Here I was, just checking my e-mail, when I stumbled upon one from a friend, tipping me off about a “new” business that makes certified organic, kosher, gluten-free, and vegan friendly snacks called Pure Sweets.  Even though I’m gluten-free, it’s always hard for me to imagine something tasting good that also contains no egg or dairy in it. WOW was I surprised! The array of goodies, ranging from trail mixes and crispy bars to flourless cookies and mini macaroons, made my mouth water.

That e-mail prompted me to contact Andrea Kyan of Pure Sweets, and before I knew it, I was pulling up to the front door of an old stone church built in 1872, nestled in East Falls (Philadelphia) at the corner of Krail and Indian Queen Lane. I was breathless.  The stained glass radiated on this sunny, spring day, and I felt a zing of adventure as I pulled open the heavy door and walked down a remodeled hallway to find Andrea herself and her amazing part-time employee stuffing boxes full of trail mix (that is also GLUTEN-FREE!) to send off.

Her warm, effervescent smile lured me in as she showed me around her small, organized, and efficient production space.  Not only was I getting a glimpse of her kitchen, but a bit of her soul.  Andrea is an energetic, driven, and creative young woman who has found her passion playing chemist in the kitchen instead of behind the closed doors of a lab.

Her journey to the kitchen is a winding one, beginning with her studies of Physiological Psychology and East Asian Studies at Smith College, to studying herbal medicines in China, to focusing on Buddhism in India.  Then she took a job teaching English in Taiwan before embarking on a journey of silent meditation in Burma.  Medicine was still in her blood, so she began a post-baccalaureate pre-med program at Bryn Mawr College, followed by work in HIV/AIDS research.  The research refocused her awareness of food as medicine, and so began her latest venture as the owner and creative chef behind Pure Sweets.  

I got to sample decadent cardamom and orange cookies.  Like the movie Water for Chocolate, Andrea has the unique ability to infuse her passion into her baking.  I could taste that passion with the subtle punch of this delicate cookie.  It was AMAZING, and I’m not usually one for fruity, Indian spices for dessert.

Like the name claims, these “Pure Sweets” are made with the highest quality ingredients, which I can attest to, as Andrea let my fingers linger across her raw ingredients, reading labels which only had one ingredient in them, i.e. almonds, and telling me the processing story behind each ingredient, for example, how and where her cocoa is harvested.  The base of her treats might also come from fruits and vegetables like beets, sweet potatoes, and berries, to nuts and seeds, to spices and sweeteners like lavender, dark chocolate, and maple syrup (just to list a few).  Every ingredient that she showed me comes from as close to its origin as possible, and it is 100% gluten-free.

After giving Andrea a bottle of my homemade vanilla extract, and learning that she took a trip out to California to learn how to make fruit preserves, I promised to invite her fruit picking and preserving with me this summer.  I let her return to filling boxes as I collected my samples to take on the road with me.

Once home, I was anxious to rip open my box of cookies, but I didn’t think it would be fun to sample them alone.  Instead, I put them in my freezer as Andrea suggested, waiting for the perfect moment, which came almost a week later when the occupants of my household grew from me to a few friends, my parents, and a few kids.  From the flourless cookie category we sample The Kitty, The Frog, The Dingo, The Ape, and The Panther.  We also sampled mini macaroons called The Owl and The Poodle.  We couldn’t get enough and were completely spoiling our dinner with a 5 o’clock snack.

Here are our top three favorites:

1. The Dingo – As described in Pure Sweets’ 2012 Menu: “Roam wild with a rustic almond butter cookie dipped in dark chocolate.”  This soft cookie had a shortbread-like taste and texture made of almond butter. The dark chocolate rim softened the sweetness of the cookie.  I personally am not a dark chocolate person, but LOVED the cookie itself.  It was everyone’s favorite with such an unusual flavor that we thought we’d make a trip to Pure Sweets just for this one. We wondered how this cookie would do with a white chocolate rim as well.
2. The Owl – As described by Pure Sweets: “Hoot away with chocolate dipped vanilla bean macaroons topped with salted almonds.”  This moist macaroon was like eating a gourmet Almond Joy.  The smooth chocolate bottom gave way to a textured coconut taste.  This was superior to any store-bought or other macaroon I have ever eaten.  The salted almond on top added just the right amount of salt to the sweet.  We were also wondering what the macaroon might look like if it had the salted almond pieces uniformly through it.
3. The Kitty – As described by Pure Sweets: “Strike an attitude with orange cardamom cookies ideal with tea.”  The orange essence mixed with cardamom gave way to a subtly sweet flavor. I typically do NOT care for citrus in my sweets, but I just loved this one.  The moistness of the cookie was almost cake-like, without all the crumbling.

