Udi's Maple Pecan Chocolate Chip Cookies

Udi's sent me their Maple Pecan Chocolate Chip Cookies this summer, but my husband and I anxiously waited until fall to try them as Maple Pecan seemed more of a fall flavor than a summer flavor. I smelled maple as soon as I opened the bag; definitely a fall/winter cookie to someone like me who defines seasons more on flavors than the weather.

With a strong maple and pecan flavor, these cookies are the perfect fall cookie. They are soft and moist, and just a tad bit crumbly. I wasn't sure how maple would pair with chocolate, but we found that maple and pecan flavors pair quite well with chocolate chips.

 

Disclaimer: Udi’s provided the product for me to review. However, my review and opinions written above are my own.

Udi's Gluten Free Tortillas

 

When Udi's sent me an awesome package of their gluten free foods to sample in June, I was excited to learn that Udi's had gluten-free four tortillas. I love corn tortillas, but definitely miss flour tortillas. I was super excited to try Udi's tortillas and had high expectations for them since all of the other products I've tried from Udi's taste As Good As Gluten.

Unfortunately, Udi's tortillas didn't meet my expectations. They crumbled as I tried to turn my Santa Fe Chicken into a burrito and as I tried to make a peanut butter-banana roll-up snack. You can see in the (bad) picture above that I'm holing my Santa Fe Chicken burrito together with toothpicks (I ended up eating it with a knife and fork). The good news is that the flavor tasted just like a flour tortilla should taste. Like other Udi's products, there was no funky gluten free aftertaste.

Someone please tell me that this is an anomaly. Someone please tell me that I somehow messed up the tortillas by freezing them and then thawing them in the fridge before I used them. I love and trust Udi's products so much, that I will be trying these again before I give up on them.


Disclaimer: Udi’s provided the product for me to review. However, my review and opinions written above are my own.

Udi's Gluten-Free "On-the-Go" Sampler

I'm in love with Udi's; they made my day once again when my husband texted me this picture letting me know another box of Udi's goodies arrived at our house! I was having a hectic day at work that day, and this picture instantly brightened my day. It's the little things in life that always do.

The theme of the Udi's sampler pack is "Gluten-Free and On-the-Go." I travel a lot, for business and pleasure. I'm a prepared travel, bringing gluten-free snacks from home and researching restaurants nearby before I leave. When I'm not traveling, I'm often on-the-go in my day-to-day life. I make time for seated meals, but I always snack in between meals to keep me going throughout the day. My snacks are typically when I'm on-the-go, usually in-between meetings at work or plans with friends and family on nights and weekends, so this sampler pack from Udi's fit my busy lifestyle perfectly!

Below is a recap with my honest opinions of all of the "on-the-go" gluten-free goodies Udi's sent me. I just got the package a week and a half ago, so I haven't had a chance to try everything yet. I'll post more over the next few months as I get a chance to try everything.

Gluten Free Sandwich Bread - White Sandwich and Cinnamon Raisin.

I've posted a lot of recipes and reviews of Udi's bread before. I absolutely love it - it tastes As Good As Gluten and I love all of the varieties. This summer I've been enjoying sandwiches as quick lunches or snacks on busy days. I have cucumbers out the wazoo in my garden, so I've been enjoying Cucumber and Herbed Cream Cheese sandwiches or Cucumber and Red Pepper Hummus sandwiches on Udi's White Sandwich bread. The Cinnamon Raisin bread is perfect for a quick snack or breakfast when toasted and buttered.

Gluten Free Muffins - Double Vanilla and Harvest Crunch

I first tried Udi's Double Vanilla Muffins when they sent them to me earlier this summer. They're sweet and I love incorporating them into dessert in place of pound cake. This is the first time I tried the Harvest Crunch Muffins. I grabbed one with a glass of milk for a fast, tasty, and nutritious breakfast after my morning workout before leaving for work. I prefer sweet muffins, so I wasn't sure if I was going to like these muffins. To my delight, the orange zest in the Harvest Crunch Muffins perfectly complements the cranberries, sweet potato, quinoa, and pepitas to give these savory muffins a touch of sweetness. I absolutely love these muffins!

