, even then, it was simply outstanding – no cauliflower taste and, best of all, it had the true consistency of “normal” pasta. Most gluten-free pasta you find in the stores is tough and not remotely “pasta-like” when it comes to the mouth feel. This one is so perfect it nearly brought a tear to my pasta-missing eye.

But it gets better.

If you’re familiar with gluten-free pasta, you know that leftovers are hideous. Gluten-free pasta, after being refrigerated and warmed-up gets even tougher. Not Caulipower pasta! When I warmed it up the next day, it tasted just like I had just made it fresh.

Now that’s what I’m talking about.

(Review Wrapped Up Below…)

CauliPower Linguine Pasta with Meat Sauce

CauliPower Linguine Pasta with Meat Sauce

Before allowing you to get on with your life, I just wanted to point out two things to let you know just how excited I am about Caulipower pasta and how thrilled I am to have found it:

  1. This is NOT a paid post, NOT sponsored, and NOT in any way associated with the Caulipower brand. I was NOT sent coupons or products to review. This is simply a case of a pasta lover who has to eat gluten-free finally finding the pasta that makes her excited to eat pasta again!
  2. Many times, after I have a food or use a product, I will schedule a time in the future (maybe a week later) to blog about it on the food blog. This particular pasta I tried just last night for supper and just warmed it up for lunch. I was SO anxious to share the good news that I dropped everything to sit down and tell you all about it.

If you have to eat gluten-free, are cutting back on carbs… OR simply want a more convenient and delicious pasta, I hope you’ll try Caulipower pasta as soon as possible. It’s a perfect 10 out of 10 and, if you’ll excuse me, I think I’ll go have a little more.

Caulipower Pasta

Caulipower Pasta

Filed Under: Gluten Free, Gluten Free Food Reviews, Gluten-Free Recipes, Health Food Reviews, Meal Prep Tips, Pasta Recipes, Quick and Easy Recipes Tagged With: best gluten-free pasta, cauliflower pasta, CauliPower pasta review, meal prep

Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-Free Oatmeal: Individual Servings are Delicious and Crazy Convenient

September 3, 2021 By Joi Sigers

Bob's Red Mill Individual Gluten-Free Oatmeal

Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free Individual Oatmeal

Have you seen the Individual Servings of Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free Oatmeal (Amazon link)? I bought this one a few days ago in the store and am already planning to go back for more. I searched for them online and have found that (in spite of my store only having one variety), there are actually several different varieties.

The Blueberry and Hazelnut one is definitely one I’ll buy again (and again and again and again), but I’m also very anxious to try the classic, the Brown Sugar & Maple, and the Apple and Cinnamon.

I was really excited to try this gluten-free oatmeal when I saw it at the store because I buy SO many Bob’s Red Mill products that I’m more than aware of how excellent the brand is. Honestly, if I see a new product from them that’s gluten-free, I simply buy it without a second thought.

It doesn’t get any simpler or faster to enjoy a serving of gluten-free oatmeal than these individual serving containers – simply add hot water… right to the container, let sit for 3 minutes and enjoy.

Crazy convenient!

You can find Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free Oatmeal (Amazon link) on Amazon. This link leads you to the page for Brown Sugar & Maple but the other options are listed.

Filed Under: Breakfast and Brunch, Gluten Free, Gluten Free Food Reviews Tagged With: gluten-free food reviews, gluten-free oatmeal

Parma! Vegan, Plant-Based Alternative to Parmesan Cheese (Review)

May 23, 2021 By Joi Sigers

Parma Vegan Parmesan

Parma! Vegan Alternative to Parmesan Cheese

Okay, first of all, I have to say this: Even if you aren’t a vegan and aren’t actively looking to add more plant-based foods to your daily life… you will want to continue reading and you will most certainly want to try the Parma! products.

Trust me. I am not TOTALLY in either of these camps either – although I do enjoy a lot of vegan and plant-based meals and recipes, I do not exclusively eat this way. The more I read about healthy ingredients, however, the more closely I look at the ingredients in everything I buy. When it comes to ingredients, I want there to be as few as humanly possible, I want to be able to pronounce each ingredient, and I want to be able to recognize each one as an actual food.

