This month was all about flavor, which I mean, come on, who doesn't love flavor? On the card that came with the box, it says:
"This month is all about flavor. Our May box is packed with new treats, condiments and sauces that will kick up the flavor in your gluten free lifestyle.
Fruits you can take on the go from Chiquita, cookies from Ginny Bakes and delectable desserts from Suncups have you covered with sweets. Halfpops, Canyon Boulder Rice and Bean chips and Grawnola bars cover salty and savory. Saffron Road's Simmer sauce and Beatty's Blend Spice have arrived this month to help you kick up the flavor in your favorite GF dishes!
Don't miss the recipe on the back.
Happy Mothers Day & National Celiac Awareness Month!
~gfreely"
This is my first (and most certainly not last) GFreely box! Look at all the goodies :) I'm just going to start in on it and not make you guys wait any longer!
The first item I received is this 7 oz packet of Moroccan Tagine Simmer Sauce from Saffron Road! This is a medium heat level sauce that is made to work with various types of meat to create a true, authentic, Moroccan dish. On the back of the package, it says:"Magic happens inside the domed earthenware pot called the Tagine. Deep inside it, food and spices are transformed by a long oh-so-slow simmering that creates amazing sauces that are filled with flavor. Try our Tagine and see how it turns any meal into a Moroccan delicacy. All natural and Certified Halal, Saffron Road's Simmer Sauces are held to the highest standards for wholesomeness and culinary excellence."
We unfortunately haven't been able to try this yet due to some problems in the family, and this past Memorial Day weekend, but I really can't wait to try it! I've never had anything Moroccan, but I love spicy things.
You can purchase single pack purchase of Saffron Road Simmer Sauces on their website for $3.69 a piece. Oddly enough, they don't have this on there... but they do have other awesome flavors!
Next up is this 1.05 oz bag of Super Crunchy Fruit Chips in Banana from Chiquita! These chips are 100% Air-Crisped fruit that are never fried and never freeze-dried. They are fat free and have no sugar added. The ingredients are simple...1 banana! :)
These banana chips are DELICIOUS! I honestly really like them. I feel that they have a good, obviously all natural flavor. I like that they're hard at first, but they soften up right away while in your mouth. This is perfect for people of all ages, and is perfect for on the go snacking.Mom: Gross, I don't like it. (She spit it out.)
Dad: First taste, baby food. I do get an off taste, then it starts to taste like baby food.
Niece: Would rather have a real banana, taste like baby food, don't like it.
You can buy these 1.05 oz packets at Walmart for $1.48!
The next product is this 1.2 oz bag of Protein Cookie Bites in Cinnamon Almond from Kay's Naturals! These bites are Gluten-Free, all natural and are only 125 calories for the bag! They are dusted with a very awesome cinnamon powder.
These bites look like Shredded Wheat! They're very light and crunchy, and the cinnamon dusted on them is fantastic! The only problem is that they seem to have a very weird aftertaste that I'm not in love with. While these are delicious, I don't think I would purchase these alone. They seem as if they should be a cereal not a "cookie".Mom: There is no cookie about this. I do like them though.
Dad: Like Shredded Wheat with Cinnamon Toast Crunch flavor. Uses awesome cinnamon, very good.
Niece: Like them, I like the cinnamon on it.
You can purchase a 6 pack of these 1.2 oz bags on their website for $10.14, making this sample $1.69
The next product is one of my FAVORITES in the box! It is this 2 oz of HalfPops in Natural Butter & Sea Salt! These are the "Crunchy Heart of Popcorn". These are hard, tasty little halfpopped kernels slathered in butter and salt. This is one of the "Featured Products" this month. On the card it says:
"Partially Popped. And fully delicious. Savor the crunchy heart of air-popped kernels. Revel in flavor that's positively packed in-not lost in the fluff."
These things are honestly amazing. I'm sitting here snacking on them as I type, and I wish I had more. They're so addicting, both flavor and texture. I love that they literally POP in your mouth when you crunch down! They're just awesome! I need to find out where these are sold instores (I'm not an online shopper) so I can buy more :)
Mom: Not bad! Different, not sure if I'd buy them.
Dad: You can taste the popcorn after it settles. It tastes like Fritos Cornchips!
Niece: Love them!
You can purchase a 16 pack of these 2 oz bags on their website for $23.84, making this sample $1.49. I would GLADLY pay that for this product, it's so delicious and easy to snack on, I'm in love!
