Gluten Free Whipped Cream: MimicCreme Healthy Top

PRODUCT NAME:                        Healthy Top Whipped Cream     

BRAND:                                       MimicCreme

COST:                                          $5.59                    

SIZE:                                           16 oz                                     

COST PER OZ:                             $0.35/oz

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:           NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:            NA

ORGANIC:                                    NO                        

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:            NA

VEGAN:                                       YES                        

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:             NO

LOCATION OF FACILITY:             New York

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:

This MimicCreme Healthy Top Whipped Cream blew me away!  It’s one of those things that doesn’t try to masquerade as what it attempts to replace, but boldly steps forward and does something different.  This is not really whipped cream, but it can stand firmly in the place of whipped cream and offer a truly wonderful and delicious alternative.  It has a nutty flavor with strong overtones of vanilla.  The consistency once whipped, is a little heavier than stiff whipping cream.  I found this to be an added bonus actually.  I used the MimicCreme Healthy Top as a frosting to banana chocolate cupcakes, as a dip for strawberries and chocolate as well as putting it atop my morning coffee, and I found that it held up remarkably well in all situations.  It is very versatile and has a flavor that can accompany other things really well.  It also mixes well with spices, like cinnamon and add-ins like honey.  I think this product could be used in a variety of different ways and as a really fabulous non-dairy alternative in a number of recipes.

One of the things that really excited me about this is that it’s also soy free.  I can’t really do dairy or soy, which definitely limits my choices.  The things that can be made out of nuts these days never ceases to amaze me.  This product is predominantly made from almonds and cashews with some coconut oil thrown in.  All of these things have wonderful health benefits too.  One tablespoon of Healthy Top is 50 calories so it’s not that bad for you overall, which is good, because I’ve been liberally sampling it since I made my batch to try.  The company’s website is very informative and outlines their vision for their company.  It certainly seems that one priority for them is taste and I can vouch that there is something distinctly unique in how this whipped topping blends and compliments a variety of flavors.  I can honestly say this is the best non-dairy, non-soy, gluten-free whipped product I’ve ever had.  It’s a lot of fun and I feel like there’s a lot you can do with it.  

Check out the website for other flavors, products and more info: www.mimiccreme.com

Taste:  Thick, creamy consistency with a nutty vanilla flavor

Labeling: descriptive easy to read label

Packaging: one time use carton

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:          3       

OVERALL:    4

Reviewed by Krisztina L

Gluten Free Cake: Jennie's Gluten Free Bakery Pound Cake Mini's - Product Review

Gluten Free Cake: Jennie's Gluten Free Bakery Pound Cake Mini's

PRODUCT NAME:                    Pound Cake Mini’s

BRAND:                                   Jennies Gluten-Free Bakery

COST:                                     $4.78         

SIZE:                                       7 oz. (5 cakes)

COST PER OZ:                        $0.68

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:      YES

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:       GFCO

ORGANIC:                               NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:       NA

VEGAN:                                   NO

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:        YES

LOCATION OF FACILITY:         Pennsylvania

SHELF LIFE:                            2 Months          

*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:

This week I am reviewing Jennies Gluten Free Bakery Pound Cake mini’s.  Pound cake is one of those foods where I am never quite sure what it is and I feel like it falls into a wide range of what it could be.  Perhaps that’s just me.  I know that whatever it is, I love it.  It’s moist, sweet, and tasty.  I do a fair amount of gluten free baking myself and I know first hand how it’s tough to recreate anything that is made with regular flour.  Yet, it is possible to get a flavor that is pretty close to the original recipe and sometimes even better.  Event so, I went into this sampling optimistically knowing that whatever happened within my first bite, there was absolutely nothing that drenching in rum, whipped cream and berries couldn’t fix!

Gluten Free muffins can sometimes be a little tricky to make.  The flour is different and can sometimes be tough to work with.  It looks like this challenge has plagued this muffin.  After sampling a few of the muffins, I noticed inconsistency within the box.  All was not lost though, because there is always a remedy.  The first one I sampled was dried out a bit and while it could’ve been saved with a drizzle of honey and whipped cream, it couldn’t have held up on its own at all.  The second one I sampled was perfect.  It was light, spongy, squishy and soft with enough bounce-back when you touched it.  It could’ve easily accompanied an afternoon tea or a morning coffee all on its own.  The third one I opened just to see which one it would be, too hard, just right or is this one going to be more of a momma bear, somewhere in the middle.  And you guessed, it, it was somewhere in the middle.