  • The ingredients for Parma! Garlicky Green Vegan Parmesan: Nutritional yeast, sunflower seeds, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, garlic, Himalayan salt, sesame seeds, hemp seeds, kelp, basil, oregano
  • The ingredients for Parma! Chipotle Cayenne Vegan Parmesan: Nutritional yeast, sunflower seeds, walnuts, Chipotle (roasted jalapeno pepper), Himalayan salt, hemp seeds, onion, cayenne

If you’re one of the ones who is looking for a vegan and plant-based answer to Parmesan cheese…  this is your lucky day. These products are absolutely delicious.

Baked Potato

Baked Potato

Since I had to give up gluten and wheat (celiac), I have been very mindful of my eating. Years of eating food I didn’t fully realize were doing harm damaged my digestive tract and (even after 10 years), it’s only recently showing huge improvement. Eating more healthy foods (and keeping a keen eye on ingredients!) has helped.

The simple truth is, the healthier you eat, the healthier you feel and the healthier you are. If you’re interested in health and how what you eat influences it (which I assume you are since you are still reading!), you know as well as I do that oftentimes vegan alternatives and plant-based foods and ingredients can be disappointing. I have bought so many products that sounded like Heaven and tasted like… well you know.

I believe more of us would eat a lot healthier if the healthier was tastier. All indications point to the fact that the people behind Parma! fully, fully get that.

I was a bit nervous about trying these products. They were sent to me in exchange for telling you all about them – completely honest and upfront about whether I liked, disliked, hated or loved them. Before I first tried them, I was actually thinking about how I would be able to write a review about something while saying, “Didn’t care for it, myself, but…”

I guess I just didn’t think it’d be possible to create a delicious alternative to Parmesan Cheese. Here’s the thing: I’m a cheese fanatic! I use Parmesan cheese in and on everything.

Now can you see why I was nervous??

Parma Vegan Parmesan

Parma! Vegan Parmesan

Imagine the look on my face when I opened the two bottles, tasted each and literally said, “Wow… Delicious!” after each one.  Same script, same words, same shocked and delighted expression.

These are both nutty, delicious, and incredibly flavorful. The Parma! Chipotle Cayenne Vegan Parmesan has a little heat but not (at all) too much. It’s outstanding.

The Parma! Garlicky Green Vegan Parmesan is equally delicious with a subtle and wonderful taste of garlic. I made a potato casserole (pictured below) a few nights ago and, whereas I normally use cheddar cheese, I wanted to try smoked Gouda instead. I added a little minced garlic and some of the Parma! Garlicky Green Vegan Parmesan – it was delicious!

Potato Casserole

Potato Casserole

I have also used EACH of these products on baked potatoes. My favorite way to enjoy them on a fresh baked potato (white or sweet) is to sprinkle it directly onto the potato, followed by butter and whatever else I’m in the mood for.

Recently, I made baked potatoes and topped them with some of the Parma! Chipotle Cayenne Vegan Parmesan before adding butter, sour cream, chopped scallions, and thinly sliced Romaine lettuce (you’d be amazed how much Romaine adds to a baked potato). The Parma Parmesan gave the potato so much flavor! I’ve since also used the other variety of Parma! on baked potatoes. Phenomenal!

Things I love about Parma! Vegan Parmesan:

  • The products are gluten-free and are made in a dedicated facility.
  • They’re dairy free – whether you eat keto fulltime or part-time (like me), the more food you can enjoy that’s keto, the better. Any swap (from dairy to non-dairy) you make counts toward better health.
  • The products are Kosher.
  • They’re delicious!

In addition to the uses pictured and named above, I have also loved using these products on popcorn (DELICIOUS!), gluten-free toast, in and on Chaffles, sprinkled on asparagus, on gluten-free pasta, and sprinkled on gluten-free bread… parmesan bread never tasted so good!

These are truly delicious and I hope you’ll try them as soon as possible.

Where can you buy Parma! Vegan Parmesan?

  • There are stores across the country that carry the wonderful products (none anywhere near me, however!). When you visit their website, you can find use the map to locate the deliciousness near you.
  • Shop for the products directly from their website!
  • Parma! is available on Amazon – so if you’re already throwing things hot and heavy into your cart (surely I’m not the only one), throw in a couple of bottles of Parma! and get ready to be amazed. Nutty, wholesome, flavorful, and CRAZY delicious.