Next is this 1.5 oz bag of Rice & Bean with Adzuki Beans Snack Chips in Natural Salt from Boulder Canyon Natural Foods! Woo, that was a mouth full! These chips are All-Natural and Gluten Free! They're a good source of fiber, and are non-GMO, MSG-Free, Kosher, and they have no trans fat or cholesterol!
These chips are awesome! They're literally delicious. The salt on them is very good, the bean flavor is amazing, and it even has a little spice to it! The bean aspect to these chips taste a lot like Taco Bell to me, which of course, is awesome.Mom: Like the lightness and the flavor of the chips, as well as the heat.
Dad: Not bad, very misleading. They're light, but really heavy. Don't know if after taste is dirty or beany. 6.5 out of 10!
Niece: Love the saltiness! (Side Note: At first she said "Meh" but wouldn't stop eating them...)
BONUS (Sister): "Tasted like cardboard with B.O....I'm serious."
You can purchase a 5 oz bag of these chips on their website for $3.25, making this 1.5 oz sample about $0.98
Next I have this cup of Organic Super Food Oat Based Cereal from Vigilant Eats in Goji-Cacao. This is an organic oatmeal that is Gluten-Free, soy free, dairy free, additive free, preservative free, and does not contain refined sugar.I didn't have the pleasure of trying this or photographing it, because I gave it to my dad. He really loves oatmeal, and was excited I received this. He said: "While I've never had a bad bowl of oatmeal, I have to say that this combination just didn't work for each other. Goji Berries and Cacao Nibs just didn't balance or compliment each other. The berry was good by itself, but was over powered by the maple and cinnamon combo. When put together, you can only get the texture of the berry, not the taste. Should have thought of an apple bit for this mix. I don't see the purpose of the Cacao Nibs other than for crunch."
You can purchase a 12 pack of these on their website for $50.40! Making this sample $4.20! That is one expensive cup of oatmeal...
Next was this GrawBar in Original. This is a Gluten Free, nutrient dense, raw, sprouted energy bar. It contains a whole bunch of fruits, nuts and spices.
I really can't stand products that look like this. They almost ALWAYS taste the same...gross.All: SPIT IT OUT.
You can purchase this on their website for $2.99
Next is a package of SunCups Dark Chocolate Sunflower Butter Cups! These are organic, nut and gluten free. This is the other featured product of the month! From the card:"A peanut butter cup for everyone. These delectable treats are nut free, gluten free, sustainably sourced and use only the best ingredients. Yum!"
These things are great! They're chocolatey, salty, sweet and most of all, HEALTHY! I can't believe such a little snack can be so good! I like that you really can taste the sunflower in the sunflower butter.Mom: I love it! Great combination, Salt is awesome.
Dad: Chocolate is really good, not crazy about the center.
You can purchase a 12 count of these on their website for $20, making this sample $1.66!
The next item is a pack of 2 cookies from Ginny Bakes in the flavor Coconut Oatmeal Bliss. These cookies are fresh baked, organic and gluten-free! They are also preservative free as well :)
These cookies were phenomenal! I honestly was very shocked with the taste for being an organic cookie! It had the perfect amount of spice in it, as well as perfect coconut and raisin ratio! I can't wait to purchase these :)
Mom: I could eat a whole package of these!
Dad: Don't like it, I just keep chewing and chewing. It lost the oatmeal flavor and tastes macaroonish.
Niece: Spit it out.
You can purchase a bag of appx. 12 cookies on their website for $7.00 making this 2 ct. sample $1.16! PLUS if you use the code GF10OFF you'll get 10% off your purchase until June 30,2013 :)
The last product is this Junior Sized Bumble Bar in Chocolate Crisp. This is an organic, gluten-free energy bar. Every Bumble Bar purchase directly aids in community development and the construction of a school in Ethiopia :)
I thought that this was very weird at first. I found that it was dry, and hard to chew. As I chewed, I realized it had really awesome flavoring. The chocolate was awesome!
Mom: Like the flavor and the texture.
Dad: Not bad, soy takes over, weird after taste.
Niece: Like the flavor, just not the texture.
You can purchase a 12 count box for $12.99 on their website, making this sample $0.92
TOTAL: $20.26
This is a fair value for the cost of the box. Some people want the overall total of the box to cover the shipping, but it's not a necessity.
I really think that the GFreely box is awesome, and well worth the money, especially if you are forced to eat a Gluten-Free diet. I know for me, it's recommended, but I can't find a lot of Gluten-Free products that are actually tasty, so this is an awesome service. It's nice to get new snacks and companies delivered right to your door without having to leave and go shopping around for hours.
Big thanks to GFreely! I appreciated this box :)
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