International Food Bloggers Conference: Day Two Breakfast, Lunch, and a Writing Exercise

The conference thus far has been a learning experience both through the conference presentations but also the people I have met around tables enjoying food and drink during meal breaks. I'm about to take a walk because we have a two hour lunch break and I am a fast eater. But I wanted to leave just a couple of photographs from our carbalicious breakfast (the baked goods were delicious but I was left longing for some protein) as well as our wine and small plates lunch (small plates do add up... although I wish they added up to slightly more).

Pastries Galore from Bakery Nouveau

Gluten-Free, Vegan Baked Goods from PCC Natural Markets

Theo Chocolates isn't just the host site for the conference. They also provided the lunchtime sweets!

The Chefs prepared for food blogger onslaught!!!

Marinated Octopus with Chickpeas, Preserved Lemon, and Chorizo Vinaigrette from Chef Shannon Galusha at Bastille.

Zucchini in Carpione with Fennel and Apricot created by Chef Jason Stratton at Spinasse.

Salmon Carpaccio prepared by Chef John Howle of Seastar Restaurant (and John Howie Steak and Sport Restaurant & Bar)

Finally, one of the highlights of the morning was Kathleen Flinn's "Writing with All Five Senses" session where she had us describe a lemon's touch, smell, appearance, taste and sound without using traditional words to describe the fruit (like "citrus"). I'll leave you with a picture of the lemon and let you try your hand at this writing exercise. Post below!

"Wine"ing for Chocolate

There is something about wine country that makes me crave a rich chocolate dessert. But chocolate and dessert usually mean a high calorie investment. However when I was down in Paso Robles this past weekend, while dining at the fabulous Farmstand 46, I happened upon a super rich chocolate brownie that I just HAD to tell you about!


The wine brownies made by Marché Noir foods pack a powerful punch. This 2.2 ounce brownie was rich enough to divide between three people and still satisfy our sweet tooth. Using flour made out of the skins of the grapes, their Web site says "We'll just sneak out the back with the leftovers - "you never saw us 'cause we were never here". But don't think of it as recycling, think of it as rediscovering something of great value that has always been there, right under our noses." The flour is high in iron, fiber, and Res-V as well as antioxidants which means this brownie is probably also pretty good for you :o)

In addition to selling brownies, the company also sells the flour online. I may be checking this out to make some wine cookies for my next party!

Cabernet Brownie: 265 calories/13 grams of fat/4 grams of fiber/3 grams of protein

Sweet Treats and Safeway $$$ Giveaway!

With the insanity of the post-season debate preparation, cooking has unfortunately been on the back burner. But trying to control my portion sizes and reducing how often I eat out has also been important to me, so when MyBlogSpark, Safeway, and Betty Crocker gave me the opportunity to try out Betty Crocker's Warm Delights Minis, I jumped at the opportunity. Like my disclaimer at the bottom of my blog says, I am always willing to try things, but I am not always willing to share them with my Uncovering Food readers. In this case, the ease of preparation and the individual portion sizes along with the great taste were selling points so I had to tell you about it!

Seriously, look at this baby! Check out that chocolate goodness!

And at only 150 calories for a bowl, it killed my chocolate cake craving with out killing my caloric budget for the day! It comes with a cake mix and dark chocolate fudge pouch. You mix the cake in the provided plastic bowl and microwave for only 30 seconds! It fit in my suitcase and was easy to prep in my hotel!


Check it out! This whole thing for 140 calories, 4 grams of fat, 2 grams of fiber and 2 grams of protein. My only concern is the half gram of trans-fats. However, I am realistic. When I am traveling and craving a giant gooey piece of cake while I am out with the students, I can either give in and eat the cake or tide myself over knowing I can have a portioned cake in my room. If I am not going to forgo the cake and it is a once-in-awhile treat, a half gram of trans-fat is a small price to pay. This may be a deal breaker for some folks, but since my life is super hectic and I try to minimize processed foods, it is something I have to compromise on.

So I found these babies at my local Safeway, and MyBlogSpark tells me that Safeway and their sister stores are offering some sweet deals on Betty Crocker products. I hear that Betty Crocker SuperMoist Cake and Traditional Brownie Mixes at the special price of $0.69 although it ends pretty soon!

In addition to giving me a chance to try out these delicious treats, I was also given an opportunity to share a prize pack with you! While you won't get the Warm Delights Minis, one winner of Uncovering Food will get the chance to win everything else pictured below! A stainless steel mixing bowl, mixing spoon, silicon baking pan, oven mitt, and a $25 Safeway gift card!!!


Read below on how to enter. The contest will end on Monday, April 12 at midnight PST. Good luck!

1. Leave a comment about what your favorite Spring snack is. This is required before you can gain additional entries.

2. Link back to this contest on your blog and share the link below in an additional comment.

3. Become a fan of Uncovering Food on Facebook. Share that you've joined the crew (or are already a fan) in an additional comment below.

4. Follow Uncovering Food using the Follower box on Blogger. Let me know in an additional comment when you start following (or if you are a follower). This also gives you entry into my monthly follower contests!

5. Follow @UncoveringFood on Twitter and tweet the following: "I want to win grocery money and baking goodies @UncoveringFood http://www.uncoveringfood.com/2010/04/sweet-treats-and-safeway-giveaway.html"

Good luck!

Champagne Wishes and Chocolate Dreams

I have a friend who has a secret. A secret that, until recently, only surfaced during the holidays if you were lucky enough to spend time with her and her husband. An engineer and an educator by day, Susan and Rob ran a factory of deliciousness at night. They shared this delectable secret with their friends and family who for years told them that they should share their magic with the world.

With two words, I am sharing their secret with you: Champagne. Chocolate.