To read more about Parma and the CEO (Shannon Schnibbe) behind the deliciousness, click here.

 

 

Filed Under: Gluten Free, Gluten Free Food Reviews, Health Food Reviews, Keto, Vegan Recipes Tagged With: Parma!, plant-based product review, vegan alternative to Parmesan cheese, vegan food review, vegan product review

Quick and Easy Meal Ideas: “Nights Off” at Home with Less Stress and Less Mess

November 8, 2020 By Joi Sigers

Freezer Meals for Nights Off

I love cooking. I mean… LOVE LOVE cooking. Everything about it. In fact, most of the time I don’t even mind the time and effort it takes to clean everything up. I figure it’s a great opportunity to use up a few of the calories I just consumed.

Yesterday, my husband and I were out of town most of the day and went to a local restaurant for supper (more about restaurants in a minute) when we got back in town. Last night, it hit me… I missed my kitchen time.

Having said all of that, however, I find that some nights (usually once… sometimes twice a week), I just want everything to be as simple and easy as possible. I don’t want to be in the kitchen for 30 minutes to an hour making the meal, followed by another 30 cleaning it up. I want food on the table fast and dishes that can either be tossed or washed in record time. Basically, my comfortable chair in the den is calling me and I want as few obstacles as possible before I answer the call.

I call these my “nights off” because instead of the normal, full-fledge, photo-worthy meals I make, I either pull something out of the freezer I had made and frozen previously or I pull out something ready to roll, pretty much as is.

Everyone needs nights or days off, right? Can anyone who works 5 days a week imagine not having a day off?! No way. Having days or nights off keeps you sane, keeps you rested, and most definitely keeps you from burning out.

Reasons for Eating Home More and Eating Out Less

I have nothing against eating out on occasion. I mean, let’s face it, it can be fun. Letting someone else do all the work while you sit and let them bring it to you… sweet luxury!

However, eating at home is almost always healthier – especially if you have food allergies, are on a special diet, or have any of the many diseases that can be greatly effected by the wrong food. Even trace amounts of the enemy foods build up and can be very bad for you.

Add to this the fact that we are in a pandemic AND coming up on cold and flu season (not to mention all the bugs that show up as soon as the weather cools) – even the biggest fan of dining out has to admit – you are safer at home.

I honestly hate to say  it, but my experience lately is that many restaurants are kind of “going down.” I don’t know if they’re having trouble getting or keeping good help or if cooking is a dying art but, just in the last year, four of my five favorite restaurants (two locally-owned and two chain restaurants) have gotten so bad I don’t care if I ever go back. The one of the five that’s still as good as ever is a local authentic Mexican restaurant.

Stay strong, guys, stay strong!

Another reason to keep your pantry, refrigerator, and even freezer stocked is that (as this global pandemic has taught us) you just never know what lies ahead. It’s always better to be able to take care of yourself and your family without having to count on others. You never know when their doors will close.

(Continued Below…)

 

Tips for Nights Off Meals (As Many Times a Week as You Want Them!)

Frozen Meals

You may be like me and actually love to cook, but simply are human and want a night off every now and then. Or, you may be like one of my daughters who had (literally, y’all) rather go to the dentist than cook! Whichever group you fall into, the following tips and ideas will, hopefully, help you as much as they do me.

