Rockin' Ranch Puffs

Saw these wheat-free corn puffs at Whole Foods and Wegmans and thought I'd try 'em out. They came in three flavors: Grilled Cheese, Pizza Pie and Rockin' Ranch. I got the Rockin' Ranch and didn't like 'em ... they tasted like cardboard with a sprinkle of dried Ranch dressing. Won't go back for the other flavors, but I'll spring for the cookies and let you know...

Pamela's Chocolate Brownie Mix

This wheat-free and gluten-free mix comes in a 16-ounce pouch and directions for three ways to make the brownies: original oil, butter (1/2 cup), and Fudgiest Brownie style, which eliminates the egg.

I opted for the original, which called for a large egg, 1/2 cup oil and 1/4 cup water. On mixing, the batter became almost breadlike, forming a single ball instead of a thick liquid like commercial brownie mixed I've used. I used a 9x9 pan.

As for the results, the "Don't Judge a Book by Its Cover" rules applies here; while this had some of the nicest packaging I've seen on organic products, the product didn't live up to the packaging. The flavor was flat and the texture was chalky. While you may get better results with the other recipes, I'm not inclined to purchase this again to find out when I can make better homemade brownies.

Wegman's Organic Super Yogurt

Wegman's organic yogurt line is packed with all kinds of good stuff: omega 3 fats from fish (anchovy and sardine) and probiotics (a blend of live and active cultures including L. Acidophilus, L. Bifidus, L. Casei, Probiotic Bifidobacterium).

I tried the raspberry and the blueberry; while I appreciate the omega 3, I didn't really like the faint scent of fish. It wasn't strong enough to make me not eat it, but I probably wouldn't buy it again.

Nature's Path Organic Toaster Pastries

I despaired of weaning my kids off Pop-Tarts because they didn't just like the plain ones, it had to be the ones with the wild and crazy colors—and the most artificial flavors and colorings. Then I found these: Wildberry Acai frosted toaster pastries by Nature's Path. The fun also comes in Cherry Pomegranate, Raspberry and Chocolate, but they do carry the plain, unfrosted ones as well. I get the fun versions at Whole Foods, but Costco carries a two-pack of the regular.

365 Organic Everyday Value Yellow Cake Mix

I didn't know it, but this is Whole Foods' private line of organic food, and I have high hopes for the rest of the products.

That said, make sure you read the directions on the side of the box FIRST. I goofed and started dumping wet ingredients (1 egg, 2 yolks) into the dry mix, as you would with regular boxed cake mixes. Then I read the directions: You're supposed to cream 8 tbsp of butter, then add the eggs, then add 1 cup of milk until all the wet ingredients are combined. THEN you add the cake mix.

Another potential glitch was that I didn't soften the butter to room temperature beforehand, I just stuck it in the microwave to soften. This method, while convenient, makes for little butter lumps in the batter, I've found. I ended up creaming the butter, then mixing in the milk before dumping this bowl of wet ingredients into the other bowl with the dry mix and eggs. It took a while to get the mixture "smooth and shiny" as it says in the box, but I finally got a fairly smooth, dense batter that I felt good about it.

Sure enough, the cupcakes turned out AWESOME. Moist, tender with a wonderfully buttery flavor. Of course, with an entire stick of butter, how else would it turn out? While I'm not thrilled about that nor having to find another use for 2 egg whites (I know, I know, making a healthy omelet would fit the bill), these cupcakes taste better than other boxed cakes mixes I've used.

Dr. Oetker Organic Muffin Mix Cornmeal

Dr. Oetker, a German-based manufacturer of frozen pizzas, baking mixes, dessert mixes and more, offers a USDA certified Organics line, including this cornmeal muffin mix in a 16.9 oz box.

Preparation is easy: just add 1 cp water, 1 egg, 2 tbsp of oil. I followed the directions to the T and used a 12-cup muffin pan as suggested on the box. Instead of using liners, I greased the pan with butter.

The resulting muffins were OK. Tender, with a nice crumb and a satisfying grittiness that is the hallmark of cornbread. Still, I thought it was a tad dry and kind of blah tasting. I'll continue searching for a better cornbread mix.