While I really enjoyed the one that was just right, just what I wanted this little tea-sized pound cake to be, the quality of the other two left me a little wanting.  Still, I think this could easily be amended by adding a bit of flair to these otherwise plain cakes, which is pretty much what pound cake begs for anyway, gluten free or not.  So, my recommendations would range from jam, marmalade, lemon curd, fresh fruit, whipped cream, crème freche, nutella, drizzle of honey (with some crumbled pistachios, almonds, whatever you fancy), splashed with a touch of Gran Marnier or Nivan, then topped with afore-mentioned tastiness or any number of other things you can think to put on top of cake.  All in all, I think this is a decent product and one that if you are in a pinch and need some kind of dessert for guests or a party favor, could be dressed up fancy enough to hide the imperfections of the taste.  I think they would be perfect in trifle and pudding recipes too, where they would soak in the ingredients well and take on the flavors of its surroundings.

Nutrition Facts

Each one of these little cakes, which are roughly the size of two or three fingers put together depending of course how large your fingers are, is 130 calories.  Ouch.  But obviously, let’s keep in mind this is cake, not health food and you would want to eat these every day.  The upside is that it is not only gluten free, but dairy, soy, peanut and casein free so it’ll work for a majority of your food allergy conscious dinner guests. 

Taste:  Depends on each cake: can vary from soft, spongy, perfect cake texture, to more condensed that does not hold up without some kind of topping camouflage

Labeling:  homogenous coloring on package, nothing really jumps out and says, “buy me”

Packaging:  cardboard box with plastic container.  Each cake is individually wrapped in plastic as well.

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:                 3                             

Taste:                     2.5                         

Value:                    3             

OVERALL:              2.8         

Reviewed by Krisztina 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 Bagels: Udi's Whole Grain Bagels - Product Review #77

Gluten Free Bagels: Udi's Whole Grain Bagels

PRODUCT NAME:                    Whole Grain Bagel

BRAND:                                   Udi’s Gluten Free Foods

COST:                                     $6.00

SIZE:                                       4 Bagels (14oz)

COST PER BAGEL:                  $1.50

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:      YES

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:       GFCO

ORGANIC:                               NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:       N/A

VEGAN:                                   NO

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:        YES

LOCATION OF FACILITY:        COLORADO

*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 have tried Udi’s Cinnamon Raisin Bagels in the past and we loved them, so when we got a chance to try their Whole Grain variety, we jumped at the chance.  Last time, we went with the sweet so this time we decided to go with savory.  It was a nice sunny day so we decided that we would have lunch by the water.  The perfect lunch to go along with the view was open faced bagel sandwiches using toasted Udi’s Gluten Free Whole Grain Bagels, fresh cream cheese, sliced pork tenderloin and green onions sautéed with garlic.  Everything went together perfectly. 

Udi’s bagels are great.  They have the perfect texture because they have a similar texture to a regular bagel, firm and chewy, but with an even lighter texture.  We received these bagels last week and because we couldn’t get to them right away, we decided to freeze them.  Even after being frozen for about a week, after a quick toast they came out tasting fresh.  These bagels worked especially well for a sandwich because they are firm and can hold piles of toppings.  Bite into the sandwich and you have the perfect balance of textures.  The sandwich was delicious and filling. 

When we wrote our review for Udi’s Cinnamon Raisin Bagel, I expressed concern about the nutrition facts because I thought that the sodium, calorie and fat content were a little high.  Unfortunately I had the same concern with this bagel.  I know these bagels are whole grain and whole grain is supposed to be good for you, but with 280 calories, 9 grams of fat, and 470 milligrams of sodium, these whole grain bagels have even higher fat and sodium content than the Cinnamon Raisin Bagels.  Despite this, I wouldn’t say that these bagels are unhealthy to eat. It just means that you have to pay attention to what you are eating so you can plan your day’s meal accordingly to ensure that you don’t go over your recommended daily values.  It would be a shame to miss out on these delicious bagels because Udi’s makes the best bagels I’ve ever had, this includes regular bagels that contain gluten.

Ingredients for Udi's Whole Grain Bagels

Overall, we really enjoyed Udi’s Bagels.  They are delicious and have one of the best textures I’ve ever had in a bagel.  You get the best of both worlds; the firmness and chewiness we’ve come to expect from a bagel but with a lighter texture that makes chewing this bagel not such a workout.

Nutrition facts for Udi's Whole Grain Bagels

Taste: This bagel has a great texture.  It is chewy and firm like a regular bagel, but lighter.  Toast these up and make a sandwich for a great lunch.