  • When you make soup, chili, or casseroles, make a little extra to freeze for a future meal. I have perfected this routine to where I always have at least two soups and one chili in the freezer and ready to go at a moment’s notice. Amazon has countless sizes and shapes of freezing containers (link to Amazon) – you’ll want to find a set with different sizes. This has been such a wonderful system for me. Soups and chili, in particular, taste like they were made that day.
  • Don’t think the freezer has to have just food you’ve made! As you can see from the sample pictures here, I’m a huge fan of Amy’s frozen meals, as well as her burritos. While I keep them on hand, primarily, for my lunches while my husband is at work, I have often fixed them for both of us on one of my luxurious “nights off.” The burritos are excellent with rice, a salad, eggs, or (simpler, still) tortilla chips and salsa. The frozen meals are even easier because the only dishes you mess up are your forks and glasses! Frozen pizzas, corndogs, fries (top with a can of heated canned chili and cheese and call it a meal)… the choices are limitless. Just be sure to always have your “night off” section of your freezer locked and loaded.
  • My favorite night off meal is actually one of my husband’s favorite meals – bacon, eggs, and a few vegetables cooked in the same pan (broccoli, zucchini, cauliflower, mushrooms, onions, bell peppers… whatever combo you like). The one pan strategy helps with clean up considerably and, let’s face it, it doesn’t get any simpler than bacon and eggs.
  •  Oatmeal or grits is another filling, warm, comforting, and delicious meal. I could eat either of these all by themselves, but my husband loves a couple of fried eggs with his.
  • Never, ever underestimate soup and sandwiches – they’re filling, healthy, and most definitely perfect for your night off.
  • When possible, keep salad makings on hand and your favorite salad dressing ready to pour. Simply adding chicken, beef, boiled eggs, or bacon to a great salad makes a healthy meal.
  • Have you seen those little packets of instant potatoes? They cook in less time than it takes to brush your teeth and, frankly, taste darn good. They come in lots of flavors and varieties and are outstanding. Keep plenty of these on hands for accompanying deli chicken or soup or chili from the freezer. Soup and chili, both are great served over these guys.

Some people think certain foods are only “acceptable” for breakfast or lunch and wouldn’t consider them for supper. Well, that’s just nuts.  Breakfast suppers are downright addictive and traditional “lunch” suppers are right there with them.

I have seen some people schedule these types of nights and call them things like “cheat nights” or “lazy nights” – and scheduling them is certainly an option. For me, personally, however – I never know quite when the “My chair is calling me and I don’t want to be on my feet another minute!” mood is going to hit until it does… so, I simply have my options on stand by.

One final word about restaurants…

I actually put this post together because of something that I experienced last night at what was once a favorite chain restaurant. I ordered the grilled catfish as I normally do (along with greens and pinto beans). I took a bite of the catfish from the end… all seemed normal… ate some of the greens and beans… then picked up my fork and knife and tried to cut into the catfish. It would not cut… it was completely undercooked… as in raw. I literally could not cut through it.

Undercooked meats can host a whole world of trouble for a person – salmonella, food poisoning… and if you’ve ever been on the receiving end of either of these, you know how horribly sick they make you. I am very, very lucky that I only took a small bite of this fish that was all but flopping around on my plate.

Now I know for certain that, in the future, whenever I order meat, I will never again assume that restaurant cooks use food thermometers as I do in my own kitchen. I’ll also cut into the middle of the meat before even thinking about taking a bite.

As I said before, I don’t know why it is but a lot of restaurants are, collectively, getting worse. You just can’t be too careful – certainly not when it comes to your health.

Stay safe and stay well!

~ Joi (“Joy”)

Amy's Burritos

Filed Under: Cooking Tips, Gluten Free Food Reviews, Quick and Easy Recipes Tagged With: cooking tips, easy meal ideas, easy meals

Bee K’onscious Raw Montana Clover Honey… Spectacular!

July 20, 2020 By Joi Sigers

Sunflowers and Bees

Sunflowers and Bee

Whenever I tell people I grow flowers primarily for the visitors they attract, “… hummingbirds, songbirds, butterflies, bees..,” they inevitably say, “Bees?! You WANT to attract bees?”

Absolutely! I love them with a passion. Not only do they serve a great purpose in life as we know it, they’re responsible for one of my favorite culinary loves in the world – honey!

I have been a honey fanatic since a very early age. Most kids would put syrup or jelly on their peanut butter sandwiches, but my favorite thing was honey. Honey and Peter Pan made a most excellent couple.

As an adult, I’ve found that cooking with honey makes just about everything tastes better. But here’s the thing… there’s almost always a thing, isn’t there??… not all honey is created equal. Some honey is so fantastic and out of this world that it makes other honey seem like sticky, slightly sweet thick water.

I have always, always known that, most of the time, you get what you pay for. The delightfully cheap honey in bear shaped plastic bottles will serve its purpose UNTIL you taste what honey is actually supposed to taste like. There’s truly no comparison and I was recently reminded of this.

