Gluten Free Cookies: Enjoy Life Crunchy Sugar Crisp Handcrafted Cookies

PRODUCT NAME:                     Crunchy Sugar Crisp Cookies

BRAND:                                    Enjoy Life

COST:                                       $3.99

SIZE:                                         6.3 OZ

COST PER OZ:                          $0.63/oz

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:        YES

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:         GFCO

ORGANIC:                                 NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:         N/A

VEGAN:                                     YES

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:          YES

LOCATION OF FACILITY:           SCHILLER PARK,IL

SHELF LIFE:                              1.5 YEARS
 

*These statements are based on the information printed on the product packaging.  We cannot verify the accuracy of this information.  For verification of the statements above, please contact the manufacturer.       

REVIEW:

Enjoy Life, a company known for making delicious, allergen friendly products, recently launched a new line of crispy cookies. They have taken on classic cookies, like chocolate chip, sugar, and ginger, and make them safe and delicious for just about everyone. Packed full of flavor and all natural ingredients, these delicious cookies are made without the eight most common allergens, which are wheat, dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, egg, soy, fish, and shellfish. They strive to make “smile-good foods that keep people’s insides happy” meaning anyone, allergy or not should feel safe and satisfied after consuming their products.

Reminiscent of the crispy sugar cookies I snacked on as a kid, Enjoy Life’s Crunchy Sugar Crisp cookies were light and very sweet. Made without ingredients like wheat, eggs, and dairy, elements which are normally essential to baking, these cookies were safe without sacrificing an ounce of flavor. Although they are vegan, they tasted buttery and rich, they weren’t too hard or brittle, and didn’t crumble apart. They were very sweet, I would even dare to say that they were on the verge of being too sweet, so a serving size of two cookies was appropriate.

I really enjoyed these cookies, and while they are delicious right out of the box, I would suggest using two crispy cookies to make an ice cream sandwich for an even tastier treat.

Taste: These cookies tasted exactly the way the package promised: crunchy, sugary, and crisp. They were rich and had a great buttery flavor, were very sweet, and were effective in satisfying my sugar craving.

Labeling: As a company specializing in allergen-friendly products, Enjoy Life has made it very easy to quickly assess if their treats are safe or not. The front of the package states that these cookies are dairy, nut, and gluten free. The side panel lists the common allergens NOT included in this recipe and the back has a little bit of information about this allergy-friendly treat. Ingredients and nutrition facts were also included on the side of the package.  

Packaging:   Fourteen cookies were held in a plastic tray inside of a cardstock box.

Reader’s Reviews: Please share with us your review of this company’s other products + where you purchased the product + how long you have been using this product. Please no review from the family + friends of the company producing the product…

RATING:
Texture:                 4  
Taste:                     5
Value:                    4
OVERALL:              4.3
 
Reviewed  by: Jennie L.

Gluten Free Cookies: Enjoy Life Crunchy Chocolate Chip Cookies

PRODUCT NAME:                       Crunchy Chocolate Chip Cookies

BRAND:                                       Enjoy Life

COST:                                          $3.99

SIZE:                                            6.3 OZ

COST PER OZ:                             $0.63             

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:          YES

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:           GFCO

ORGANIC:                                   NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:           N/A

VEGAN:                                       YES

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:             YES

LOCATION OF FACILITY:             SCHILLER PARK, IL

SHELF LIFE:                                1.5 YEARS
 

*These statements are based on the information printed on the product packaging.  We cannot verify the accuracy of this information.  For verification of the statements above, please contact the manufacturer.

REVIEW:

Enjoy Life, a company known for making delicious, allergen friendly products, recently launched a new line of crispy cookies. They have decided to take on classic cookies, like Chocolate chip, sugar, and ginger, and make them safe and delicious for just about everyone. Packed full of flavor and all natural ingredients, these delicious cookies are made without the eight most common allergens, which are wheat, dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, egg, soy, fish, and shellfish. They strive to make “smile-good foods that keep people’s insides happy” meaning anyone, allergy or not should feel safe and satisfied after consuming their products.

Enjoy Life’s Crunchy Chocolate Chip Cookies were crisp without being too hard. The sweet and soft chocolate chips, created a nice texture difference between them and the crunchy cookie. This cookie was very sugary and sweet, which appealed to my sweet tooth but may make my dentist a little worried. This crunchy cookie is a perfect candidate for dipping in a cold, tall glass of milk (or dairy free milk if you so desire). Although it is made free of the eight most common allergens, and all natural this Crunchy, sweet, cookie is definitely not a health food, but it doesn’t claim to be. At 120 calories per serving, which make up 11% of your daily fat, these cookies should probably be consumed in moderation. What it does claim to be is a safe, sweet treat that can be enjoyed by anyone, allergy conscious or not.

