Goldilocks Goodies Double Chocolate Pecan cookies

Once upon a time there was a little blonde girl named Stephanie who was on the quest to find the perfect cookie. Her expectations were high, but she was positive the ideal cookie would be found. She ventured into her local grocery store to search the endless aisles of healthy junk food. "But, these cookies are made with soy," she exclaimed when looking at one box. "And these cookies taste like glorified dog treats," she thought after tasting a sample of other treats. Disappointed, she left the supermarket. 

On her way home she decided to grab a cup of tea at a local coffee shop that also sells food products from small businesses. What did Stephanie find at the coffee shop? She found the cookies that were just right: soy-free chocolate cookies. 

Goldilocks Goodies is a bakery company creating small batches of sweets in Lancaster Country, Pennsylvania. The sweets are a dream for those wishing to avoid allergies as every product is gluten-free, grain-free, soy-free, corn-free, vegan, and made with natural, wholesome ingredients. 

Let's see if these cookies would satisfy a particular Goldilocks in the Sans Soy test.

Product: Goldilocks Goodies Double Chocolate Pecan cookies

Quality: Density is the name of the game with these cookies. As they are gluten-free and dairy-free, the cookies do not contain wheat flour, butter or eggs. To compensate, the cookies are made from a batter comprising finely ground peanuts, almond meal, and almond butter. As a result, the texture is very chewy and the consistency is on the sticky side. Eating a few cookies is a major jaw workout. The chocolate chips are made soy-free from a mixture of chocolate liquor, vegan cocoa butter, and evaporated cane sugar.

Taste: Finely ground peanuts are the backbone of these cookies and replaces the flour used in traditional baked goods. The combination of this with the chocolate results in the cookie version of dark chocolate peanut butter I previously reviewed. Following the nut and chocolate flavors is a strong cinnamon undertone. The visible salt crystals on the exterior of the cookie help to offset the sweetness from the sugar and cocoa.

Price: One pouch of six cookies of about two inches in diameter cost $7.75.

Overall grade: B+. Yes, Goldilocks Goodies Double Chocolate Pecan cookies were just right for a soy-free, vegan, gluten-free treat. An extra effort of jaw power is needed to power through the cookies because they are dense. I feel the cookies are pricey at almost eight dollars for six small cookies. Overall, the cookies are a tasty and somewhat healthy treat that would please even the most food allergy-laden critic.

Peanut Butter & Co. Dark Chocolate Dreams

We are still in the month of February. This time of year seems to move at a glacial pace. Short days, cold weather, and dark winter skies do not assist with the enthusiasm I find myself lacking mid-winter. However, as I keep attempting to eat well and drink hot tea, I have been on the lookout for a soy free, sweet way to cheer myself up from the “blahs.”

One way I like to treat myself without feeling too guilty is by pairing my indulgence with a healthy partner. Yesterday, it was +Peanut Butter & Co. Dark Chocolate Dreams with a side of fresh, Fuji apple. The chocolate satisfied my sweet tooth, and the apple was fresh. In my book, that is a win-win scenario.

Previously, I wrote about my experience with another Peanut Butter & Co. product, White Chocolate Wonderful. The peanut butter and white chocolate spread performed well in the Sans Soy test, but did its dark chocolate sibling fare the same?

Product: Peanut Butter& Co. Dark Chocolate Dreams

Quality: The peanut butter has a consistency that is thick and velvety. A chocolate aroma with peanut undertones quickly fills the air once the jar is opened. As previously noted with the white chocolate spread, this butter does involve extra effort to smear on bread. Unlike more common peanut butter brands, the ground peanuts and oil do not separate to create an unsightly top layer when initially opening the jar.

Taste: Peanuts are detected in this spread, after all, it is peanut butter. However, the shining star is the chocolate. Ever so sweet, and slightly bitter, the chocolate enables the spread to be sweet without rotting teeth. A faint taste of vanilla rounds out the flavors.

Price: One jar of the dark chocolate peanut butter costs $6.00 from the Peanut Butter & Co. online store.

Overall grade: B+. I enjoyed the pairing of dark chocolate with peanut butter. The consistency, even being thick, was easy to blanket my apple slices without fear of slipping off. Also, it would be delicious topping a banana. In line with organic nut butters found at health food stores, the price is reasonable. But, this is not a product made with organic ingredients, which would be an addition I would happily enjoy.

P.S. The Dark Chocolate Dreams Sandwich at the Peanut Butter& Co. NYC Sandwich Shop looks delicious. A sandwich made with dark chocolate peanut butter, cherry jam, and shredded coconuts? Yes, please! 

Five Soy Free Treats to Enjoy this Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine’s Day! In keeping with the commercialization theory about the basis of the holiday, here are five, soy free sweets. Though all of the items may not be healthy or organic, none of the items contain soy, and many are vegan! It is the day of love, so why not treat yo self? 

1.  Theo Chocolate Bars: Two Flavors

Just in time for Saint Valentine’s Day, Theo Chocolate has produced two limited edition flavors perfect for the holiday. My Cherry Baby is a 45% milk chocolate bar sprinkled with dried cherries and vanilla bean. Cinnamon Love Crunch is a chocolate bar comprising 70% dark chocolate and the spicy crunch of cinnamon brittle. Both would be excellent to share (if you are generous) or keep for yourself. 