Bee K'onscious Honey

Bee K’onscious Honey

I am often sent food, drinks, tea, coffee, and similar products to review on my food blog as well as my tea review blog, Crazy Tea Chick. Very often, the products I’m sent are so good, I regularly buy them as a result. I was recently sent a jar of Bee K’onscious Montana Raw Honey and will darn sure make certain I never run out of it!

Now, keep in mind, I am a lifelong devoted and fiercely dedicated honey lover. I’ve bought them all it seems – so when I tell you that this is the best honey I’ve ever had, you can rest assured it is extraordinary honey.

Here’s what Bee K’onscious Honey’s website says about the Montana Raw Clover Honey:

Montana Clover.  Many consider clover honey to be the standard by which all other honeys are measured. The mild, sweet flavor like a sugary treat with hints of cinnamon and vanilla makes this a top favorite for honey lovers and not. The color ranges from white to light amber. The texture is thick and creamy with a very pleasant aroma.  For any delicious treat add this to some yogurt or fresh bread with ricotta cheese. How about pancakes topped with berries and then lathered on top with a spoon full of honey? There are many folks that simply spread this on toast and say it tastes like a cinnamon roll.

Nailed it!

Baked Sweet Potatoes with Honey

Baked Sweet Potatoes with Bee K’onscious Montana Raw Honey

I’ve used the Montana Raw Clover Honey the following ways and have been completely blown away each time…

  • Drizzled on freshly fried chicken tenders. Tossing a little red pepper flakes onto the honey makes a delicacy.
  • In smoothies to add a little guilt-free sweetness.
  • On gluten-free toast – either with cream cheese, ghee, or butter, it is a knock-out.
  • In tea… this honey is now an addiction for excellent evening tea!
  • On sweet potatoes. Sweet potatoes (all potatoes, if we’re being honest) are a great passion of mine. I’ve always baked them, then added butter and a combination of brown sugar and cinnamon. The most recent time I made them, I also added B’konscious Honey – phenomenal! By adding the honey, I was able to add less brown sugar than I normally do. The honey provides the sweetness naturally.
  • One of my favorite ways: Each night, after supper, my husband and I have a small “dessert” that I schemed up a while back. It’s a good way to get good fat (healthy) and daily dark chocolate (healthy, healthy) – We take a small square of dark chocolate and spread some ghee on top, then top that with a little pink Himalayan salt. Lately, we’ve been adding a touch of Montana Raw Clover Honey and I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to go back to the other way! It adds so much extraordinary flavor that I look forward to the after-dinner treat pretty much all day.

Health Benefits of Honey

Honey has an impressive list of health benefits, but my favorite has to do with allergies. I suppose this is simply because I have the worst seasonal allergies in the world! I have noticed that, while I’ve been fiercely enjoying B’konscious honey, I have had to use my Benadryl (or as I call it, Liquid Zombie because it makes me feel like the walking dead!) far less often. Given that I use honey so often, something tells me that the benefits of honey are superior when the honey, itself, is superior.

Honey is also beneficial for great sleep as it promotes the release of serotonin.  The body converts serotonin to melatonin, which regulates quality and duration of sleep. Maybe that’s why I’ve been sleeping so soundly lately. I’ve been entering a deeper sleep because my dreams have been pretty darn entertaining. Seriously, nothing out of Hollywood could even hope to compare.

Other Health Benefits of Honey From B’konscious Honey’s Website:

  • Anti Microbial:  Honey is a natural antibiotic.  Honey has been used for centuries to remove bacteria from cuts and burns.
  • Superfood:  Honey contains many life sustaining substances – enzymes, vitamins, minerals, amino acids, antioxidants and water.
  • Boosts energy:  With 17 grams of carbohydrates per serving, its unprocessed sugars enter the bloodstream quickly giving extra energy.

You can buy this exceptional honey directly from the B’konscious Honey website. You’ll find all of their gorgeous products, recipes, health benefits, and more.