Taste: Sweet and crunchy with soft chocolate pieces, these cookies were delicious and addictive. They had no strange aftertaste and were made with all-natural whole ingredients.

Labeling: As a company specializing in allergen-friendly products, Enjoy Life has made it very easy to quickly assess if their treats are safe or not. The front of the package states that these cookies are dairy, nut, and gluten free. The side panel lists the common allergens NOT included in this recipe and the back has a little bit of information about this allergy-friendly treat. Ingredients and nutrition facts were also included on the side of the package.

Packaging:   Fourteen cookies were held in a plastic tray inside of a cardstock box.

Reader’s Reviews: Please share with us your review of this company’s other products + where you purchased the product + how long you have been using this product. Please no review from the family + friends of the company producing the product…

RATING:
Texture:       4  
Taste:           5
Value:          4
OVERALL:    4
Reviewed  by: Jennie L.

Gluten Free Mixes: The Pure Pantry Wholegrain Dark Chocolate Cake Mix

Gluten Free Mixes: The Pure Pantry Chocolate Cake Mix

PRODUCT NAME:                    Dark Chocolate Cake Mix

BRAND:                                   The Pure Pantry       

COST:                                      $7.59  

SIZE:                                        21 oz              

COST PER OZ:                         $0.36/oz

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:       NO      

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:        NA

ORGANIC:                                NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:        NA

VEGAN:                                   OPTIONAL

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:         YES

LOCATION OF FACILITY:         Encinitas, CA

SHELF LIFE:                             1 year+

*These statements are based on the information printed on the product packaging.  We cannot verify the accuracy of this information.  For verification of the statements above, please contact the manufacturer.

REVIEW:

Before my days of scouring package labels for traces of gluten in every product I consume, I was a baker working in a whole grain, made from scratch bakery. I prided myself on using only organic wheat flours, cane sugars, and taking the time to meticulously measure out each and every ingredient going into our “made with love products.” The switch from gluten-full to gluten-free was difficult because I have been forced to relearn how to bake and for this reason I am forever thankful for solid products like the Pure Pantry’s cake mixes.

The Pure Pantry has created yet another delicious gluten free baking mix with their Dark Chocolate Cake Mix. Pure Pantry was created by Elizabeth Kaplan, a teacher, trained chef, health nut, and diagnosed celiac. Concerned with the lack of delicious and nutritious gluten free baking alternatives, Elizabeth set out to create her own line of baking mixes, free of not only gluten, but dairy, refined sugar, eggs, soy, and nuts. 

I was initially skeptical about making a cake from a prepared mix for I am used to baking only from scratch.  However, my fears were unrealized when I took a bite of this rich, moist, and chocolaty cake.  In fact, this cake was better in flavor and texture than any wheat based cake mix I tried prior to my celiac diagnosis.  This cake is free of any refined sugars, and instead is made with sucanat and maple sugar, which provide a delicious flavor. Its flour base of sorghum, quinoa and brown rice flours help provide fiber, protein, and anti-oxidants, which makes this cake not only delicious, but also very nutritious.

I followed the directions on the package for a simple chocolate cake, which conveniently called for only a few extra ingredients: eggs, milk, vegetable oil, and hot water. The recipe was simple, quick, and the results were stupendous. To top this succulent cake, I followed the recipe found on the package for Heavenly Cream Cheese Icing, which was nothing short of heavenly. The icing ingredients were traditional with rich and tasty cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla and one extra, interesting ingredient… agave nectar! This unusual addition made the frosting taste like caramel and gave it a beautiful cream color that looked adorable and festive underneath rainbow colored sprinkles.

I trust this company and their products, from their outstanding flavor and texture, spectacular, health conscious ingredients, and personal understanding of the trials and tribulations of living with celiac disease. The only downside to the Pure Pantry’s Dark Chocolate Cake Mix is that the cake was gobbled up and enjoyed within one day.

Taste:  This cake is tasty, chocolaty, and sweet- but not too sweet. Paired with the agave nectar based Heavenly Frosting, this cake is a delicious treat.

Labeling:  The labeling is simple, modern, and minimal. There are four recipes posted on the package: two for different cakes and two for icings. The recipes also have vegan ingredient alternatives if you desire to make your cakes free of animal products.