Rob and Susan are two amazing people. They host fabulous dinners, are great wine tasting buddies, and make some of the best chocolates you will ever taste! I have never been a fan of mass produced chocolates, finding that the most satisfying chocolates are the ones that have had special attention paid to them. I had the opportunity to try a variety of chocolates that Susan and Rob made (they make their own marshmallows and caramel too!), which led me to plead along with the rest of their friends.... "You must share these with the world!"

So they did!

I wish I had a "scratch, sniff, and taste" camera to truly capture the delicious beauty of their Champagne Dream truffle! Dusted with gold dust, this truffle is hand-made using Callebaut Bittersweet Belgian Chocolate, heavy cream, and champagne cognac. The creamy ganache is hand dipped into true tempered chocolate.

Uncovering Food is all about finding the most delicious and satisfying foods. The measure of a good chocolate is that I only need one piece to satisfy me, and the Champagne Wishes & Chocolate Dreams Champagne Dream Dark Chocolate Truffle is PERFECTION. I am so happy that Rob and Susan decided to sell these delicious treats because now I can not only enjoy them myself, I can share them with all of you!

Travel Friendly Breakfast Beverage

As a frequent traveler with crazy hours, I often find myself eating terrible food with poor nutritional content when the travel and work seem overwhelming. Take tonight for example. I am in New York, it is 1am and I am not yet asleep. I have to be up by 5am to make the tournament on time in the morning which means I will probably be skipping another morning workout and grabbing some terribly unhealthy fare that may or may not keep me full.

While at the Oakland airport on Thursday, a bottle caught my eye. It was a beverage that I had tried a sample of at the San Jose Rock and Roll Half Marathon that I remembered enjoying. I looked at the nutritional label and it sounded like it would be quick the breakfast. Recognizing I would be getting to my hotel incredibly late and would be rushing off in the morning, I bought this bottle and tossed it in my carry-on. After a chill in my hotel mini-fridge, I grabbed the bottle and gulped it down.

Muscle Milk Light is a surprisingly tasty beverage. As someone who doesn't drink much milk, it reminds me of a chocolate milk, slightly thicker than a skim milk, and not as chalky as other protein beverages I have tried. It kept me full all morning until about five hours later when I realized I needed to get lunch. And it is shelf-stable (until opened) which makes the 14 fluid ounce bottle a perfect travel breakfast.

The beverage has 160 calories, 4.5 grams of fat, 5 grams of fiber and 20 grams of protein! It also has a number of vitamins and minerals including 25 percent of your daily calcium and Vitamin D. While it does use acesulfame potassium and sucralose, it does not contain aspartame. I was a bit frustrated to learn of the other two artificial sweeteners being used and will be writing to ask if they are looking into more natural sweeteners. However, I will still on occassion be picking up a bottle of Muscle Milk Light because it kept me going while herding high school kids across the boroughs!

Ingredients:
Water, Calcium And Sodium Caseinate, Milk Protein Isolate, Cocoa Powder, Blend Of Vegetable Oils (Sunflower And Or Safflower Oil, Canola Oil), Maltodextrin, Natural And Artificial Flavors, Potassium Citrate, Whey, Digestion Resistant Maltodextrin (Soluble Dietary Fiber),vitamin Mineral Blend, Sodium Hexametaphosphate, Soy Lecithin, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Monosodium Phosphate, Potassium Chloride, Acesulfame Potassium, Medium Chain Triglycerides, Salt, Carrageenan, Sucralose.
Vitamin And Mineral Blend:
Vitamin A Palmitate, Cholecalciferol, Vitamin E Acetate, Biotin, Niacinamide, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Cyanocobalamin, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Tricalcium Phosphate, Chromium Chloride, Copper Gluconate, Potassium Iodide, Ferric Pryophosphate, Magnesium Phosphate, Zinc Oxide.

Shaking up the Summer with Nutiva Hemp Shakes

As the weather heats up, there is nothing that I want more in the afternoon than a nice cold smoothie. I recently began considering my options when it comes to filling this need. First, I want my smoothie to be nutritionally sound. A number of places make smoothies, but they usually involve artificially sweetened or high fructose sweetened juices. They also lack the protein and fiber to make this a filling snack. Finally, many of them are chock full of useless calories! Let’s face it; America likes to drink its calories. But if we are going to drink them, we should make sure that beverage is filling and full of nutrients.

After trying a number of premixed smoothies and smoothie mixes, and avoiding many because of their ingredients and nutritional content, I finally found a product that I feel is worth sharing with you. Nutiva Organic Hemp Shakes! The two flavors I have tried and loved are the Berry Pomegranate and the Chocolate.

Let’s break each of these smoothie powders down by nutritional content and then let’s talk flavor (what most of us really care about!). First, both of the shake mixes are gluten and lactose-free which I know is important to some of my readers. Second, they contain Hemp proteins, which not only provide protein and fiber, but are also a good source of Omega-3 and Omega-6. Finally, the Nutiva Hemp Shakes use Fair Trade Certified products, which “guarantees consumers that strict economic, social and environmental criteria were met in the production and trade of an agricultural product.”

Berry Pomegranate contains organic hemp protein, superberry blend (organic mesquite pods, organic strawberries. organic blueberries, organic raspberries, organic cherries, organic pomegranates, organic Sambazon acai, organic goji berries, organic guar gum, inulin from chicory root), organic Fair Trade Certified evaporated cane juice, organic berry flavor. It does contain tree nuts for those with allergies! It is also 57% raw and contains Omega-3 fatty acids. 4 level tablespoons is only 90 calories, 1.5 grams of fat, 8 grams of fiber and 6 grams of protein.

You can blend Hemp Shakes with any milk (they recommend organic rice milk), so I chose to blend the Berry Pomegranate with Almond Breeze unsweetened vanilla almond milk. For those who don’t like the unsweetened Almond Breeze because of the taste, you should try it with the Hemp Shake. The smoothie powder is just sweet enough to satisfy my cravings without being over the top sweet (only 11 grams of sugar) and blending it with milk (and a little ice to up the cool factor) makes it rich and creamy. My smoothie ended up being 130 calories, with lots of protein and fiber and no artificial sweeteners or other chemical fillers. It had a natural fruit flavor while being cool, refreshing and filling!