 

Gluten Free Cookies & Brownies - Dark Chocolate Brownies, Maple Pecan Chocolate Chip Cookies, and Salted Caramel Cashew Cookies

I have a major sweet tooth, so I was so excited when I saw these cookies and brownies! I learned about the Brownies when Udi's sent them to me earlier this summer, but I didn't get around to trying them until now. As a self-proclaimed chocoholic sweet-tooth, I had high expectations for the Brownie Bites. Unfortunately, they fell flat. The brownies had good texture, but were dry and bitter. Maybe they are supposed to be bitter because they are dark chocolate? Don't get me wrong, they were still good and I had no problem finishing them crushed up in a bowl of Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream! In fact, the Brownies were perfect in a bowl of ice cream.
 

I had no idea Udi's had shelf-stable cookies in such decadent flavors until they arrived in my sampler pack. I haven't gotten around to trying them yet, but I'm sure I will soon as my husband asks about them daily (and he's usually not too anxious to try gluten free goodies).

 

Gluten Free Granola - Vanilla Granola and Blueberry Cashew Clusters

This is the first time I tried Udi's granola products. The Vanilla Granola consists of crunchy almonds and oats flavored with sweet vanilla and wildflower honey. I love the Vanilla Granola with skim milk or almond milk for a quick breakfast. The Vanilla Granola is also an easy and tasty on-the-go snack by itself. The Blueberry Cashew Clusters are crunchy and sweet from honey and blueberries. They will definitely be packed in my carry-on later this week when I travel for work.

 

Gluten Free Granola Bars - Chocolate Chip and Cranberry Almond

I saw these granola bars online last month and couldn't wait to try them. I haven't had a chance to buy them yet, so I was super excited they showed up in my sampler pack. I've posted before that granola bars are my daily breakfast with a glass of milk as I commute during the workweek. I was hoping Udi's granola bars would be making their way into my breakfast rotation, but unfortunately only one variety will be. The Chocolate Chip Bar lacked sweetness and flavor, only had about 10 mini chocolate chips in it, and the texture was confusing - hard and crunchy in some bites but soft and chewy in others. The Cranberry Almond Bar was actually my favorite of the two. The texture was soft and chewy and the flavor was sweet with the cranberries. It will be a regular in my breakfast rotation.

 

Gluten Free Ancient Grain Crisps - Simply Sea Salt and Aged Cheddar

I tried the Aged Cheddar Crisps earlier this summer at my parents' house. The bag quickly disappeared because they are delicious. Definitely my new favorite 'chip.' They're crispy, crunchy, and loaded with cheddar cheese flavor. The Sea Salt Crisps are just as good as the Cheddar - crisp with a hint of sea salt flavor. While everything I tried is easy for on-the-go, these crisps are best for on-the-go snacking - easy, tasty, and not messy.

And if all this wasn't enough, Udi's threw in a cute reusable grocery bag and coupons for free products. Thank you Udi's for making the best gluten-free products out there (including plenty to fit a busy lifestyle) and allowing me to share them with my readers!

Disclaimer: Udi’s provided the product for me to review. However, my review and opinions written above are my own.

Hummus Pizza

Hummus Pizza is my new favorite summer pizza. If these Mediterranean pizza toppings sound whacky, you can rest assured that it’s a tasty change from traditional Italian pizza toppings as my traditional-food-loving-husband said as I was preparing Hummus Pizza, “I was going to say ‘eww,’ but the last thing you made with hummus was pretty good.”  He was hesitant to try the pizza, but after a bite from one of my slices he asked for another bite and another before I stopped sharing and he got his own. Hummus Pizza tastes fresh, savory from the hummus and chicken, and a touch sweet from the fresh onions and basil from our garden.

Hummus Pizza

Ingredients:

·1 Udi’s Gluten Free Pizza Crust
·¾ cup red pepper hummus
·½ cup cooked grilled chicken, chopped

·½ small onion, chopped
·½ green pepper, chopped
·½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
·Handful of fresh basil, chopped

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375°. Spread hummus on top of pizza crust. Top with chicken, onion, pepper, and cheese. Sprinkle fresh basil on top. Cook for 10 minutes on a pizza stone, or until crust and cheese begins to brown.

Disclaimer: Udi’s provided the product for me to review. However, my review and opinions written above are my own.

Udi’s Gluten Free Foods Sampler Review and UDI-Q

I was so excited when Udi's contacted me a few weeks ago inviting me to participate in a UDI-Q. They sent me this amazing sampler box of their products two weeks ago. I was in gluten free heaven when I opened this package! I hosted a UDI-Q (get the play on BBQ?!) with family last weekend to get our honest opinions on Udi's Gluten Free Burger Buns and Hot Dog Buns.