Labeling:  The labeling on this packaging is very simple and strait forward, everything you need to know is stamped right on the front.  Gluten free, dairy free, soy free, nut free, whole grain, certified gluten free, and kosher, it’s all there on the front.    

Packaging:  You will find your normal bagel packaging here.  It is the typical plastic bag with the bag tie ring to seal it up.  If you decide to freeze these bagels, you might want to put them in a freezer safe resealable bag. 

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 022311 by Calvin C

Weekend Special Edition: Detox/Cleansing Diet (Part 2/3)

Today’s special edition post is a follow-up to our previous post regarding the “Detox Workshop” offered by Anne Angelone (M.S., LaC) which I (RS) participated in.

I must say… WOW! In just a short period of one hour we learned a wealth of practical and relevant strategies to better understand what our body is trying to tell us. Anne provided each participant with a “Metabolic Assessment Form” in which you answer on a scale of 1-3 whether you experience particular symptoms (ex: Get lightheaded if meals are missed, unexplained itchy skin, etc.). There are about 150 different items to rate which are broken down into 17 categories. High scores in each category reveal evidence of particular conditions (ex: Hypoglycemia, Hyperacidity, adrenal conditions, etc.).

We even learned the basics of eastern medicine’s “tongue reading” and each had a chance to learn what our tongues were trying to tell us. The tongue serves as a diagnostic map which, at least in my particular case, was in-line with what other doctors and lab tests have been saying thus far.

A very interesting fact which I personally took away from the class is that the existence of a food allergy could have all along been the reason why I constantly felt like I was over-heating and always had extreme difficulty in hot weather. During the workshop, the light-bulb went off that ever since I have been gluten-free, I have actually begun to feel cold just like everyone else.

Following this class, I embarked on my “10-Day Detox” diet and am currently on it. The idea behind the 10-day diet is to eliminate as many known types of allergens as possible. Even if you don’t think you are allergic to them, you eliminate them during the ten days. This should, in theory, give the gut a break from inflammation/irritation and thus give it a chance to begin healing. So for these ten days, not only will I be gluten free, but here are some examples of what else I will be avoiding:

-       Soy

-       Corn

-       White rice

-       Diary / eggs

-       Peanut

-       Tofu

-       Refined sugars

-       Artificial coloring, flavoring, sweeteners

-       Caffeine

-       Certain fruit: grapefruit, oranges, banana, pineapple, watermelon

-       “Nightshade vegetables” (tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant, bell peppers)

-       Any non-organic chicken or beef (which by the way must be grass-fed, not corn fed)

So there go all my current gluten-free alternatives! Back to the drawing board we go. She did provide some wonderful recipes that I look forward to trying. Organic meats, quinoa, and brown rice will be my new best friends for these 10 days.

Sounds disconcerting, but she is giving us a lot of resources so we can still maintain a healthy balanced diet and get all the nutrients we need. She is even giving us restaurant and café recommendations that can accommodate our diet!

I welcome the change in eating routine and I really hope to see some of the results some of her previous patients have seen:

-       Better digestion and elimination

-       Fewer symptoms of Chronic Illness

-       Improved Concentration, Mental Focus and Clarity

-       Improved Mood

-       Increased Energy

-       Less congestion and fewer allergic symptoms

-       Less joint pain

-       Increased sense of relaxation

-       Enhanced sleep

As I mentioned, I will be posting the results of my 10-day Detox diet in part 3 of the “Detox/Cleansing Diet” posts. In the meantime, if you’d like to find out more about what Anne does, you can visit her website at http://www.expandingqi.com/. She not only does in-person consultations, but also does phone, email, and Skype sessions with her patients

If the 10-day diet proves to be a success for me, we are going to see if we can work with her to offer this same workshop via Skype so that our interested readers from around the globe can take advantage of the opportunity.

Stay tuned till next time where I will share my experiences through the 10-Day Detox Diet.

Gluten Free Bagels: Udi's Cinnamon Raisin Bagels - Product Review #53

Gluten Free Bagels: Udi's Cinnamon Raisin Bagels

PRODUCT NAME:                   Cinnamon Raisin Bagel

BRAND:                                 Udi’s Gluten Free Foods

COST:                                   $6.83

SIZE:                                     4 Bagels (14oz)

COST PER BAGEL:                $1.70

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:     YES

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:      GFCO

ORGANIC:                               NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:       N/A

VEGAN:                                   NO

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:        YES

LOCATION OF FACILITY:         COLORADO

*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:
Every time I search for gluten free bread, one name always comes up…Udi’s. Udi’s Gluten Free Foods out of Denver, CO has been making gluten free breads for several years out of the dedicated gluten free facility. It all started when a friend of Udi’s Certified Master Baker asked him if he could bake some gluten free bread. At that time, there were very few options of good-tasting gluten free bread. The rest is history. Udi’s Gluten Free Foods now has product in over 3500 stores in all U.S. states and in Canada. It’s with good reason too.