Chocolate Hemp Shake contains organic hemp protein, superfood chocolate blend (organic Fair Trade Certified chocolate, organic ramon nuts, organic guar gum, inulin from chicory root, organic mesquite pods), organic Fair Trade Certified evaporated cane juice, and organic chocolate flavor. It also contains tree nuts for those with allergies! Four level tablespoons contains only 80 calories, 2 grams of fat, 12 grams of fiber and 7 grams of protein.

I chose to blend the Chocolate Hemp Shake with unsweetened chocolate almond milk. Unfortunately, it was really not sweet at all. However, adding half a cup of frozen cherries and I was back on the Chocolate Hemp Shake train! I am sure using rice milk would add the necessary sweetness without the fruit needed, however who can turn down a Chocolate Cherry Shake? And for only 180 calories!

Overall, I appreciate the principles of community and quality that Nutiva abides by when it comes to their business and products. High quality products that are tasty and beneficial to my body and my planet are worth the cost. You can buy a canister of Hemp Shake online for $17. That is only $1.13 per smoothie if you use the full 4 tablespoons of mix! You can also buy individual samples of the three smoothies (there is also an Amazon Acai flavor) if you want to decide which one you like. With the cost of a smoothie at shop being at least twice the cost without the same community and nutrition standards, you can’t go wrong with Nutiva Hemp Shakes.

UliManaMana: Raw Chocolate Deliciousness

Prevention of heart disease? Reduction in blood pressure? Positive effects on cholesterol? What miracle food does all of this and more?

According to researchers at Harvard University in the Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism, the Archives of Internal Medicine, and the journal of Atherosclerosis research, these are just some of the benefits of consuming raw dark chocolate.

While a raw food diet may not be on everyone's agenda, the health benefits of consuming raw chocolates are being studied by the medical field. Ulimana, a company established in 2005, has promoted these benefits in their line of raw chocolate products that are not only good, but good for you.


According to their Web site:

"UliManaMana is a made up name whose origins come from the 35,000 year old Huna tradition, a Polynesian/Hawaiian science practiced by the aboriginals of that region. In Hawai'i, this teaching was originally called Ho'omana (to make Mana or life force energy) and means Empowerment. The people who practiced these teachings and techniques knew that all power and all life force emanated from the One, I'o, the source of all life-- the source of all energy.

Uli is the name of the goddess from the Huna science who oversees the feminine domain and is also known as the 'Goddess of Serenity'. Mana means life force energy. When you have a lot of Mana, (as in ManaMana), you are healthy and vibrant. When speaking the name UliManaMana you are asking the goddess Uli for the blessing of life force energy and vibrant health. We wanted the name of our company to mean something positive and uplifting. So say it often as you eat our chocolate and have gratitude for the gifts bestowed upon you."

I had the opportunity to try out several of Ulimana's products and I am sold. The truffle (first picture) was super rich and fulfilled every craving for chocolate I had. I enjoyed the small delicacy over the period of an hour because it was so rich I couldn't eat it all at once!

The second item pictured is the Chia Moon Drop. Containing the recently hyped Chia Seed, known for it's amazing nutritional value, these small cookies pack a powerful flavor punch. With a cashew in the center, the date texture and the flavors of the Chia seed and coconut oil as well as hints of vanilla, this new addition to the Ulimana product line is a keeper! The San Francisco examiner recently published an article about the benefits of the Chia seed that is worth checking out. The Chia Moon Drop is one of the tastiest applications of the Chia seed that I have tried in my search for nutritional superfoods.

Finally, I had the opportunity to try Ulimana's hemp brownie. A sucker for baked goods, I was first impressed at the low calorie content for the rich chocolate treat. After three bites, I was even more impressed that my chocolate craving had been satisfied and I could set aside the second half of the brownie for later! According to Finnish research, hemp packs a nutrtional punch with omega-6 to omega-3 ratios that are optimal for our health. Also high in protein and fiber, more research is being done about this powerhouse that has seen much stigma from it's illegal relative attached to it. While you can't get a drug-high from these brownies, you will be on a healthy chocolate high for sure!

You can order Ulimana products from their online store. The cost for these goodies is higher than a supermarket chocolate bar, but between the quality of products and well as the absolute satisfaction in flavor, it is well worth the investment. Rarely have I found a truffle that satisfies me after only a bite or two! Additionally, Ulimana donates 5% of it's proceeds to various non-profit organizations that are listed here.

Nutritional Information:

Raw Chocolate Truffles: 70 calories/4 grams of fat/1 gram of fiber/1 gram of protein
Ingredients: Organic Cacao Powder, Organic Agave, Organic Cacao Butter, Ground Organic Cacao Nibs, Organic Vanilla Beans, Organic Date Sugar, and Celtic Sea Salt.

Chia Moon Drops: nutritional information coming soon!
Ingredients: Organic Dates, Organic Cashews, Organic Chia Seeds, Organic Cacao Powder, Organic Coconut Oil, Organic Coconut Shreds, Organic Agave, Organic Vanilla Beans, and Celtic Sea Salt.

Hemp Brownies: 120 calories/6 grams of fat/2 grams of fiber/2 grams of protein
Ingredients: Organic Cacao Powder, Organic Agave, Organic Cacao Butter, Organic Hemp Powder, Organic Hemp Seeds, Organic Vanilla Beans, and Celtic Sea Salt.

May Mystery Box Challenge and April Winners

A couple of months ago, my boyfriend challenged me to a mystery box cook-off. After watching one too many episodes of the Food Network show "Chopped" I was up for the challenge! This month's ingredients were beer, ham and rosemary. I made Rosemary-Garlic-Beer Focaccia with Smoked Gouda and Ham, however I was definitely outdone by our two winners this month (they were both so great I couldn't break the tie)! Both of these winners should email me their addresses so I can send out the Starbucks gift cards!