Packaging:  The cake mix is packaged in a sturdy bag with enough mix to make 12 servings of cake.

Reader’s Reviews: Please share with us your review of this company’s other products + where you purchased the product + how long you have been using this product. Please no review from the family + friends of the company producing the product…

RATING:

Texture:          5         

Taste:              5         

Value:             3

OVERALL:       4.3

Reviewed by Jennie L.

Gluten Free Cake: Shabtai Gourmet Raspberry Roll - Product Review #86

Gluten Free Cake: Shabtai Gourmet Raspberry Roll

PRODUCT NAME:                         Raspberry Roll

BRAND:                                        Shabtai Gourmet

COST:                                           $7.29

SIZE:                                             12oz                      

COST PER OZ:                              $0.61/oz        

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:            NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:             N/A

ORGANIC:                                     NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:             N/A

VEGAN:                                         NO

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:              YES

LOCATION OF FACILITY:              New York

*These statements are based on the information printed on the product packaging.  We cannot verify the accuracy of this information.  For verification of the statements above, please contact the manufacturer.   

         

REVIEW:
Recently, Shabtai Gourmet sent us some treats to try.  One of them was their Gluten Free Raspberry Roll.  It came freshly baked sealed in plastic to keep it fresh.  Shabtai Gourmet’s Raspberry roll consists of yellow cake with raspberry filling which is then rolled in coconut. 

There is a lot going for this Raspberry roll.  It is gluten free, dairy free, peanut free, soy free, casein free, lactose free, corn free, certified kosher and contains no preservatives.  It’s just about all the things a health conscious person looks for in a product.  Those of you with severe allergies, you will be happy to hear that all the ingredients that enter their facility are gluten free, casein free, lactose free, soy free, and dairy free. 

When I think of a raspberry roll, I imagine a roll that is moist and spongy with a sweet filling.  Shabtai Gourmet did a great job with the filling.  It was sweet and sticky just like I expected it to be.  As for the cake, it wasn’t quite what I was expecting.  It was powdery and flakey and just a tad dry.   

Shabtai has a lot to offer.  They have put a lot of care and effort into their baked goods.  If you have a sweet tooth and you like a healthy product you can count on, this is the product for you.  For a full list of retailers, visit Shabtai Gourmet’s website at: www.shabtai-gourmet.com

Taste: The filling was nice and sweet and the cake was powdery and flakey and just a little dry.  The moisture from the filling helped the overall texture to come together.  The coconut sprinkled over the outer layer was also a nice touch.  

Labeling:  The labeling was very simple however the font was not very clear and a little small. 

Packaging:  Shrink wrapped roll placed in a plastic bakery container. 

Reader’s Reviews: Please share with us your review of this company’s other products + where you purchased the product + how long you have been using this product. Please no review from the family + friends of the company producing the product…

RATING:

Texture:                 2             

Taste:                     3             

Value:                    2

OVERALL:              2.3

Reviewed 030911 by Calvin C.

Gluten Free Snacks: Snack Healthy Crispy Fruit - Product Review #85

Gluten Free Snack: Snack Healthy Crispy Fruit

PRODUCT NAME:                           Crispy Fruit

BRAND:                                          Snack Healthy

COST:                                            $1.04

SIZE:                                              0.35oz                  

COST PER OZ:                               $2.97/oz            

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:            NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:             N/A

ORGANIC:                                     NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:             N/A

VEGAN:                                         YES

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:              UNKNOWN

LOCATION OF FACILITY:              China

*These statements are based on the information printed on the product packaging.  We cannot verify the accuracy of this information.  For verification of the statements above, please contact the manufacturer.   

         

REVIEW:
When you’re trying to eat healthy, you should probably stay away from greasy chips and stick to fruit.  Snack Healthy has come up with a product that gives you the best of both worlds with their Crispy Fruit.  With only 34 calories, no preservatives and no sugar added, these 100% real fruit snacks are the perfect healthy snack. 
What makes this snack so different?  It’s the process they use to dry it.  You’ve probably had dried fruit before and many times it’s really tough and chewy and really doesn’t taste like the real thing anymore so sugar is added.  This is no ordinary dried fruit.  It is freeze dried which transforms the fresh fruit into a light crispy snack.  It is really like nothing any of us here at Gluten Free Reviewer has ever tasted.  The freeze drying process somehow preserves all of the flavor of the fruit so you end up with an extremely light and crispy fruit that tastes just like the real thing.  The only problem I see is that they’re so good, you can probably eat a few packs in a single sitting. 