There were six family members at our cookout, and five were gluten free. My husband was the odd-ball out this time with a gluten bun while the rest of us enjoyed our Udi’s gluten free buns. We absolutely stuffed ourselves as we wanted to try everything. We had my husband’s famous burgers, brats, chicken sausage, grilled peppers and onions, grilled mushrooms and onions, Mom’s homemade cucumber pickles, little smokies, and cauliflower. For dessert, we had Udi’s Chocolate Chip cookies, Udi’s Snickerdoodle cookies, and Grilled Peaches with Honey and French Vanilla Ice Cream.

 

All of the food was great and the Udi’s buns were well-liked by all. More of our honest opinions are below. As if the UDI-Q wasn’t enough, I sent home plenty of food with everyone and coupons for free Udi’s products of their choice. Thank you, Udi’s for making this cookout a gluten free success!

Here’s a recap of everything Udi’s sent me and my opinions of everything I’ve had a chance to try. I’ll post more over the next few months as I get a chance to try everything. As you know, I've posted about my love for Udi's and reviews of their products many times in the past, which I've also linked up below.
 

 

Buns: Whole Grain Hamburger, Classic Hamburger, and Classic Hotdog

I first tried the Classic Hamburger Buns and Classic Hotdog Buns in 2011 when they first came out. I was so excited for buns, but was a little disappointed as they seemed like too much bun for me. I think part of this was the bun, but part of it was also me not being used to eating a bun. Now, I love the Hamburger Buns – both Whole Grain and Classic. My trick to enjoying a full bun is to butter the bun and grill it to serve it toasted. I also put a saucy and juicy burger on top, which helps avoid what I perceive as “too much bun.” Everyone at the cookout enjoyed both varieties of the hamburger buns.

While the Hotdog Buns are great, a few of us at the cookout thought they were too thick – which makes it dry to eat. I compared the gluten-free hotdog bun to a gluten hotdog bun, and Udi’s buns are noticeably thicker. The flavor is still fantastic, and I’ll keep enjoying these buns.

 Cookies: Chocolate Chip, Snickerdoodles, and Dark Chocolate Brownie Bites

I have a major sweet tooth, so I was excited to try Udi’s gluten free cookies for the first time. My family and I all loved the Chocolate Chip and Snickerdoodle cookies at our UDI-Q. They were soft and chewy, with no funky gluten-free aftertaste. They definitely taste As Good As Gluten – like the gluten versions of the cookies. I even found my husband sneaking Snickerdoodle cookies. They were so good, not even he could resist! I haven’t tried the Dark Chocolate Brownie Bites yet, but they look decadent.

 Pizza Crust

Udi’s Pizza Crust was one of the first gluten free products I reviewed when I started my blog back in October 2010. It’s been awhile since I’ve had the crust, so I was excited to try it again. I made a Caprese Pizza by drizzling extra virgin olive oil on the crust then topping with pesto, fresh sliced tomatoes, sliced mushrooms, mozzarella cheese, and basil. I cooked according to the package directions. This pizza turned out great. The flavors were fresh and the crust was crunchy. Yum!

 Muffins: Blueberry and Double Vanilla

I first tried Udi’s Blueberry Muffins 2 years ago. I absolutely loved it and it still tastes just as good as I remember – sweet with a slightly springy/airy texture. I’ve never had a Double Vanilla muffin before, so this was a new muffin variety for me. The Double Vanilla muffin is delicious, but a little on the dry side for me. This was no problem as I enjoyed with a glass of milk. After my first muffin, I thought it would be great as a base for strawberry shortcake. My husband must have read my mind because he ended up making the dessert below – Fruit Salad Muffin Sundae. It’s the perfect use for this sweet Double Vanilla muffin that reminded me of pound cake. All he did was slice an Udi’s Double Vanilla muffin in half, top with a scoop of French Vanilla ice cream and a homemade fruit salad. Delicious!

 

Bread: White Sandwich Bread, Millet-Chia Sandwich Bread

I love Udi’s Gluten-Free Bread and have been using it for years to make all kinds of sandwich varieties including grilled cheeses (Apple Cheddar, Jalapeno Cheddar, Patty Melts, and Pizza Grilled Cheese), PB&J, and lunch-meat sandwiches. I’ve tried the White Sandwich Bread before and love it just as much as I love my preferred variety – Whole Grain. I haven’t had a chance to try the Millet-Chia, but am looking forward to it.