Check out the Navy Bean Soup with Guinness Cheddar Biscuits over at Health Delicious!

And Zara over at Crazy Mom made a kid friendly Cheesy Potato Casserole with Greens!

This month I let debaters have reign and pick the ingredients. At 8:30 on a Thursday morning, they decided the theme would be "Things that start with 'ch'" for the ingredient list. So here they are!

APRIL MYSTERY BOX: Chocolate, Chiles, Cheese

Since I introduced the March challenge a bit later in the month, a number of bloggers told me they would have to wait until April. So here is your chance! I am offering the winner of this month's challenge a gourmet traveler gift bag full of fabulous fare I take with me on my debate trips! Description of specifics will be posted mid-month but know that it will be well worth your time.

I invite you all to join me on this monthly adventure. Each month I will post the mystery box of ingredients. Your job is to create a dish that utilizes all of these ingredients and document the preparation and final product as well as a review of how it turned out. Post a link to your documentation in the comment section of the mystery box post. At the end of the month, all eligible entries will be entered to win a fabulous prize! The contest closes the last day of the month at midnight. While you can use other ingredients from your pantry, the dish must include the mystery ingredients.

Reminders:

1. All of the mystery ingredients must be used in one dish.

2. You may use other ingredients to complete the dish.

3. Post the link to your blog in the comments section of THIS post in order to be counted for the contest by May 31st at midnight.

4. Your entry should have the Mystery Box logo and a link back to this post in order to be eligible.

Good luck and get cooking!!!!

Get Mixed Up on this Trail: You Trail Mix

The fabulous folks at You Bar began production today on a new line of customizable trail mix. If you have been following Uncovering Food, you will remember my fascination with this company that creates bars and smoothie mixes to fit your personal palate. You Trail Mix, the newest member of the You family, began taking orders today with a fabulous array of options to include.

I recently had the opportunity to test out the three Popular Mixes before they are shipped out to the general public. The Best Trail Mix (pictured above), Mix Up Your Day, and Chocolate Trails are all sold in 13-bag cases and are perfect to toss in your purse or your kid's lunch box for an afternoon snack.

As a nut lover, the Best Trail Mix satisfied my cravings with a combination of Almonds, Organic Cashews, Walnuts, Organic Sunflower Seeds, Dried Sweetened Blueberries, Sweetened Cranberries, and Sun Drops Original Chocolate Candies. If I were to personalize this however, I would probably change up the dried fruits with pineapple and apricots -- two of the options in the Mix-A-Trail menu. A 45g bag is 234 calories/16 grams of fat/4 grams of fiber/5 grams of protein. Considering the high nut content, this is a perfect portion of healthy oils and filling foods.


The Mix Up Your Day was my favorite of the three popular flavors. This mix included huge chunks of coconut that was full of flavor and contrasted nicely with the goji berries, pineapple and cashews. Oat Bran Sesame Sticks and Almonds round out this mix for a salty, smooth and sweet combination. At 229 calories/15 grams of fat/3 grams of fiber/5 grams of protein, this is another combination that will keep you full for a while. And for those of you with peanut free campuses, this combo is sans peanuts.


For the chocolate loving readers, You Trail Mix did not forget about you! Chocolate Trails is a mix created just for the healthy chocolate lover. Pecans, Dried Cherries, Peanuts, Milk Chocolate Raisins, Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips, Mini Pretzels are all served up together in this sweet nutty blend. Since I am not a fan of milk chocolate, this wasn't my favorite. If I were to mix up my own blend, I would opt for the dark chocolate covered espresso beans and dark chocolate covered raisins. The options are endless! I also probably wouldn't include the pretzels because the residual moisture from the dried fruit decreased the crispness of the pretzels. This mix tallies up at 220 calories/13 grams of fat/4 grams of fiber/4 grams of protein.


While the premixed bags ring in at $1.49 a bag, you can personalize three different sizes from $1.89 to $2.19 a bag depending on the size. There is no specific charge for ingredients, so even opting for more expensive ingredients won't affect the overall cost!

Why pay so much for small bags of trail mix when you could just make your own at home? If you are like me, portion control is awesome, and these bags keep the individual portions fresh. You are also paying for the convenience of not having to buy large bags of everything and mix the exact portions yourself and calculating the nutritional information. Finally, how cool is it for you (or your kid) to have snacks with your own name on it?!?

All in all, I believe the You Bar folks have found another niche in the customizable foods market, which they are filling with 10 different nuts, 11 different fruits, 5 different seeds, 4 different crunchy grains, and 12 other tasty additions. Try mixing up your own trail mix and let us know what you come up with!

The Veggie Vixens review Holey Donuts

For the past four years I have had the honor of being friends with a fabulous group of women from throughout the country. We met through the Weight Watchers boards when we all joined a group challenge, and we have been emailing each other almost daily since. Our group was dubbed the Veggie Vixens, and the name has stuck with us through all of these years.

While our group members live in every time zone, I am lucky to have a number of them in my region. Which meant when I got an opportunity to review Holey Donuts, I had to invite some of my favorite girls together to taste and dish about these reduced calorie sweets.

Meet the girls!

Jasmine, mother of an infant and a toddler; Erika, mother of infant twins; Zara, mother of four school age boys; and me, high school debate coach and companion to two cats :-)

We made up a variety plate that included all but one donut which I had forgotten at home. I will review that one at the end since it was my favorite! But first, here is beautiful Zara modeling out sample tray. Zara is not only a mom but also a runner and business owner. Seriously she amazes me!


Holey Donuts, a small family owned company, makes each of these donuts by hand. You can learn more about their story here. Right now the donuts can only be ordered online, however there are rumors that Holey Donut stores may be opening in the future. Upon receiving the donuts, they are stored in the freezer and heated up individually as the consumer wishes to enjoy them.