We thought of a few ways that these cookies could be used:

• crushed to use as a pie crust
• the cookies for a gluten-free ice cream sandwich
• in place of graham crackers for s’mores
• crumbled for a topping over ice cream

Pure Sweets are truly one-of-a-kind treats.  They are a delicacy that I would bring over for dessert to someone’s house, serve at my own party, or freeze and sneak for midnight snacks. I want to thank Andrea for taking the time to share a part of herself, her insights, and her phenomenal sweets with me.

Pure Sweets are made to order and can be purchased directly by contacting info@puresweets.com or going online to the website: www.puresweets.com.  You can also find them in the Philadelphia area at Whole Foods Callowhill and South Street as well as One Shot Coffee and Ultimate Coffee. They are also being carried in New Jersey at the Natural Harvest Market in Mullica Hill.

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Of course low calorie does not always mean healthy. Herr’s Popped Chips are not as healthy as a bowl full of fruits or veggies. But if you looking for a snack that tastes indulgent without the consequence, then this crunchy treat will do the trick.

Similarly, a gluten-free label does not always mean the product is completely safe for those diagnosed with celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity. After reviewing Herr’s Allergy Information, which you can read in full on Herr’s official web site www.herrs.com, I discovered that though the ingredients are fully gluten-free Herr’s does not have designated processing lines for their GF products. As a result there is a small possibility for cross-contamination. Herr’s urges individuals who are highly sensitive to take this into consideration before using their products.

To learn more about Herr’s and the many products they offer visit www.herrs.com.

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Ever wanted to take a banana on a trip with you, but before you make it a few feet out your door it was smashed and brown in your backpack?  Nikk Ingersoll and Caue Suplicy have created the perfect hand-held banana snack – Barnana.  Barnana is a small little nugget of dehydrated banana that can be popped in your mouth at any time without worry of spoilage (for 12-18 months, depending on which variety you’re eating).  They are dehydrated to just over 100 degrees Fahrenheit to ensure a moist, raw, chewy texture while retaining its real fruit taste.

Conscious of how their bananas are grown, Ingersoll and Suplicy use two independent organic farms in Brazil and Ecuador before the barnanas comes to California for their packaging.  Not only are they processed in a dedicated gluten-free facility, but they are also raw, organic, vegan, and kosher.

Suplicy grew up in Brazil where carrying bananas around made for a quickly perishable snack.  In the 70’s and 80’s his dad engineered a homemade banana dehydrator so he could take the bananas on hikes and trips without worry of spoilage.  It was a novel idea in Brazil and equally novel when Suplicy moved to the States.

Suplicy and Ingersoll met in the U.S., and together they created a large-scale version of this dehydration system: Barnanas! They come in two varieties: Purely Chewy Banana Bites and Chewy Chocolate Banana Bites.

I had a variety of people of all ages sample and give me opinions about both bites. When we first opened the bag we got a big surprise; we were expecting a banana chip color, but we found a coffee brown treat instead. That did not deter us!

The Chewy Banana Bites are just dehydrated banana dusted in organic banana powder to keep them from sticking. They were indeed chewy (but not too chewy like caramel) and moist with an intense banana flavor.  The flavor is reminiscent of a ripe, spotted-brown banana (my favorite kind), or a banana bread-like flavor. My 3-year-old and her friend devoured half the bag while we were still focused on the taste of our first one. I think they are a perfect snack, especially if you’re on a gluten-free diet.  However, if you’re someone who prefers a green banana flavor, than you’ll probably prefer the Chewy Chocolate Banana Bites.

The Chocolate Bites are dehydrated bananas covered in 60% organic cocoa chocolate.  I LOVE chocolate and I LOVED these for a delicious snack. The chocolate complements the banana flavor, making it hard to decipher if you’re tasting the banana or the chocolate. We found the best way to enjoy these was to pop them in your mouth and enjoy the soft, smooth chocolate coating around the Barnana so as not to lose a bite of the crumbly chocolate.  Some testers thought they might prefer a harder chocolate coating, but I like them just the way they are!  Again, another big hit in our house.