I got a hold of Udi’s Gluten Free Foods Cinnamon Raisin Bagels and decided to give them a try. Open up the bag and you will immediately get the sweet aroma of cinnamon and raisins. I prefer my bagels toasted so that is what I did with this one. I didn’t try it untoasted, but I will say, that this bagel tastes great toasted. The texture is not much different than regular bagels, but it is a little lighter. I would say this is an improvement over regular bagels. It’s not as tough to chew. Overall it had a nice slightly sweet flavor that I really enjoyed.

One thing that did scare me about these bagels is the nutrition facts. I compared the numbers with that of a regular cinnamon raisin bagel and the sodium count, calorie count and total fat were all on the high side at 450mg, 280 and 8g respectively. This just goes to show you that gluten free doesn’t always mean that it is automatically good for you. So if you do decide to eat this bagel, you might want to make sure you plan your remaining meals accordingly.

Taste: Great taste with a nice light texture. It is just a little lighter than a regular bagel, which I think is a good thing.

Labeling: Very simple labeling on these bagels. The fact that they are gluten free, dairy free, soy free and nut free are highlighted within circles right on the front of the package.

Packaging: You will find your normal bagel packaging here. It is the typical plastic bag with the bag tie ring to seal it up. If you decide to freeze these bagels, you might want to put them in a freezer safe resealable bag.

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 012011 by CC

Weekend Special Edition: Detox/Cleansing Diet (Part 1/3)

Hello readers! This is RS bringing you our first special edition health post…”Detox Diet”.  About 5 months ago, I discovered, through endless research and exploration of my chronic symptoms, that I am gluten intolerant. It was not through the endless doctors that I visited in hopes of obtaining at least a hint as to what was going on with me, but instead was through my wife’s nursing school classmate whose description of her prior symptoms resonated with my own. She was gluten intolerant, and changing her diet made all the difference in her life. I set sail on my gluten-free journey and it is with the support of our team over here that I have found a wealth of products that make it possible.

I know there are many out there who’ve had similar experiences in which after endless doctor visits and consultation with specialists they feel no closer to determining the cause of their ailment. This was the case for me and boy do I wish I had met Anne Angelone (M.S, LaC) earlier! As you may recall, Anne was a guest at our studio back in December and she brought us the “Kaia Foods Sea Salt and Vinegar Kale Chips” for us to review. Not only has Anne proven to be an excellent resource for products to try, but her practice here in San Francisco deals with the very nature of our community’s health challenge… food sensitivities!

In our commitment to support our local vendors and healthcare practitioners, I have begun a treatment program with Anne and in the process of reviewing my experiences with her, I hope to provide you, our readers, with what I have found to be inspiration and hope for restoring balance in my health.

Anne’s acupuncture practice is no ordinary practice. She actually focuses on allergens and the foods that cause inflammation and the domino effect which follows… what I think of as a holistic approach. In addition to her regular practice (which I have now started and am absolutely inspired by!), Anne also offers monthly “Detox” workshops.

In these workshops, Anne takes people through the Chinese medicine philosophies and a structured analysis, through a series of health-related questions, to connect physical/mental manifestations with the underlying cause. Here is an excerpt from Anne’s workshop posting:

10 Day Detox with Real Food:
Learn tools to master:•    Better digestion and elimination
•    Fewer symptoms of Chronic Illness
•    Improved Concentration, Mental Focus and Clarity
•    Improved Mood
•    Increased Energy
•    Less congestion and fewer allergic symptoms
•    Less joint pain
•    Increased sense of relaxation
•    Great sleep

Sounds great to me!! I experience each of the items above so I am really excited about something which could potentially help. So I’ve signed up for this weekend’s workshop. But I’ve heard of these types of diet programs before and usually sound great but are unrealistic. However, what I like about this one is the fact that it is only 10 days, a reasonable $25, and you continue to eat REAL food… sounds like something I might actually be able to stick with and make it through! We will see…

Next weekend, I will post a recap and review of the workshop in which I will describe what I have learned and what my journey through the 10-day program will involve. The weekend following that, I will post how I feel after the 10-day program and whether I was able to complete it as she describes.