The donuts our group sampled, from the top of the plate in the first picture and working clockwise: Low Fat Cinnamon Glazed Donut Holes, Low Fat Chocolate Crumb, Low Fat Vanilla Crumb, Raspberry Graham Cracker, Low Fat Caramel Crumb, Banana Creme Oreo Cookie, and a Jumbo Reduced Fat Cinnamon Roll (center).

We began with the Low Fat Crumb donuts. These were a bit too dense for most of us but Zara said "The glaze was just the right amount of sweet to balance the breadiness of the donut. The chocolate and caramel flavors didn't really come through enough for me, though. Perhaps cocoa in the chocolate donut dough would help? The reduced fat chocolate, vanilla, and caramel-glazed donuts were a decent substitute for sugary sprinkle-topped donuts I would get at my local donut shop. They were also denser and more chewy than traditional donuts. I would compare them more to a "cake donut" versus a glazed donut."

Unfortunately, baking the donuts leaves them less fluffy which is fine if you don't expect your donuts to have the texture of, well, donuts! Jasmine put it best when she said "I thought they were a little too dense and bread-y in texture for donuts. The texture was perfect for the cinnamon roll, but I like my donuts fluffier and lighter. Taste wise they were pretty good. They certainly didn't taste like low fat/low cal donuts. I thought some were too sweet, but normally I eat my donuts with a big glass of milk to cut the sweetness which I didn't have for this tasting." While Erika felt they were all plain and tasted generally the same, Jasmine and Zara both voted vanilla as their favorite of the bunch. I am a caramel fanatic and enjoyed the sweet glaze of this one. These donuts have 148/9 calories, 3 grams of fat, 1 gram of fiber and 4 grams of protein in every donut.


Next we moved into the cinnamon donut holes. These were one of Erika's top picks. In my opinion, the small bits of baked dough were sweet and lighter than the other donuts. You get four in one serving which makes the enjoyment last longer. Zara felt they were "a bit doughy, not as light and fluffy as regular donut holes. That's ok with me, though.. They were just the right amount of sweet, too. Being a carb/sweet addict, these really appealed to me and I could see myself easily overdoing it on them." However, Jasmine felt that the topping was almost too sweet and the texture was too heavy. Four donut holes are 148 calories, 3 grams of fat, 1 gram of fiber and 3.5 grams of protein.


The Raspberry Graham Cracker resembles a jelly filled donut. This was one of my two favorites because the texture of the actual donut was less dense then some of the others. I agree with Zara who said she would enjoy this as a dessert rather than a breakfast item. However I tend to enjoy sweets as dessert because a high sugar start to the morning can set me up for healthy eating failure, no matter how many calories the breakfast is. Both Jasmine and Zara said that jelly donuts usually gross them out, but the filling on this one was less sweet. Zara also said that "the filling seemed fresher than traditional jelly donut filling, which has always seemed fake and over-processed. This filling seemed to actually contain a good amount of real berries." This donut is larger than the Low Fat Crumb donuts, and contains 217 calories, 3.9 grams of fat, 1 grams of fiber and 5 grams of protein.


The Banana Cream Oreo Cookie is another filled donut that is filled with a banana cream and topped with frosting and oreo cookie crumbs. This was Zara's favorite because "the banana and chocolate flavors were in just the right balance and made a good contrast to the dough-y donut. This donut was a bit messy, too, so I'd probably use a fork and knife to eat this one, as well. This would also go well with coffee." Jasmine also enjoyed this donut saying is "was pretty good. The banana filling wasn't too sweet and made a nice contrast to the cookie crumbs on top. Since it was mostly the creme/custard filling, I didn't notice the texture of the actual donut." These creamy chocolaty delights are 222 calories, 4 grams of fat, 1 gram of fiber and 5 grams of protein each.


The cinnamon roll was a favorite of Jasmine, Erika and Zara. It is large and would make a great dessert! Zara isn't sure she would spend that many points on the cinnamon roll for breakfast but said "The cinnamon roll was delicious. It was a reasonable substitute for a Cinnabon. Just the right amount of stickiness and icing! I would definitely warm this up and eat it with a fork and a knife." Jasmine, a fellow cinnamon roll lover felt that the roll "was really good. Perfect texture and flavor. Couldn't tell the difference between this and a regular cinnamon bun" These are 340 calories, 5 grams of fat, 2 grams of fiber and 8 grams of protein each but are rather large and could easily be shared!


I felt bad leaving this last one at home, but the Coconut Creme Pie was my favorite of the Holey Donut line. It has a sweet creme in the middle that balances out the chewy donut of the actual donut. The topping is sweet and the coconut on top is generous and adds another dimension to the overall texture of the treat. The Coconut Creme Pie donuts are 209 calories, 4 grams of fat, 1 gram of fiber, and 5 grams of protein each.

Overall, Holey Donuts have given calorie conscious individuals an opportunity for a lower calorie version of a favorite sweet treat. The texture is not the same as a higher calorie fried donut but most of the donuts are still tasty and delicious. As you can see, through the eyes of many tasters, that the worthiness of the donut differs from taste bud to taste bud. However, if you are a sweets lover and looking for something to fill that craving, I would recommend ordering a couple of mixed boxes to find your favorites.

An Amazing Value: One Organic Food Bars

Very rarely do I find a bar that I have to buy more of immeadiately after sampling. One that I email and Twitter about after the third bite. One that I want to savor bite by bite, every chew, until I am sad that it is gone but so fully satisfied that I am happy at the same time.

More specifically, when I do find such a bar, very rarely is the bar sold at an affordable cost. Made with organic ingredients. Free of trans fats, refined sugars, high fructose corn syrupand preservatives. And prepared fresh daily through cold processing!