Plain Tortillas: Small and Large

I had no idea that Udi’s had gluten-free flour tortillas. I’ve come to love corn tortillas over the years, but definitely miss a flour tortilla every once in a while. I’m so excited to try these tortillas and will let you know what yummy fillings I put inside.


What are your favorite Udi’s products? I can’t even begin to pick – I’m in love with them all! Thanks again, Udi’s!


Disclaimer: Udi’s provided the product for me to review. However, my review and opinions written above are my own.

Stubb's Bar-B-Q Sauces Review and Giveaway

I was thrilled when a representative from Stubb's Bar-B-Q Sauces contacted me to introduce their products and ask if I was interested in trying them by sponsoring a giveaway for my readers. After learning about their products, I was beyond excited to get the package in the mail and start trying Stubb’s Bar-B-Q products.

Now that warm weather has arrived, my husband and I love to grill out for dinner, attend cook-outs with family and friends, and use my husband’s new smoker. As I've mentioned on my blog before, my husband is a condiment-lover. I, on the other hand, have only recently stopped enjoying my plain-Jane foods (burgers, salads, hot dogs – all plain) and now enjoy condiments. But, I'm picky with my condiments. In addition to using gluten free condiments, I prefer to buy condiments that are free of high fructose corn syrup and other artificial ingredients. For as much condiments my husband consumes, this is key criteria.

Stubb's Legendary Bar-B-Q sauces, rubs, and marinades meet and exceed all of my criteria - on ingredients and taste! They are all natural, certified gluten-free, and contain no high fructose corn syrup. Don't worry, they do not lack flavor. Stubb's makes small batch sauces that retain their deep-rooted, authentic Texas tastes and barbecue cook-off credibility. Seriously, how did I not know about a way to add flavor to sandwiches, burgers, and grilled meats, fish, and veggies and avoiding fat, calories, gluten, and artificial flavors, sweeteners, colors, or preservatives that are often found in the condiment aisle? You can find more information on Stubb’s products at the end of this post.

Review:

Pictured above is the amazingly delicious and flavorful chicken my husband smoked last weekend for a family cookout. This trio of tender and juicy chicken was prepared using the Chicken Spice Rub on boneless chicken breasts, the Chicken Marinade on a whole chicken, and the Bar-B-Q Spice Rub on boneless chicken breasts. Mike applied the rubs and marinade the day before, and let it marinate overnight before smoking at 225° in an electric smoker for two and half hours.

The outcome was amazing – the flavor was phenomenal and we devoured the chicken. The chicken prepared with the Chicken Rub had flavor notes of honey, mustard, and turmeric. The chicken smoked with the Chicken Marinade was slightly sweet with flavors of citrus, garlic, and a hint of mustard. The Bar-B-Q Rub chicken had a smoky, Paprika flavor. It’s impossible for me to pick my favorite as they were all delicious.

We’re looking forward to trying the rest of the varieties Stubb’s sent me. I’ll be sure to share our recipes with you; I’m confident they will be delicious. I’m excited for grilling/smoking/BBQ season – my husband can enjoy his love of condiments and I can enjoy gluten-free condiments, while resting at ease knowing they are made with healthier ingredients I feel good about eating and serving others.

Giveaway:
Just in time for Bar-B-Q season, Stubb’s is giving away three free Stubb’s coupons to one lucky reader. To enter the giveaway, leave a comment on this post with your favorite thing to grill or eat at BBQs. When you enter your comment, please include your email address or a way for me to contact you if you win.

Congratulations, Dana! You are the winner of the Stubb's Bar-B-Q coupon giveaway!

Guidelines: Giveaway is open to U.S. residents only (sorry, international friends and readers). Giveaway will close on Monday, June 17. Winner will be notified by email and their name will be updated on this page. Winner has until June 21 to respond, or another winner will be chosen.

Product Overview:
Stubb's Bar-B-Q products are sold in 85% of grocery stores nationwide. Here's a product rundown:

Sauces: The line-up includes Original, Spicy, Hickory Bourbon, Sweet Heat, Smokey Mesquite and Honey Pecan. At an average of 20 calories, 110 mg. of sodium per tablespoon and no high fructose corn syrup (the #1 or #2 ingredient in most bbq sauces), Stubb’s is a healthier option on the condiment aisle with no sacrifice on taste. Stubb’s sauces can be enjoyed throughout the year on sandwiches, as a dipping sauce for proteins, or as a key ingredient in slow cooker creations.