Snack Healthy Crispy Fruit Nutrition Facts

There is a lot going for Snack Healthy Crispy Fruit.  It is 100% real fruit, peanut/tree nut free, gluten free, soy free, dairy free, non gmo and vegan.  These come in three varieties, Pineapple, Fuji Apple and Banana.  I tried the Pineapple and thought it was great and at just 34 calories per bag 12mg of potassium and 6 grams of sugar that is naturally in the fruit, these things are great for you.  The other varieties are also good for you.  The Fuji Apple has just 47 calories and the Banana has just 61 calories. 

Overall, I thought these were great.  You get the full flavor and healthiness of fruit in a crispy light chip.  The only tricky part is getting a hold of these things as you can’t buy them in stores.  Contact Snack Healthy directly for information on how to purchase at www.snackhealthy.com.

Taste: It’s the best of both worlds, you get the flavor and health benefits of fruit in chip form.  It tastes exactly like the fruit.

Labeling:  The labeling is very simple and easy to read and the graphics are very clean looking. 

Packaging:  Single serving package in a sealed package. 

Reader’s Reviews: Please share with us your review of this company’s other products + where you purchased the product + how long you have been using this product. Please no review from the family + friends of the company producing the product…

RATING:

Texture:                 5             

Taste:                     5             

Value:                    3

OVERALL:              4.3

Reviewed 030811 by Calvin C.  

Gluten Free Meal: Snapdragon Indonesian Peanut Rice Pasta Stir-Fry - Product Review #82

Snapdragon Indonesian Peanut Rice Pasta Stir-Fry

PRODUCT NAME:                     Indonesian Peanut Rice Pasta Stir-Fry

BRAND:                                    Snapdragon Pan-Asian Cusine

COST:                                      $6.78 (2-pack) $19.32 (6-pack)

SIZE:                                        6.7oz each box                 

COST PER OZ:                          $0.51/oz (2-pack) $0.48/oz (6-pack)  

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:        NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:         N/A

ORGANIC:                                 NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:         N/A

VEGAN:                                     OPTIONAL

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:           UNKNOWN

LOCATION OF FACILITY:           Thailand

*These statements are based on the information printed on the product packaging.  We cannot verify the accuracy of this information.  For verification of the statements above, please contact the manufacturer.            

REVIEW:
We already know that Snapdragon Pan-Asian Cuisine makes great crackers, but did you know they make a line of Rice Pasta Stir-Fry kits, some of which are gluten free?  They have Pad Thai Ginger, Hunan Sweet and Sour and of course the Indonesian Peanut Rice Pasta Stir-Fry that we are reviewing today. 
Pop open the box and you will find dry rice noodles and a sauce packet containing all the flavoring you will need to cook up this meal.  This meal in a box is very convenient and can be prepared in about 15 minutes.  All you need to do is place the dry noodles in hot water for a few minutes, heat vegetables and, if you want, meat in a pan and stir fry everything up together for a complete meal in about 15 minutes.  I will admit that I did not cook this up myself, but I was watching the whole time and know that just about anyone can cook this up. 

For our tasting, 2 boxes of the meal in a box were stir fried up with chicken, snow peas and green onions.  The good thing about this product is that you have full control over what you want to add to it.  You can add just vegetables for a nice vegetarian dish or, for us carnivores, you can add meat.  It came out great and I was surprised to see how much we ended up with.  The rice noodles are thin and flat and had a sticky, but firm texture which is sometimes tricky to get with rice noodles because once they are overcooked, they tend to become mushy.  This is where letting them sit in hot water to cook came in to play.

The sauce for these noodles is the main character of the dish.  It is a slightly salty, slightly sweet and slightly spicy peanut sauce.  Snapdragon says that this Indonesian Peanut sauce represents the five classic flavors: sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and umami which is Japanese for “savory taste.”  The sauce brings tons of flavor and texture to the dish because there are actually little pieces of ground up peanuts in the sauce.  Needless to say, if you are allergic to peanuts, this is not the dish for you. 

Nutrition Facts

With box meals like this one, you always have to be a little more careful with them and read the labels.  While they are relatively cheap, they are not always the best, nutrition-wise because they often contain a lot of sodium.  This one does contain 740 milligrams of sodium which is a little high.  What surprised me was that it contains 250 calories, 2 grams of fat and no cholesterol which is actually pretty good if you compare it with similar products.

Taste: This rice pasta stir-fry packs a ton of flavor.  The sweet by the salty and spicy come together for the perfect blend of flavors. 