Barnanas are the perfect on-the-go snack.  We thought of some alternative uses for them:

• In homemade trail mix
• Mixed into muffins (other than banana muffins)
• Chopped as a topping for yogurt or ice cream or even mixed into a milkshake
• Frozen and then eaten as a snack

A special thanks to Nikk Ingersoll at Barnana who kindly sent me samples and shared his story with me.  Since Barnanas are new to the market, if they’re not in your Whole Foods yet, you can order online by visiting their website www.barnana.com or emailing them at info@barnana.com.

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After receiving a package of gluten-free samples from Just Ask Josh, I was overcome with joy. First because I knew the product would be good, and second because the box looked huge. In this box there were two products, the first being gluten-free brownies and the second being gluten-free cookie dough.

Before we delve into how the products looked and tasted like I first have to tell you why these products were immediately great. A large issue I have when making gluten-free brownies is that it requires making it from a mix and takes a little bit of work. The brownies from Just Ask Josh are pre-cut brownies packages that require a little bit of heating, although you can eat them straight out of the box. They are much simpler to make and easier than any other brownie product I’ve found. The brownies actually look and taste delicious. They come in these tins that make it easy to cut and eat or serve. The brownies when heated taste delicious.

I give fair warning when I say that they do not taste like brownies made from a mix; they taste like brownies you can buy from a store. The brownies are soft in the middle, very chocolaty and crunchy at the ends. The brownies are so versatile, they can easily be used for everything from a quick snack to the base of a brownie sundae – which, might I add, is a delicious use of the brownies.  Although not yet available online, the brownies will soon be available at the Just Ask Josh website. They are also available at many stores.

The pre-packaged, pre-cut cookies are alike in many aspects. They are easily made, taste delicious and are very versatile. The cookies come in frozen circular mounds that are quite large. The beauty of this product comes from how easy it is to make. Unlike many other cookie mixes Just Ask Josh’s cookies are pre-cut and require very little work to make. They take a couple of minutes in the oven to be a delicious gluten-free chocolate chip cookie.

The gluten-free cookies taste very much like normal gluten-filled cookies. The only real issue is that, unlike many other cookies, if you do not eat the cookies a couple of days after baking them, they get very hard. Considering the fact that the cookies are really delicious, I do not think that will be an issue. There will probably be no more cookies left after you bake them. Just like the brownies, you can buy the cookies online very soon on Just Ask Josh’s website.

Both products are certified gluten-free and kosher. These products are a very good treat to keep at home for a quick snack after school or work and go perfectly with any dessert.

Related Content:

Gluten-Free Hot Products review: Immaculate Baking Co. Gluten-Free Cookie Dough

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This year, Kedem Food Products (KFP) is back with even more gluten-free products for Passover, and each one is certified gluten-free.

Sweet Goodies are the first kosher licorice for Passover, according to Harold Weiss, Vice President of KFP. The licorice are gluten-free, low in fat, available in sticks, belts and bites and are available in four flavors: Strawberry, Sour Strawberry, Sour Apple, Sour Blue Raspberry.

Building on the popular Yehuda Gluten Free Matzo Style Squares, there’s a new Toasted Onion Variety. Both varieties are now available nationwide and will be available year round.

Next up, there’s Yehuda Gluten Free Cake Meal, which can be used as a coating for cooking or a flour substitute for baking.

Rounding out this year’s introductions is Jeff Nathan Creations All Natural Gluten Free Panko Flakes. The namesake comes from Chef Jeff Nathan, Executive Chef of Abigael’s Restaurant Group in New York, host of the TV series “New Jewish Cuisine,” and cookbook author.  Chef Nathan developed part of the line, which makes a great topping for casseroles or coating for chicken and fish.

There are even more products coming down the line, include some that will bear the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness logo.  Currently, you can find our logo on Sweet Goodies and Jeff Nathan Creations All Natural Gluten Free Panko Flakes.