 

 

Filed Under: Food Reviews, Gluten Free Food Reviews, Health Food Reviews, Honey Recipes, Potato Recipes Tagged With: best honey, honey, Honey review

Tate’s Bake Shop Gluten Free Coconut Crisp Cookies

May 11, 2020 By Joi Sigers


Tate's Bake Shop Gluten Free Coconut Crisp Cookies

Tate’s Bake Shop Gluten Free Coconut Crisp Cookies

I haven’t been very active on the food blog (or any of my blogs for that matter) lately. My computer crashed and crashed hard a while back and, on top of that, I have been so affected by the pandemic that (truth be told) I allowed everything to get me out of my regular routine. While my family, thanks be to God, hasn’t been personally touched by the Coronavirus, the fact that so many other families have been touched and often tormented by it has shaken me to my core. For better or worse, I am an insanely empathetic person and don’t just feel other’s pain.. I FEEL it.

I decided a few weeks ago to stop reading every news story and stop visiting personally (through social media) with every person who has suffered a loss. I made the decision to pray for them but not to read every single thing going on. It’s keeping me sane.

Ironic thing is, just when I made this decision and decide to get back into my normal routine – my computer checked out on me!

2020 has a real attitude, doesn’t it?

Back to “Normal”ish

If you’ve read my food blog before or know me, personally, you know that Cookie Monster is my spirit animal. I love cookies… I live for cookies. They’re one of my favorite things to bake and eat! So I decided to jump back into the food blog with a review of some extra, extra wonderful cookies I just discovered: Tate’s Bake Shop Gluten Free Coconut Crisp Cookies (link to the cookies on Amazon). I had never seen them on store shelves before, but recently saw them at my favorite grocery store in the “cheap” bin.

If I’d ever seen them before, there wouldn’t be any of them left to go in the bargain aisle – I’d have bought them all!

These cookies are absolutely outstanding. They have such a distinctive and delicious taste of coconut (one of my favorite flavors), while giving an extraordinary crunch – something, as a dunker, I appreciate in a cookie. While these cookies were (past tense, we ate them all) fantastic right out of the bag, they were Heavenly with coffee as well.

These cookies are available on Amazon (gluten-free as well as the original) and I couldn’t recommend them more highly. I just noticed that there is also a Tate’s Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip (Amazon link) cookie and I am pretty much beside myself.

This human Cookie Monster feels like it’s Christmas morning.

I hope and pray that you and your loved ones are well and safe. I’m thinking of you and praying for you. I hope you will, now – more than ever, find the things that bring you joy and embrace them every chance you get. For me, that’s family (including my cats!), cookies, and old movies.

Stay positive and stay safe. We will get through this! ~ Joi

Tate's Bake Shop Gluten Free Coconut Crisp Cookies

Tate’s Coconut Crisp Gluten-Free Cookies with Coffee

Filed Under: Food Reviews, Gluten Free, Gluten Free Food Reviews Tagged With: cookie review, Cookies, gluten free cookies, gluten-free food reviews

ChocZero: Sugar Free Chocolate Squares (Perfect for the Keto Diet)

October 15, 2019 By Joi Sigers

ChocZero Sugar Free Chocolates Review

ChocZero Sugar-Free Chocolate Squares

One of my greatest loves in life is chocolate. If I weren’t so allergic to pain, I’m fairly certain I’d get one tattoo – the word CHOCOHOLIC (all caps, non negotiable) somewhere on my person.  I mean, the world deserves to know what they’re dealing with, right?

True Story: 12 years ago (time flies when you’re eating chocolate), I literally made a couple of New Year’s Resolutions that I knew, beyond a shadow of doubt, that I’d be able to keep. It was half playing-around with my daughters and half let’s see what it feels like to actually keep New Year’s Resolutions throughout the year.

What were the things I knew I’d stay loyal to?

  1. Tell my family… including cats, naturally… that I love them everyday (awwwwwww).
  2. Read from an Agatha Christie mystery daily. I read and re-read her mysteries and have been in the midst of reading one for half of my life.
  3. Eat chocolate every single day.

12 years later and I’m still going strong. With each. Please don’t ask about learning to speak Italian, drinking more water, never drinking sweet tea, or learning to play the piano, please and thank you.

I was recently sent ChocZero Chocolate Squares in exchange for telling you about them. My first thought was, “Yay! Chocolate!” but then I began to worry… after all, I am as big of an expert when it comes to chocolate as is possible. I know chocolate. I breathe chocolate. So, I started to worry that I might not be able to give a raving review of the chocolate.