Marinades: From light and tangy Chicken Marinade with brown sugar, onion, garlic and citrus, to zesty Beef Marinade, made with soy, lime, ginger and red pepper, Stubb’s adds interest to everyday cooking whether on the grill, in the skillet or the slow cooker.(Other flavors include Steakhouse and Pork marinades.) Stubb’s Injectable marinades inTexas Butter or Chipotle Butter, which have no fat and just 10 calories per tablespoon, come with their own injector and help create moist, flavorful roasted chicken or turkey, summer briskets, weeknight beef and pork roasts and more.

Rubs: Stubb’s savory spice blends in Bar-B-Q, Pork, Beef, Chicken and Steak can be used to prep meats for the grill or used to boost flavor and add a kick to any dish.


Disclaimer: Stubbs Bar-B-Q provided the product for me to review and is sponsoring the giveaway. However, my review and opinions written above are my own.

Balance Bar Dark Review and Giveaway

BalanceBar contacted me a few weeks ago to see if I’d like to try their newproduct line - BalanceBar Dark and share it with my readers. To be honest, I didn’t know muchabout Balance Bar before I was contacted; I researched the brand beforeagreeing to do this review and giveaway. After learning that the new line of Balance Bar Darkis certified gluten free, high in protein, and are made with decadent darkchocolate (my favorite), I decided itis a product I would definitely love to try and share with you.

AsI shared last week, breakfast/snack/nutrition bars are my go-to breakfast as I driveto work during the week. What interested me in trying Balance Bar Darkbars is that not only are they decadentand indulgent, but they are also healthy and meant to boost energy and satisfy hunger.The new Balance Bar Dark bars are high in protein, certified glutenfree, an excellent source of antioxidants (Vitamins A, C, E),certified kosher dairy and contain 4 grams of fiber per serving.

I also learned a new nutritionprinciple that all Balance Bars follow (including the new Dark line) –40-30-30. Balance Bar claims 40-30-30 is a proven formula developed byscientists to help stabilize blood sugar levels that represents the caloricratio the body needs to enjoy lasting balanced energy and satisfy hunger forlonger; 40% of total calories from carbs, 30% from quality protein and 30% fromdietary fat.

 

Review:
My husbandwas just as excited as I was to receive the box of goodies in the mail fromBalance Bar two weeks ago. He couldn’t wait to try Dark Chocolate Coconut, andI couldn’t wait to try Dark Chocolate Peanut. To my surprise, we both absolutely LOVED the Dark Chocolate Coconutbar. The flavor reminded me of German Chocolate Cake, and the texture wasgooey and crunchy – a perfect combination!

I alsoenjoyed the sweet and crunchy Dark Chocolate Crunch bar. I was disappointedwith the Dark Chocolate Peanut bar – it tasted stale and didn’t have enoughpeanut flavor for me (I’m a peanut butter-holic). If you are looking for abitter dark chocolate flavor, I didn’t pick up on it in these bars. Instead,they have a deliciously sweet dark chocolate flavor.

All threeof the bars did keep my hunger satisfied throughout the morning. I’m hooked onthe Dark Chocolate Coconut bars and already have them on my grocery list. I’llhave to “hide” them in the pantry from my husband, as I know they’ll disappearquickly between the both of u

Giveaway:

Just in time for Earth Month, BalanceBar Company, maker of one of America’s original nutrition bars, is excitedto share the new Balance Bar Dark line – the first nutrition bar line on themarket to bear the well-respected Rainforest Alliance Certified™ seal with one lucky reader. The line is availablein three flavors -Dark Chocolate Crunch,Dark Chocolate Coconut and Dark Chocolate Peanut.

To enter the Balance Bar Dark giveaway, you needto like and follow Balance Bar on Facebook & Twitter. Then, leave a comment on this post with the flavoryou are most excited to try. Be sure to include your email address in yourcomment so I can contact you if you win.

Guidelines: One winner per household, email address or home address. If youhave won this prize on another blog you are ineligible to win again. Giveawayis open to U.S. residents only (sorry, international friends and readers).Giveaway will close on April 18, 2013. Winner will be notified by email and their namewill be updated on this page. Winner has until April 23, 2013 to respond, or anotherwinner will be chosen.

Giveaway is closed. Congratulations Manda!

Disclaimer: Balance Bar provided the product forme to review and is sponsoring the giveaway. However, my review and opinionswritten above are my own.