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These hardy chips are available in three flavors: Original, Sweet Chili, and Salsa Fresca. For this review I only sampled the Original and Sweet Chili Flavors. The Original flavored Rice Crisp is only lightly seasoned with sea salt so it allows the full flavor of the chip itself to shine. As great as the Utz Original flavored Rice Crisp tasted, I found I favored the sweet spices and subtle heat of Utz’s Sweet Chili flavored Rice Crisp more. Though both flavors tasted pretty delicious by themselves, the thickness and crunchy texture of these crisp make them ideal for dips and salsas.

Since Utz also manufactures products that may contain gluten, I was a bit disappointed that the package did not contain information about a dedicated gluten-free factory or anything about gluten-free certification.  That said, Utz’s official website does include a section about Celiac Disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity. This section also includes further information on their gluten-free products.

If you would like to learn more about this product or any of the many snack products offered by Utz, visit www.utzsnacks.com.

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WayFare’s “We Can’t Say It’s” line of non-dairy foods takes dairy-free to the next level. Instead of using soy, WayFare’s dairy-free cheeses, sour cream, and puddings are made with 100% natural gluten-free whole grain oats. In addition to being dairy-free and soy-free, all of Wayfare’s products are also certified gluten-free, making them a safe and healthy option for individuals with celiac disease.

As great as it can be to have a healthy dairy, soy, and gluten-free option, the product still has to taste good. Although I cannot say WayFare’s products taste exactly like their dairy counterparts, they are all very creamy and flavorful.

WayFare’s “We Can’t Say It’s Cheese” is available in four flavors: Cheddar-Style Spread, Hickory-Smoked Cheddar-Style Spread, Cheddar-Style Dip and Mexi Cheddar-Style Dip. All four flavors are very thick and smooth. The flavor for all four of these is very intense by themselves. However, when used as a dip or spread, or when mixed with other ingredients like salsa, the strong flavor works. All of WayFare’s “We Can’t Say It’s Cheese” products melt so easily, making them a great choice for dairy-free nachos.

Similar to WayFare’s dairy-free cheese dips and spreads, their “We Can’t Say It’s Sour Cream” does not taste identical to its dairy counterpart. But its smooth texture and strong sour flavor make it a great replacement in recipes that call for traditional sour cream.

WayFare’s Pudding is available in three flavors, Chocolate, Butterscotch and Vanilla. All three are very creamy and taste amazingly close to standard pudding made with milk.

To learn more about WayFare and all of their dairy-free products visit www.wayfarefoods.com.

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At first I admit I wasn’t overly impressed. The package it came in was pretty simple. It was just a plain white tub with blue print. The most notable of the text, besides the gluten-free label of course, was a warning “Garlic Lovers Only.” As a lover of not only garlic but also of bold flavors in general this “warning” immediately piqued my interest.

But of course it is what is inside the package that truly matters. So I am pleased to say I was very happy with the flavor and texture of the hummus inside the simple packaging. Though Bobbi’s Best Hummus is available in a wide variety of flavors including several geared toward children, I only tried two of them, Tex Mex and Mild Garlic. Both including the Mild Garlic had very bold flavors and tasted amazingly fresh. Tex Mex contained black beans and jalapenos so it was hearty and pleasantly spicy.  The Mild Garlic flavor is more like a traditional flavored hummus and was very garlicky with a hint of lemon juice to balance it out. Both had a tad thinner consistency than some of the more commercial hummus I’m used to, but were still very smooth and creamy. It is also important to mention that Bobbi’s Best uses soybean oil instead of the more traditional tahini in their hummus. The result is a slightly creamier texture with a bit more of a buttery flavor.

Though I’ve only tried two of Bobbi’s Best flavors, I enjoyed them both enough to look forward to trying their other flavors of hummus as well as some of their other spreads and dips.  Since Bobbi’s Best is a smaller Philadelphia company so it may not be available in every state or store. However, if you do come across it, it is definitely worth a try. To learn more about Bobbi’s Best visit their official website www.ilovebobbi.com (which is currently under construction) or visit them on Facebook.

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Have you been having cravings for potato chips, but aren’t sure if they’re cross-contaminated?  If so, your days of worrying are over!  Good Health Natural Foods, Inc. has come out with several lines of chips that have been tested, certified gluten-free, and are produced in a gluten-free facility. Once I heard about these new chips on the market, I had to get my hands on them.

