Circulon Griddle - Review

I have a new favourite item in my kitchen. It's the Circulon Griddle! 

This innovative piece of equipment is part of the Prime Collection and replaces the clunky, and heavy griddle that I have dreaded using for years. It's amazing how something so sleek can provide a fair amount of cooking space! Think outside the box with with me - griddles are not just for breakfast. So far, I have enjoyed preparing grilled cheese, chicken and even homemade tortillas on the griddle. The meal options are endless.

Features:

The griddle is 9.8x17.7 inches

3-Layer Total Non-Stick System

Metal Utensil Safe

Removable Temperature Probe (ranges from 200F-440F)

PFOA, Lead and Cadmium Free

Hard Anodized Construction

What I Love:

The griddle has a non stick surface, so there is no need for oils and fats

It's extremely lightweight and takes up very little space 

Clean up is a breeze. Simply remove the power cord and the griddle can be immersed in water

There is a pour spout in a corner of the griddle, which provides an easy way to dispose of grease

The griddle heats quickly and evenly

Easily stored in cupboard

What I Don't Love:

The handles. Although stylish and functional, they become hot as the griddle heats up. I would suggest that the Circulon team add a silicon gripping to correct this issue.

Interested in getting a Circulon griddle of your own? It's available 

 exclusively at Canadian Tire for $69.99

You can follow Circulon via Twitter @CirculonCanada and Facebook here

*** I received a complimentary Circulon griddle in exchange for review. Opinions are my own.

Thornhill Farms - Review

I'm a snacker. Everyone knows it. Having to bring a "just in case there are no safe options" snack with me when I'm out, most likely plays a roll in it.

So when Thornhill Farms sent me some of their products for review, I was up for the challenge.

Rice Bites flavors 
Sea Salt

                                              Black Pepper

Sea Salt & Vinegar

Applewood Smokey BBQ Flavor

 Snack Cracker Thins flavors 

Sea Salt

Cheddar Cheese

Sour Cream & Onion

Lime & Black Pepper Flavour

I appreciate that both the Rice Bites and Cracker Thins are baked instead of fried. They are also certified Gluten Free, which lets face it, is AWESOME!

Thornhill Farms gets the flavours right, without overdoing it. I don't feel like I'm overindulging with these products. They are very light to eat and don't leave you feeling weighed down like other snacks do.

Overall these are great snacks. Bonus points for being able to munch on them in the car sans mess. If you have been on a long car ride with munchkins, you know exactly what I mean.

My personal favourite is the Apple Smokey BBQ Flavour Rice Bites! I could honestly down a whole bag myself. But I didn't. I shared with my lovely family who really enjoyed our little snack! This flavour in particular, would be great with a BBQ meal or picnic.


You can find Thornhill Farms Rice Bites and Snack Cracker Thins across Canada. They retail for a reasonable $3.49  and can be found at the locations below.

Quebec :  Tao
Maritimes : Sobeys

Ontario :  Bulk Barn and natural food stores

Western Canada: London Drugs and natural food stores

You can also order by the case, through Thornhill Farms directly (Canadian orders) or Better Batter (US orders)  here .

Happy Snacking!

Nakd Fruit And Nut Bars - Review

I'm always on the hunt for Gluten Free snacks that I can take on the go with me. 
So, I was happy as can be, when offered the chance to review Nakd Raw Fruit & Nut bars.

What makes Nakd Bars different from other cereal bars on the market? The impressive lack of ingredients! They are simply fruit and nut and are made with natural ingredients with no added sugar.


The 4 Gluten Free bars I sampled are : 
Berry Delight
Cocoa Delight
Cashew Cookie
Cocoa Orange


While all four are tasty, the Cocoa Delight is by far my favourite! If you are wondering what to compare these to, they are similar to Lara Bars. I think you need to be a fruit and nut bar fan to begin with, in order to appreciate this product as it is definitely not your average cereal bar.

Hubby and our little man tried these bars as well. Hubby was impressed and will most likely dip into my pantry for more. Little man is on the other hand was less than enthused. I think he was actually kind of mad at me. That's okay though as it leaves more for me to snack on! 

WHOLE FOODS SMOOSHED TOGETHER!

NO ADDED SUGAR

GLUTEN, WHEAT & DAIRY FREE

Product Review: Way Better Snacks

The good people at Way Better Snacks sent me some bags of their sprouted tortilla chips to sample. They come in an array of flavors and are made with simple ingredients using the sprouting process.

Flavors:

• Simply Sunny  Multi-Grain
• Simply Sweet Potato
• Simply Beyond Black Bean
• Simply Unbeatable Blues
• No Salt Baked Blues
• Simply So Sweet Chili

If you're anything like me, you run the other way when you see snack food claiming to be healthy. Usually healthy = lacking in the flavor department with the added bonus of chemicals replacing the offending unhealthy ingredients.  

You are probably wondering what makes these tortilla chips any better than the GF ones which are already on the market. Well, Way Better Snacks have reinvented the wheel when it comes to snacking. 

If you have an eye for detail you may notice that these chips look a little different when given a closer look. That's the speckled looking magic of sprouting! Check out the other benefits below:

• Certified Gluten Free
• Non GMO Project Verified
• Kosher
• Vegan
• Low Sodium
• No Trans Fat
• No Artificial Colors, Flavors or Preservatives

My absolute favourite flavor has been Simply Sweet Potato with Simply So Sweet Chili coming in a close second. The flavors really pop through without all of that gunk that gets on your hands from eating regular potato chips. I love that Way Better Snacks tortilla chips can be eaten just the way are or jazzed up  with toppings  for a more hearty snack.

Want to grab a bag but not sure if your local store carries Way Better Snacks? Check out their store locator to see where they are available in your area.

Product Review: Dempster's GlutenZero Bread

When you see the new Depmster's GlutenZero bread in the grocery store, you may think that it's just another Gluten Free bread on the market and pass it by. Well, it is most definitely not your average Gluten Free bread and it wows in several ways!

I was a little skeptical the first time I held a package of Dempster's GlutenZero. Lets be honest, it's small and sorta feels like a dense banana loaf when you pick it up. On the bright side, this just goes to show that we should never judge before we taste! I nibbled on a piece before deciding what to do with it and I don't recall plain bread ever tasting or smelling so good!


Dempster's GlutenZero may be small, but it is mighty! It is available in both Whole Grain and White bread for about $5.99 per loaf. I spent some time having fun with both varieties. I made everything from grilled cheese sandwiches and plain old toast to a hearty BLT sandwich and yummy french toast.

As far as texture goes, this bread hits a home run. Not only does it hold together while eating a sandwich (take that, crumbly breads!), it doesn't leave that all-too-common, sand-lodged-in-throat feeling. There is something different about this bread. Perhaps, it's the use of Tapioca Starch which helps the bread stay soft without becoming gummy in texture. It's great to finally have a light weight, Gluten Free bread that does not disintegrate upon touch!



I love that this is a non-frozen bread and it can last (resealed, of course) at room temperature  for about 5 days. Not a common thing in the Gluten Free world. No more waiting for a slice of bread to defrost!

Another highlight is that the bread is produced in a Canadian, dedicated gluten free, facility. Dempster's has also gone the extra step of becoming part of the Canadian Celiac Association's Gluten Free Certification Program. It's great to see more and more manufacturers get on board with this program. It certainly makes me feel safe and like a valued consumer.




*Disclosure -  This is a sponsored post and I received compensation for it. My opinions are my own. I only work with brands that I trust and would use in my own home.