When I first communicated with Organic Food Bar, I was interested in learning more about the Active Greens and Omega-3 Flax bars. The names just seemed so.... healthy? But Eric over at Organic Food Bar was convinced my readers and I would fall in love with the One line, a low cost and all organic line of bars. Eric was right about one thing... a girl has to watch her wallet these days. These bars are only 86 cents when you buy a box of twelve (and only $1.19 if you buy them individually) online. When he told me they were gluten free, soy free, dairy free and peanut free... I KNEW I had to try them. I have friends with a number of allergies and if these were as amazing as they sounded, I would have to tell the world!

Lucky for me, the happy taste tester, and all of my amazing readers, the One Organic Food Bars are worthy of gracing the screen of Uncovering Food. Although don't create too big a demand, because this girl still wants to be able to get her hands on some of them!

Raspberry Muffin Crunch

Okay so while the first picture on the blog is one I took, I loved how the graphics on the company web site included the ingredients that go into the bar! The Raspberry Muffin Crunch was my favorite all around bar. It was sweet without being too sweet. The raspberry pieces just popped in my mouth and combined with the organic non-glutton cereals and granola, it was the perfect texture. The bar consistency was firm but soft, creating a satisfying mini meal and a perfect pre-workout snack. Did I mention it has 500mg of Omega Threes and is Vegan? When reviewing my notes, the first thing written in caps across the top of the page was: YUM!!!

Ingredients: Certified Organic Ingredients: Organic Raspberry Granola (Organic Rolled Oats, Organic Evaporated Cane Juice, Organic Expeller Pressed Canola Oil, Organic Raisins, Organic Raspberries, Organic Oat Bran, Organic Crispy Brown Rice) Organic Rice Syrup, Organic Bio Sprouts^TM - Millet, Organic Agave Nectar, Organic Bio Sprouts^TM - Flax, Organic Acacia Fiber and Organic Freeze Dried Raspberry Juice.

Nutritional Information: 180 calories/4.5 grams fat/3 grams fiber/5 grams protein

Chocolate Macaroon Crunch

Coconut lovers beware! The Chocolate Macaroon Crunch Bar is full of this fabulous ingredient! Complete with more probiotics than a serving of yogurt, this bar was my second favorite of the line. Every mouthful was chocolate and coconut. I felt like I was being so bad! It was definitely more cookie like, which was good when I was looking for something to enjoy with a good cup of Teavana Earl Grey Creme tea for afternoon tea time. It is also very filling for a bar. After enjoying it with my tea, I wasn't hungry for hours!

Ingredients: Certified Organic Ingredients: Organic Rice Syrup, Organic Coconut, Organic Coconut Almond Granola (Organic Rolled Oats, Organic Evaporated Cane Juice, Organic Barley Flakes, Organic Expeller Pressed Canola Oil, Organic Raisins, Organic Almonds, Organic Coconut, Organic Oat Bran, Organic Sunflower Seeds) Organic Agave Nectar, Organic Bio Sprouts^TM - Millet, Organic Chocolate Chips (Organic Evaporated Cane Juice, Organic Chocolate Liquor, Organic Cocoa Butter), Organic Acacia Fiber and Bacillus coagulans GBI-30 6086.

Nutritional Information: 210 calories/10 grams fat/6 grams fiber/2 grams protein

Blueberry Muffin Crunch

Another quality bar in the line, the Blueberry Muffin Crunch Bar also boasts heart healthy Omega 3s. This was my least favorite in the line, as it was definitely sweeter than the raspberry bar with less pop from the fruit. The bar does have a nuttier texture though which I enjoyed and savored. When I say it was least favorite, let me be clear that I would still buy and eat these Vegan babies. The texture is a bit chewier (although I did get a couple larger chunks of almonds - yum!) and the bar was a bit darker in color from the blueberries. However it also left me satiated and with a fresh burst of energy!

Ingredients: Certified Organic Ingredients: Organic Blueberry Almond Granola (Organic Rolled Oats, Organic Evaporated Cane Juice, Organic Expeller Pressed Canola Oil, Organic Raisins, Organic Apples, Organic Almonds, Organic Oat Bran, Organic Blueberries, Organic Sunflower Seeds) Organic Rice Syrup, Organic Bio Sprouts^TM - Millet, Organic Agave Nectar, Organic Bio Sprouts^TM - Flax, Organic Acacia Fiber and Organic Freeze Dried Blueberry Juice.

Nutritional Information: 180 calories/4.5 grams fat/6 grams fiber/3 grams protein

Chocolate and Mint and Tea... Oh My!

There are days when this girl just craves mints and chocolate. But when I face the number of calories and chemicals in a Thin Mint cookie, it is hard to enjoy them like I used to.

Luckily, Teavana, my favorite source for loose leaf teas has found the answer to my craving in their Cacao Mint Black Tea. For tea purists who don't like to mix it up, this is not your basic black tea. However, if you are willing to accept that teas can be mixed with a variety of fabulous natural ingredients to get new and unique flavors, then I recommend you check this one out.

One of the newer teas in the Teavana canisters, I have enjoyed Cacao Mint as both a morning tea (minty fresh breath without the chemicals of sugarfree gum!) and as a dessert tea (chocolate and mint in a warm liquid form = yum!). I have only had it warm, although I think it would make a perfect summer drink over ice with a sprig of fresh mint. I brew a 12oz mug with a half teaspoon of German Rock Sugar for a sweet low-calorie treat several times a week.

Black tea doesn't get the play that it's relatives White and Green have been getting lately. However it is just as effective as the others in providing health benefits. Rutgers University has done a number of studies on black tea including one that found a link between drinking tea and it's effects on colorectal cancer!

One of the comments I got on my last tea blog was about the cost of loose leaf teas. Cacao Mint is $6.80 for 2 ounces, which is a fair amount of tea considering you only use one to two teaspoons of leaves for each drink. I promise you spend more on a can of soda then you would one of these satisfying mugs of minty chocolate goodness.

Ingredients: Black tea, cocoa bits, hazelnut pieces and peppermint leaves.

Tea lovers... I would love to hear about your favorite teas and tea blends! Please feel free to share!