Francois Bogrand, a French ex-patriot who had emigrated to the U.S., founded Good Health Natural Foods, Inc. in 1992.  Bogrand was initially interested in bringing French food products to the States, and in doing so, he realized the health food market industry had room for exploration.  In 2000, Good Health Natural Foods introduced their first potato chip cooked solely in olive oil, and following that they released a body care line.  In 2004, they began introducing chips cooked in avocado oil.  Milestone Partners, a Philadelphia-based group, bought the company in 2004 and continues to maintain its integrity in the health food industry.

I can’t say enough about how well their website is organized and was impressed with its fully detailed information about allergens, nutrition, and ingredients.  It made me feel comfortable sampling and reviewing their products.  Of their line of 12 gluten-free products, eight of them are gluten-free and manufactured in a gluten-free facility, and four do not contain gluten ingredients, but have the potential for cross-contamination.  I sampled three of their products, which are all processed in gluten-free and nut-free facilities – Avocado Oil Potato Chips Sea Salt, Glories Sweet Potato Chips Original and Avocado Oil Potato Chips Barcelona Barbecue.

I got a group of gluten-eating friends together to do a bit of sampling.  I would say that of the three, the top choice was the Avocado Oil Potato Chips with Sea Salt.  We agreed that the crunch was super satisfying and the medium thickness of the chips allowed them to hold together with every bite.  We couldn’t just stop eating after one chip and proceeded to devour the bag.  I personally liked that they were a bit oily, especially since I knew the oil was such a healthy one; it added a bit of authenticity.  The chips just had that all-American potato chip flavor.  According to Good Health Natural Foods website, these chips contain 30% less fat than traditionally cooked chips.

We found multiple uses for the Avocado Oil Potato Chips. We thought you might try them:

• Dipped in a sour cream and onion dip or in a gluten-free ranch dressing (though some of us felt they were just really good on their own)
• Crushed and use to bread fish
• Added to a gluten-free sandwich
• Used instead of croutons on a salad
• Just eaten alongside a hearty gluten-free sandwich

The next chips we tasted were Glories Sweet Potato Original, which certainly have a lot going for them.  They have no trans fats, are low sodium, GMO free, and gluten-free.  Upon first bite, we found them not greasy, with a pleasantly sweet, fresh, healthy taste to them (and not a salty one).  The crunch to these chips was quite hearty.  They grew on us as we ate them, and by the time we were done, so were the chips!

As we continued to eat the bag, we noticed the chips in the bottom were quite a bit saltier, so it appeared as though the seasoning was not evenly distributed.  We recommend gently shaking the bag before consumption.  We also thought they might go well dipped in hummus.

The last chip we tasted was the Avocado Oil Potato Chip, Barcelona Barbecue style.  We thought these to have the best crunch of the lot and had a heavy garlicky flavor, which is great if you like garlic.  We found the chips with the most flavor to reside in the bottom of the bag, so we would again recommend gently shaking them up before eating.  Though we still ate them all, the consensus was that these chips needed a bit more spice to give them a true BBQ kick.

All in all, we still enjoyed our experience, and I was tickled pink to find gluten-free chips that I could eat and keep eating!  I want to thank the team at Good Health Natural Foods, Inc. for sending me their samples and allowing me to review their products.  I can’t wait to go eat my gluten-free sandwich and chips now!

-Annsley Klehr
Owner, Gluten Freedoms, LLC

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I got a sneak preview of the egg rolls at Natural Products Expo East last September. Feel Good Foods is a member of NFCA’s GREAT Business Association, so I stopped by to ask Vanessa and Tryg what was new. At this point, I had already spent a few hours browsing and sampling, and my stomach was ready for a break. Yet, when I smelled the Gluten-Free Egg Rolls, I couldn’t resist trying one.

The egg rolls could easily rival their Chinese takeout counterparts. They were crispy and crunchy on the outside, with that warm combination of cabbage, carrots and ginger on the inside. Pair them with a gluten-free dipping sauce (Thai Kitchen Pineapple & Chili Dipping Sauce works great), and you’re good to go.

I haven’t had a chance to cook them yet, but given my success with the Gluten-Free Dumplings, I think Gluten-Free Egg Rolls will be a cinch. I’ve also heard that they’re microwaveable, for all you non-cooks.

Feel Good Foods Gluten-Free Egg Rolls are beginning to hit store shelves. Look for them at your local Whole Foods Market and specialty food stores. For more information, visit Feel Good Foods online.

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