Laura's Wholesome Junk Food (GF,V)

(www.lauraswholesomejunkfood.com)

These tasty snacks are made by a real M.D.! Dr. Laura Trice sells several flavors of her wholesome snacks - not all are gluten-free, so make sure you read the label carefully. The gluten-free flavors have a green circle on them that says "This flavor's gluten free". I recently tried the Cashew Chocolate Chip Bite-lettes, which are delicious! I found this tasty treat at Whole Foods - they have a list of stores by state on their website.

I also enjoy that the bite-lettes are no bigger than an inch in diameter. Their small size is perfect to satisfy a sweet craving with one or two bite-lettes without going overboard - they also last much longer that way! For a fresh, homemade taste, put them in the microwave for about 10 seconds.

What makes them so wholesome?

• All Natural
• Gluten-Free
• Vegan
  
• No Hydrogenated Oils
  
• No Trans Fats
• No Artificial Colors
• No Preservatives
• Cholesterol Free

Ingredients:
Cashew butter (roasted cashews and safflower oil), rice flour, chocolate chips (dehydrated cane juice, unsweetened chocolate, cocoa butter, soy lecithin, and vanilla), dates, fruit juice, natural grain dextrins (from rice), evaporated cane juice, water, 100% expeller pressed Canola oil and/or 100% expeller pressed Sunflower oil, non-GMO soy powder, sea salt, vanilla and nonaluminum baking powder (cornstarch, sodium bicarbonate, monocalcium phosphate).

Delightful Betty Crocker Brownie Mix (GF, V)

The Betty Crocker Gluten Free Brownie Mix is scrumptious! I am munching into a delightful chocolate square right now and I cannot tell a difference between this and the original mix.

The box specifies different bake times depending on your pan size. I would recommend the smaller pan (8" x 8") since the batter ends up being very thick, but not enough to fill the larger pans. The mix itself is both gluten-free and vegan, so vegans can use this as a base and then use their egg replacers and butter substitutes to make brownies. It may be a bit of an experiment, but I imagine it could be quite tasty with a little extra effort.

The ingredients are as follows:
Sugar, Semi-sweet Chocolate Chips (sugar, chocolate liquor, cocoa butter, soy lecithin, vanilla), Cocoa Processed with Alkali, Rice Flour, Potato Starch, Corn Starch, Xanthan Gum, Salt.
Note: contains soy ingredients

As for the eggs and butter that the recipe calls for, I recommend Organic Valley butter (or other organic butter) and Giving Nature organic eggs. Giving Nature eggs are organic, cage-free, and humane certified (meaning that the hens are not only cage free, but also have the ability to engage in natural activities and guaranteed ample room and gentle handling). I get my Giving Nature eggs at Whole Foods; if you cannot find them at your grocer, look for the Certified Humane logo on the other eggs they sell.

Thank you to Betty Crocker for expanding the tasty line of treats to the gluten-free folks with a sweet tooth! Other available mixes include: yellow cake, devil's food cake, and chocolate chip cookies.

Erewhon Organic Crispy Brown Rice Cereal (O,V,GF,SF)

Erewhon Organic Crispy Brown Rice - Just Like Rice Krispies!

Allergens: Gluten-Free, Organic, Soy-Free, Vegan

Review
I originally bought some of this cereal as a granola replacement in my yogurt. Many gluten-free cereals that I have found do not make the tastiest cereal, so I prefer to add it as a yogurt topping instead. To my delight, I found that this cereal is actually good and very comparable to Rice Krispies. It even has that snap-crackle-pop that I grew up loving as a kid! I would recommend this with soy milk (or coconut milk for soy-free folks) and bananas. If you want to sweeten it up, swirl a little honey (or agave nectar for vegans) on the top before pouring your milk.

For more information about the nutritional facts of this product and other company information, visit the website: http://www.usmillsllc.com/usmills/productview_description.php?id=143&back=BisPIQFxCDQEbgRuBW8Cc1N6A3FXYwo9ACFQYQRqUi4GdAk6WikGaAJjDHhRNlE9WjgGOlIy

Organic Raw Kombucha Tea (v,o,sf,gf)

Kombucha: a New & Refreshing Beverage Sensation

Allergen Info: vegan, soy-free, organic, gluten-free

Health Benefits: supports digestion, metabolism, immune system, appetite control, weight control, liver function, body alkalinity, anti-aging, cell integrity, and healthy skin & hair

Product Information:
Kombucha is a handmade Chinese tea that is cultured/fermented for 30 days. This process enables essential nutrients to form, including active enzymes, viable probiotics, amino acids, antioxidants, and polyphenols. The fermentation process may also result in less than 0.5% alcohol content.

The GT's company that makes Kombucha says that these nutrients combine to "create an elixir that immediately works with the body to restore balance and vitality". GT began selling the tea after it helped his mother who was diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer. For more information, visit the website: www.GTSkombucha.com

PRODUCT REVIEW:
The eye-catching packaging and list of health benefits are what inspired us to pick up the first bottle of Kombucha (Organic Raw in Original flavor) from our local Wegmans. Upon first sip, I was caught off-guard by the sparkling sensation on my tongue. There are bubbles in there! It immediately reminded me of a sparkling asian pear alcohol that I used to drink, and I was an immediate fan. I realized that my asian alcohol was probably created in much the same way that this tea is, but the fermentation process of the tea is cut short so no more than 0.5% alcohol is in the beverage. It is unlike any other tea drink I have every tried. In addition to the effervecent kick, it is tart and a bit like light apple cider vinegar. I will say that this may be an acquired taste for some. It is certainly a fun drink - it must be cold and is probably best enjoyed by sipping, since the bubbles inhibit any urge to gulp the bottle down.

There are other flavors available, and although I was a quick fan of the Original flavor, the Multi-Green that we purchased the subsequent day was more than my palate could handle. I have never been a fan of spirulina, so the multi-green and I were bound not to get along. However, this flavor is undoubtedly healthy for you, so if you are a spirulina and algae fan, I encourage you to give it a shot. As for me, I think I will stick to the less green options like the cranberry Synergy drink that has 5% fruit juice mixed in.

I found the company website to be very interesting and informative, and I would encourage you to visit it and learn more. I found it interesting that the tea is really "living" and because of that, each bottle is unique. The flavor and sparkle from one bottle to the next can differ, making it an adventure each time you open a bottle. There may also be "floaters" in your drink - but don't freak out - they are healthy for you and a sign that your bottle is very much alive and ready to help you get balanced! Although I have not used this for appetite suppression or weight control, the company does say that adding the tea to a meal could decrease hunger, or you could use it to replace a meal altogether, enabling you to feel satisfied and balanced without feeling like you are starving.

I am thoroughly enjoying my Kombucha tea and the wonderful and immediate effect it seems to have on my body. After each sip, I feel a bit more alert and refreshed. This may be attributed to sparkling bubbles, or the tea's ability to restore my vitality and balance as the company says, either way I like it. I am very pleased to find such a unique item on the shelves of my local Wegmans. I encourage you to pick one up and experience the new and unique sensation that Kombucha has added to the beverage aisle.