Eggland's Best Organic Grade A Brown Eggs

I've been picking these up at Costco (they come two dozen to a pack) because I'm trying to increase our Omega 3 intake in our diets. While some reviews have found these types of eggs to taste fishy, I haven't heard any complaints of the sort. Having never eaten brown eggs, I was surprised at how sturdy the shells seemed to be compared to white eggs; they almost appear to be fake to my inexperienced eye. But unlike the regular eggs I usually buy at Costco, every one I've cracked open has been fresh.

According to their Web site, they feed their hens an all vegeterian diet that contains: healthy grains, canola oil, and an all natural supplement of rice bran, alfalfa, sea kelp and Vitamin E. What it doesn't have: animal fat, animal byproducts, recycled or processed food, hormones or antibiotics.

According to their nutritional comparison:

Eggland’s Best eggs contain seven times more Vitamin E than ordinary eggs, 100 mg of Omega 3, shown to be beneficial to the heart, 25% less Saturated Fat, and 185 mcg of Lutein, shown to prevent macular degeneration of the eyes. In addition, Eggland’s Best eggs contain just 180 mg of Cholesterol compared to 215 in an ordinary egg.

Check their Nutritional benefits page for more info.

India Tree Decorating Sugar

This was previously posted at www.supernovamom.com

If I want my kids to try a new food or I just want to jazz up a treat, I reach for colorful sprinkles. Ten-year-old doesn’t like mashed potatoes? A dash of green decorating sugar gets him in the mood. But with the new dietary restrictions I’ve imposed, which includes eliminating artificial colors and flavors, they’ve had to do without their culinary touchups.

Now, however, I’ve found an organic cookie decoration supplier and they can have sprinkles in their ice cream again! Natural candy store sells decorating sugars and nonpareils (those little candy globes) that are colored with natural ingredients such as paprika, annato, turmeric and vegetable juices. As with most organic alternatives that I’ve found, you’ll pay more for it; they go for about $4.80 to $5.40 for about 3 ounces. At least I found ‘em before I started making my Valentine’s Day cookies!

Pizza Roll Wars

This was previously posted on www.supernovamom.com

My son asked if we could try those popular pizza rolls you see in the freezer section, and of course they had artificial colors and transfats. So we tried a couple of the natural/organic versions and the vote was split.

I liked the taste of Health is Wealth Pizza Munchees, which have a whole wheat crust and fat-free soy cheese. The crust was slightly crunchy and it had a yummy pizza taste.

Calories 180 Cholesterol 0 mg
Total Fat 5 grams Sodium 480 mg
Saturated Fat 0 grams Protein 6 g
Trans Fat 0 grams

The kids, however, preferred Amy’s Kitchen Cheese Pizza Snacks, which has organic pizza sauce and reduced fat mozzarella cheese. I thought the crust was a little soft and chewy, but the filling flavors were more like the regular kind (which I have eaten in my youth).

Calories 190 Cholesterol 10 mg
Total Fat 7 g Sodium 390 mg
Saturated Fat 3.5 g Protein 9g
Trans Fat 0 g

Nature's Path Pumpkin FlaxPlus Granola

This was previously posted at my other blog www.supernovamom.com

Ever since I stopped eating those kids’ sugar bomb cereals oh, about two years ago (kidding), I’ve never tried a healthy cereal or granola that would interest me for more than the length of time it took to finish the box. Some were too sweet, some were too bland, none were juuust right. For a while I’d spice up, so to speak, Special K with nuts and fruit, but for the past few years I’d resigned myself to Quaker Oats, Honey & Raisins granola. But still, I sometimes don’t like that coconutty taste and I always pick out and throw away those little tar balls they call raisins.

Now I’ve found my favorite: Nature’s Path Pumpkin FlaxPlus Granola at Costco. It’s just slightly sweet, and the pumpkin and flax seeds really jazz up the flavor. It flows freely into my bowl, not all clumped together like some granola, so I know I won’t be crunch-crunch-crunching my way through breakfast, giving myself a masticatory workout in the process.