Cocoa-Merlot Chicken with Golden Greens

Serves Four

2 cups GOOD Merlot
2 cups reduced sodium chicken broth
1 tbsp cocoa nibs
4 oz trumpet royale mushrooms (or mushroom of your choice)
1 lb boneless skinless chicken tenders
1-2 bunches golden beet greens

Bring Merlot, chicken broth and cocoa nibs to a boil and continue to reduce until liquid is halved.

Meanwhile, grill one pound of boneless, skinless chicken breast tenders (the tenders are quicker to cook!) sprinkled with just a little salt and pepper. You can add healthy oil to the mix by cooking the chicken in 1 tbsp of oil (add in the calories/fat/etc).

After removing chicken from pan, add mushrooms and sauce and cook, scrapping pan, until sauce has reduced again.

Serve with steamed golden beet greens. To make, just chop fresh beet greens and steam in a steamer or micro for a couple minutes.

Nutritional Information is for 1/4 of the sauce, 3 oz of chicken, and 1/2 cup of steamed beet greens.

311 calories / 9 grams of fat / 6 grams of fiber / 31 grams of protein

Clif Z Bars: Chocolate Brownie Review and a GIVEAWAY!

Anything that is made for kids always makes me feel young when I enjoy them. With that in mind, I feel like I should hit the playground every time I enjoy a Clif Kid Organic Z Bar! I recently told a friend of mine about how amazing these bars are and she asked why I hadn't blogged about them yet. My response: "I haven't?!?!?"

I love chocolate. I also love getting a nutritious bang for my caloric buck. The Clif Bar company has come up with a line of bars that meet both needs. The Clif Kids Organic Z Bar in Chocolate Brownie is perhaps my favorite. It is loaded with calcium and other necessary vitamins and minerals utilizing all natural and organic ingredients. Yet it maintains a chocolate brownie goodness that makes me feel like I am being bad! The best part? All of this goodness comes in a generous 120 calorie bar! I keep one of these in my suitcase for travel dessert cravings to help me avoid the Ben and Jerry's sold at the hotel front counter.

Upon first bite, you can feel the whole grains in your mouth but almost immeadiately, a wave of sweet chocolate rushes over your taste buds. The bar is chewy but has a baked goods consistency that helps leave me satiated. I appreciated that there is a drizzle of what appears to be a chocolate icing on top to make it more kid-friendly in the dessert appeals (it works for my visual appetite as well!). The flavor is rich and satisfies my chocolate craving before I finish the bar. By the time I am done, I have had a great dessert or midday snack and I am ready to hit the road.

Speaking of roads, I have a flight to catch in less than two hours so I better get moving! Here is the low-down on ingredients, nutritional info and the contest that I am sponsoring:

Ingredients: Organic Rolled Oats, Organic Chocolate Chips (Organic Evaporated Cane Juice, Organic Unsweetened Chocolate, Organic Cocoa Butter, Soy Lecithin, Natural Flavors), Organic Evaporated Cane Juice Syrup, Organic Brown Rice Syrup, Organic Tapioca Syrup, Organic Fig Paste, Organic Oat Flour, Organic Cocoa Powder, Organic Soy Butter, Natural Flavors, Organic Oat Fiber, Organic Milled Flaxseed, Organic Chocolate (Organic Evaporated Cane Juice, Organic Unsweetened Chocolate, Organic Cocoa Butter, Soy Lecithin, Natural Flavors), Salt, Baking Soda.

Nutritional Information: 120 calories / 3 grams of fat / 3 grams of fiber / 3 gram of protein

To celebrate what has long been a sweet healthy staple of mine, I am giving away 6 bars and a two coupons to a lucky reader. You will get 3 of the brownie bars and three chocolate chip bars as well as two coupons to try out your pick of bars. To earn entries:

1. Leave a comment on this post about what bar you would like to try. You can check out the entire Z Bar line here.
2. Earn an additional entry by linking this contest back to your blog and sending me the link!
3. Earn an additional entry by listing Uncovering Food on your blog roll (let me know if you already have!).
3. Earn TWO additional entries by becoming a follower of this blog. If you are already a follower, let me know!

This contest will end on April 5th. Good luck!

Chocolove Drizzled Popchips

What happens when you want something salty, crunchy, sweet and full of chocolate all at once? You break out a bar of Chocolove 70% Strong Dark Belgian Chocolate and a bag of Original Popchips and get cooking!

This is an easy, healthy treat perfect for enjoying alone or with friends.

You will want to break out the double boiler (okay... I don't have one. I put a metal mixing bowl over a pot of water) and toss in 1/2 of the 1.3oz bar (break it up first to melt faster). Stir frequently.

Lay your popchips out on wax paper or foil to aide in quick clean up. You will want to put th paper/foil on a pan since you will be placing this in the freezer.

Taking a fork or small teaspoon, drizzle the melted chocolate over the popchips. Set in freezer for 15-20 minutes until hardened. Enjoy! I kept the leftovers in a ziploc bag with the air squeezed out in the freezer and will enjoy them when I get home from traveling this week.

The chocolate is smooth and mildly sweet, but still retains the complexity and depth of a darker chocolate. I really enjoy the Chocolove bars not only for the poems that are inside every wrapper, or because the way the company got started is so cool, but because the flavor is so intense, I don't need a lot to be satisfied. I am willing to spend a bit more for a higher quality chocolate because it is so much more fulfilling!

Combined with the crunchy potato goodness of popchips, and you have yourself a winning combination. I think I have mentioned before that popchips are all natural and are much healthier than regular potato chips. Their depth of texture also makes them a great vehicle for the chocolate drizzled goodness. I know this will be a go-to when I want something sweet and salty!.