What worried me? Well, the fact that it is… are you sitting down… sugar free. That concerned me – but, strangely enough, it shouldn’t have. In fact, the fact that these chocolates aren’t overly sweet actually allows you to taste the chocolate better.

That, y’all, is a very positive thing.

ChocZero Sugar Free Chocolates

ChocZero Sugar-Free Chocolate Squares

ChocZero uses a zero-calorie, low carb natural plant called monk fruit to create delectable chocolate that’s low carb and sugar-free. Indulge in some more chocolate minus the sugar crash and extra calories. Whether you’re on the keto diet or simply hoping to reduce your sugar intake, ChocZero has savory options to fit a healthier lifestyle.

Perfect for the Keto Diet or “Lazy Keto” Diet (or anyone cutting back on sugar)

While my family doesn’t strictly follow the Keto Diet, I do incorporate A LOT of Keto recipes and philosophies into our meals. Cutting back on carbs is important to me but cutting back on sugar is far more important. I regularly eat potatoes but am trying very hard to cut as far back on sugar as I possibly can. ChocZero makes it easier to enjoy chocolate, thanks to their monk fruit sweetener.

My favorite way to enjoy these ChocZero Sugar-Free Chocolate Squares is given below the deliciousness….

ChocZero with Ghee and Salt

As I’m sure I’ve mentioned on the food blog before, I am a Ghee FANATIC. I saute’ chicken tenders in it, melt it for popcorn, slather it on toast… it has a flavor that, as far as I’m concerned is nearly as addictive as chocolate.

So, it was just a matter of time before my two worlds collided – with a little salt thrown in for good measure.

Every single day, I take a square of chocolate (dark, usually, but medium is just as delicious), add a little ghee on top, then sprinkle the whole shebang with pink Himalayan salt or sea salt. It has to be one of these and the reason is a very technical one… they look cooler.

Very technical.

The absolute best ghee on the market is Ancient Organics Ghee. Trust me on this one – I’ve tried them all and, for whatever reasons, no other ghee even come close.

My beloved Ghee and ChocZero make an unbeatable team and I do believe I’ll get up from here and have one. Oh, heck let’s make it two, want to?

ChocZero Sugar Free Chocolates, Ghee and Pink Himalayan Salt


Filed Under: Candy Reviews, Chocolate!, Gluten Free Food Reviews, Keto, Reviews Tagged With: chocolate review, ChocZero, keto candy, keto chocolate, sugar free chocolate

On The Go Edamame Tropical Fusion Snacks: Gluten-Free, Low in Sodium, and Delicious

February 13, 2019 By Joi Sigers

On the Go Edamame Tropical Fusion Snacks

I recently received samples of a delicious new snack I know you’ll love as much as I do. These are On The Go Edamame Tropical Fusion Snacks. In addition to Tropical Fusion, these Edamame Fusion Snacks are also available in Berries Fusion and Goji Berry Fusion.

When I first heard about these snacks, I was completely intrigued. When I’m on the receiving end of snacks, gluten-free food, seasonings, etc., my emotions usually run the gamut from excited (when I just KNOW something will be delicious) to dubious (“How is this going to taste??“). However, this is the first time I can honestly say I was simply “intrigued.”

One of the reasons why is that I am the world’s biggest edamame fan. Seriously, I am addicted. I always have at least one bag of frozen edamame on hand – usually two. I love it popped in the microwave, salted, and set right in front of me….. and I really don’t like to share.

I also LOVE edamame in tossed salads and pasta salads. Crazy delicious.

But… in a snack mix???

Like I said, it had me intrigued. Probably like the first time Popeye heard about Green Smoothies. Intrigued.

As soon as they came, I opened the box, quickly took pictures of the packets, and tore into one. Nevermind the fact that I was in the middle of cooking lunch – I had to know what they tasted like.

Suffice to say I nearly ruined my lunch by eating a packet at once.

Every single bite is delicious and nutritious.

I (obviously) love that they’re gluten-free – but that’s just one of the many things to love.