Labeling:  Snapdragon has great labeling.  We especially liked their logos on the bottom right corner of the box that showed that it was gluten free, cooks in 15 minutes, is vegan and has mild spiciness. 

Packaging:  Paperboard box with individually packaged ingredients

Reader’s Reviews: Please share with us your review of this company’s other products + where you purchased the product + how long you have been using this product. Please no review from the family + friends of the company producing the product…

RATING:

Texture:                 5             

Taste:                     5             

Value:                    3

OVERALL:              4.3

Reviewed 02/23/11 by Calvin C.

Gluten Free Mix: Cherrybrook Kitchen Fudge Brownie Mix - Product Review #78

Gluten Free Mix: Cherrybrook Kitchen Fudge Brownie Mix

PRODUCT NAME:                    Fudge Brownie Mix

BRAND:                                   Cherrybrook Kitchen

COST:                                     $5.99

SIZE:                                       14 oz.

COST PER OZ:                         $0.43/oz

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:       NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:        N/A

ORGANIC:                                NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:        N/A

VEGAN:                                    OPTIONAL

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:          UNKNOWN

LOCATION OF FACILITY:          Massachusetts

*These statements are based on the information printed on the product packaging. We cannot verify the accuracy of this information. For verification of the statements above, please contact the manufacturer.

REVIEW:
"The sweet solution for food allergies," is the motto for Cherrybrook Kitchen, the company that created the mix for these fantastic brownies. Not only is the mix gluten free, but completely vegan and nut free as well. According to their Web site, all equipment is dedicated solely to products that never touch dairy or nuts, and all goods are batch tested for traces of dairy, nuts and gluten for consumer safety.

I'm always in awe when something this good is made out of ingredients like cocoa butter and tapioca starch, but Cherrybrook Kitchen has turned my baking world upside-down once again.

I used a square 9x9-inch pan, one medium-sized bowl for mixing and a large spoon. To stay vegan, use 1/3 cup of a butter substitute, 2/3 cup of water and two tablespoons of vegetable oil. Cherrybrook's Web site recommends Fleischmann’s™ Unsalted Margarine and Earth Balance™ as dairy-free alternatives. I used real butter in the test kitchen.

The butter has to be completely melted, and since we're not dealing with eggs, I poured the freshly melted liquid straight into the mix. Add the remaining ingredients, mix well (don't bother getting out the electric mixer, it's not necessary), and you've got yourself fresh batter in a matter of minutes.

Pour batter into your pan and place on the bottom shelf of a preheated oven. The box says "12 minutes for fudge-like brownies or 14 minutes for cake-like brownies." I'd have to argue that 12 minutes produced more of a liquid-like brownie, so set your timer and check on them after 12 minutes. Another five did the trick for me, and produced a combination fudge-cake brownie that melts in your mouth.

I'm not a huge fan of dense, decadent brownies, so these were really my style. They're so light, they verge on crumbly, but I was still able to eat them in square chunks with my hands. There are great little chips of vegan chocolate mixed in that melt to create sweet little surprises as you chew, which complement the not-so-sweet brownie base.

The foundation of the mix is rice flour, and I have to say, you can definitely tell. The chew that is created when using wheat flour is replaced with an airy texture that dissolves almost as quickly as it hits the tongue.

Nutritional facts say there are 140 calories in 1/12 of the tray, without the added butter or oil. If you stay vegan, chances are you're staying in a decent calorie zone. There are only 16 grams of sugar per portion as opposed to last week's chocolate cake, which contained 23 grams without frosting. My only concern is that they're so weightless, so neutral on the sugar spectrum, you'll eat them all at once.

As a side note, I left the tray at a friend's house and was informed that they actually got better the next day, so you have that to look forward to – if they last that long!

Taste: The taste was light, a cloud of chocolate that isn't too sweet at first bit, then hits your tongue with little blasts of sugary goodness from the chocolate chunks blended in the mix. Chocolaty without being overwhelming is nice, but be careful not to eat the whole tray in one sitting – this is very possible.

Labeling: The labeling is adorable and easy to follow. They used graphics and copy well, providing company information on one side, directions on the back and super cute animations.

Packaging: Box with a plastic bag inside to hold the mix.

Reader’s Reviews: Please share with us your review of this company’s other products + where you purchased the product + how long you have been using this product. Please no review from the family + friends of the company producing the product…

RATING:
Texture:         5
Taste:             5
Value:            2
OVERALL:      4

Reviewed 022511 by Mallory L.