Chocolove 70% Dark Chocolate Bar

Ingredients: Cocoa Liquor, Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Soy Lecithin

Nutritional Information (for the whole bar, remember you only need half for the recipe!): 190 calories / 15 grams of fat / 5 grams of fiber / 3 grams of protein

Popchips Original Potato Chip

Ingredients: Natural Potato Ingredients (Potato Flour, Potato Starch), Safflower Oil and/or Sunflower Oil, Rice Flour, Sea Salt, Soy Lecithin

Nutritional Information (for one 23gram bag/approx 18 chips): 100 calories / 3 grams of fat / 1 gram of fiber / 1 gram of protein

It's my birthday and I'll eat good chocolate if I want to! Chocolove review.

I turned 28 today, and what better way to celebrate then some fabulous sweets! I am going to review two Chocolove bars that I enjoyed this week. I will share some more Chocolove reviews over the next couple weeks as I savor each flavor! Today we will examine both a milk and a dark chocolate bar.

One of the awesome features of the Chocolove bars is that inside each wrapper is a love poem. What better gift to slip into that special someone's pocket than a high quality chocolate bar that expresses how you feel for them!

The Toffee & Almonds in Milk Chocolate was smooth and sweet, with a slight crispness from the toffee folded into the chocolate. As a dark chocolate fanatic, this was almost too sweet for my taste, however the high quality ingredients left me satisfied after only 1/2 of the small bar. I enjoyed the texture of the bar, the ingredients were blended together into one quality product. Although I don't normally buy milk chocolate, I would make an exception for this bar!

Ingredients: milk chocolate (sugar, milk, cocoa liquor, cocoa butter, soy lecithin, vanilla), toffee (grade aa butter, sugar, almonds, soy lecithin, salt)

Nutritional Information per 1.3oz bar: 210 calories, 15 grams of fat, 2 grams of fiber, 2 grams of protein (5 points, but I was satisfied with half over a period of one day!)


Raspberries in Dark Chocolate is a 55% cocoa content bar with freeze dried raspberries in the bottom of the bar. The quality of the chocolate is smooth and rich, less sweet than the milk chocolate but still very satisfying for a sweet tooth. The raspberries provide a crunch to the bar without upping the sweetness factor. Instead, the berries add a tart bite to the bar that elevates the flavor to another level. You get to enjoy the sweet and tart tangents at the same time without either sensation overwhelming the other.

Ingredients: dark chocolate (cocoa liquor, sugar, cocoa butter, soy lecithin, vanilla), freeze dried raspberries

Nutritional Information per 1.2oz bar: 181 calories, 11 grams of fat, 3 grams of fiber, 2 grams of protein (4 points)

Product Review: You Bar, Breakfast Bar

On my way to work every morning, I love to hit up Starbucks. Friends have told me that I have single-handedly kept this location in business. And they may be right. Between the $3 breakfast sandwiches and the $3-$4 fancy caffeinated beverages, I do drop a significant part of my paycheck there.

This morning I was running late, and the Starbucks parking lot was looking crowded. So I had to skip my morning caffination. Was I going to be stuck with teacher lounge coffee? Was I going to drag all day without the morning jump? And what about some solid food for my stomach?

All of these questions were weighing on my mind as I entered my classroom and plopped down my purse. I looked inside for my cell phone and next to it was the You Bar Breakfast Bar I had tossed in there just for this emergency (I told you I keep food in my purse!).

The bar itself is very sticky and should be kept in the package to eat. It looks like it could get messy otherwise. This sticky datey texture is due in large part to the ingredients in the bar as there were no nut butters or cereals to help the texture out. I unwrapped the bar carefully, using the wrapping as a mitt.

Before I go any further, I will say that this bar may not be for some people. If you don't like chocolate, coffee or dates, you should avoid this bar. That said.... I love all of those things. So keep that in mind with the upcoming rave.

The bar is sweet. Not super sugary sweet but a natural grainy sweet from the dates and the honey. There is an earthy quality both in texture and flavor from the coffee crystals, cocoa, cinnamon and dates that help keep the bar from being just a fruit leather. I would liken the bar to a cross between a thick fruit leather and the filling for a powerbar (or at least what I can remember of powerbars). The texture and appearance were probably the lesser appealing aspects of the bar. However, the flavor and nutritional punch made it something I would definitely purchase in bulk. And halfway through the bar, the texture was no longer a concern. Paired with a glass of water, the You Bar Breakfast Bar was a filling and uplifting breakfast that will become a staple in my household. Did I mention it is only 2 points a bar?!?!? And when you buy the box of 13 it is only $2.49 a bar... much cheaper than my Starbucks habit (and much better for me as well).

Ingredients: Dates, Egg White Protein, Honey, Cocoa, Coffee Crystals, Cinnamon

Nutritional Information: 150 calories, 1 gram of fat, 4 grams of fiber, 8 grams of protein

Don't forget to check out your opportunity to try a You Bar out for yourself! I am giving two custom bars away to readers!

Chocolate Cherry Smoothie

1 cup frozen no-sugar-added cherries
8 oz unsweetened chocolate Almond Breeze
1 packet Weight Watchers Chocolate smoothie mix

Blend. Add water to thin it out if desired.

2 points.

Frozen Dalmatian Carob/Chocolate Banana

Banana, fresh
Carob Chips or Chocolate Chips
Kabob Skewer

Stick stick through the banana to turn banana into a Popsicle of sorts. Push chocolate or carob chips into the banana as far as possible, leaving the banana spotted, like a dalmatian. Wrap in plastic and freeze overnight.

Points are based on measurements. I use a small banana and one point worth of unsweetened carob chips for my pops.

Black Bean Brownies

I found this recipe on the Weight Watcher boards and have been making it ever since. You could easily freeze individual brownies for later consumption. Points are based entirely on the nutritional information on the brownie mix and can of beans.

1 box of brownie mix

1 can of black beans

Water

Preheat oven according to box directions.

Wash beans and mash. Do not let any bean go unmashed.

Stir beans into brownie mix. Add water as needed to reach desired brownie consistency.

Bake according to box directions.