{Continued Below….}

On the Go Edamame Tropical Fusion Snacks

Edamame Infusion Snacks Are…

  • Preservative Free
  • Gluten-Free (worth mentioning twice)
  • Sulfur Free
  • Good Sources of Protein
  • Good Sources of Iron
  • Good Source of Fiber
  • Perfect for Lunch Boxes or Backpacks
  • Ideal to keep in the desk door for snacking

Since I’m one of those people who has low blood sugar, I always keep a snack in my purse – just in case I find myself in need of something to eat before I drop to my knees. Carrying snacks in handbags, pockets, lunchboxes, or backpacks can be tricky. Chocolate melts, cookies crumble, granola bars… well, let’s be honest, sometimes I’d rather deal with dropping to my knees. Snacks such as this are always fresh and delicious. They won’t crumble, melt, or taste like cardboard doing an imitation of oatmeal.

I’m a huge fan of granola bars, could you tell?

Visit On The Go Snacks to learn more about their different snacks – this particular one is completely out of this world.

Where to Buy: You can find On The Go Edamame Fusion Snacks on Amazon (Amazon link). I’ve linked to the Tropical Fusion variety, but the others are there as well.

 

Filed Under: Food Reviews, Gluten Free, Gluten Free Food Reviews, Health Food Reviews, Reviews Tagged With: gluten free food review, gluten free snack review

Chocolate Chip Cookies: Simplified and Scrumptious with Bob’s Red Mill Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix

November 30, 2018 By Joi Sigers

Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies
Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies


Like most people, I am in a full-fledged baking frenzy right now. When you have to bake and cook with gluten-free ingredients, it can make things trickier, especially with baking.

Gluten-free baking is a whole other ballgame and you’re pretty much thrown into the big leagues when you should be hitting off of a tee! Companies like Bob’s Red Mill make things much, much easier.

While in Rural King recently (of all places!), I saw a bag of Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix. I never even knew there was such a thing – I’ve never seen it in any other store. Naturally it went in the cart along with a few other of my Bob’s Red Mill favorites – right between my husband’s work gloves and birdseed.

I made a batch of cookies yesterday and was blown away by how delicious they are. They taste as good (if not better) than I remember “regular” chocolate chip cookies tasting. I’m a nut fanatic, so I added a healthy amount of chopped pecans.

SO DELICIOUS!

(Continued Below…)

Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

As you can tell from the photos, I have a heavy hand when it comes to adding nuts to my cookies. Whether it’s pecans or walnuts, I want to taste the chocolate and the nuts in each bite. Something wonderful about this mix is that the cookie, itself, is also fantastic.

I used the recipe that’s on the back of the bag – exactly as given.

(Wrapped up below!)

Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

 

If you can find this mix in a store near you (don’t forget to check Rural King!), you’ll definitely want to do that. If not, check Amazon (Amazon link).

Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

 

Filed Under: Christmas Baking, Cookies, Gluten Free Food Reviews Tagged With: Bob's Red Mill review, gluten-free chocolate chip cookies, gluten-free cookie mix review

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Welcome to the Get Cooking Food Blog

My name is Joi (“Joy”) and Get Cooking is where I celebrate some of my greatest passions: Recipes, kitchen gadgets, gluten free food reviews, gluten free recipes, pig collectibles, chocolate, cookbooks, and coffee.

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What’s New on the Food Blog?

  • Gifts from the Kitchen: 100 Irresistible Homemade Presents for Every Occasion
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Wedge Salad, Starring Roasted Tomatoes

CauliPower Linguine Pasta with Meat Sauce

Caulipower: Quite Possibly THE Best Gluten-Free Pasta

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Tostadas with Refried Beans and Tomatoes

Fast & Easy Summer Meal: Meatless Tostadas

Gluten-Free White Chocolate and Pecan Cookies

Gluten Free Cranberry Pecan Cookies

Air Fryer and Rotisserie in One!

Instant Vortex Plus 10 Quart Air Fryer, Rotisserie and Convection Oven (Amazon link)

A Reminder for all Cooks…

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If my accident can prevent you, a pet, or a child from being hurt, it will have been worth it to me… read more here!

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The T-Fal Cookware Set (Amazon link), above, is absolutely one of the best cooking sets you’ll ever find. It’s on Amazon and available in several gorgeous colors.

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