2. Butterscotch Peanut Butter from Mimi’s Cookie Bar

Decadent with a savory side, the Butterscotch Peanut Butter is divine to spread on a saltine cracker, smother an apple slice, or even plop on a bowl of oatmeal. Although the peanut butter is not vegan, it does not contain soy.

3. Fuego Salsa from La Fundidora

Even if Cupid did not add spice to your love life, you can add some pizazz to Valentine’s Day by diving into a jar of salsa. Created with tomatoes, tomatillos and a variety of chiles, the Fuego salsa makes chips, eggs or tacos more exciting.

4. Buddha Chocolate BuddhaCup

Made with love in Brooklyn, New York, the chocolate at Buddha Chocolate is raw and sweetened with coconut palm crystals. No need to feel guilty after consuming a Buddha Cup, each treat is filled with almond butter and surrounded by dark chocolate. What a tasty way to fill up on protein and antioxidants, no?

5. inFUSED Spreads Strawberry Lavender Jam

Perfect to befriend afternoon tea or breakfast toast, this jam contains simple, soy free ingredients: strawberry, sugar, lemon juice and lavender flowers. On an ordinary day, this jam would be great, but why not sweeten up Valentine’s Day by adding it to your mid-afternoon snack routine.

Trader Joe's Milk Chocolate Truffle Bar

Who does not love chocolate? Not me, that is for sure. At times, I can have a humongous sweet tooth. This sugar craving is the reason why an organic chocolate bar landed in my shopping cart at Trader Joe's. I was doing well eating clean as I stocked up on fresh produce such as kale, apples and avocados, but the chocolate arrived in my basket while I impatiently waited in line to check out.

Oftentimes, chocolate is made with soy lecithin, an emulsifying agent. For those who suffer from a soy allergy, this is detrimental. After reading the ingredients on my organic chocolate wrapper, I was pleasantly surprised to see a lack of soy. But, does a generic brand of organic, soy-free chocolate hold up well in the Sans Soy test?

Product: Trader Joe's Organic Milk Chocolate Truffle Bar

Quality: For those with willpower and are able to consume solely one quadrilateral of chocolate at a time, the chocolate bar is portioned out into small rectangles, The color is a creamy brown, and melts easily. However, there is a bit of grittiness to the chocolate, as if the sugar did not completely dissolve before hardening.

Taste: A strong chocolate presence is missing from this chocolate bar. At times, I could not decide if the mellow flavor was a bonus, or if it was reminiscent of chalk.  The word "truffle" in the product title had me expecting a luscious chocolate and dairy combination, yet the mix was reminiscent of hot chocolate I drank at school—diluted and dull. There were, however, lovely undertones of caramel and vanilla which complement the rich cocoa flavors.

Price: One chocolate bar costs $1.99 at Trader Joe's.

Overall grade: C+. This bar of chocolate did not mesh well with me. I found the taste to be incomplete, and the texture to contain grit. Compared to another soy-free chocolate bar I reviewed, this generic one is lacking in depth of flavor. However, it is organic, and the price can't be beat.

So Delicious Mint Chocolate Coconut Milk

A colleague of mine is on a vegan kick. She tells me about her latest meat-, dairy-, and egg-free adventures and recipes. The creation and innovation that goes into making some vegan foods amazes me. Although I am not a vegan, I do appreciate the lifestyle and oftentimes find myself eating without any animal products at all. From time to time we, my colleague and I, share vegan treats. To get in the holiday spirit, I bought a nut milk, So Delicious Mint Chocolate Coconut Milk, that was sworn to taste like liquid peppermint patties. The selection of So Delicous products were on sale at the time, and, in addition to the coconut health benefits of fewer calories and fat, it seemed like the perfect nondairy treat for Christmastime. The name sounds impressive, but how did the So Delicious Mint Chocolate Coconut Milk do in the Sans Soy test?

Product: So Delicious Mint Chocolate Coconut Milk

Quality: The milk is thick and even has a beautiful, creamy brown color. Initially, I did not adequately shake up the beverage before pouring which led to a translucent khaki-colored liquid to dispense. However, I shook the carton with more vigor and all clear liquid disappeared. When I sniffed the milk, I scented a peppermint explosion—the smell was strong! I was unsure of what to expect about the texture of the coconut milk, however the liquid was smooth as silk. 

Taste: Peppermint is a powerful component of the coconut milk’s taste, quickly followed by chocolate. The two flavors work well together, creating a harmony without overpowering the other. Added sugars made the milk to be saccharine and syrupy on its own, most likely due to the use of stevia. Yet, the sweetness was excellent when combined with some coffee to make a holiday twist on the traditional mocha drink.

Price: The mint chocolate coconut milk is available in the size of one quart. On sale at my local Whole Foods Market, I paid $2.99 for one carton.

Overall grade: B. The flavored coconut milk did not hit the ball out of the park in my book, but this is due to personal taste bud opinions. The texture was not bad, but not outstanding, either. I recommend giving the bad boy a hardy shake prior to each use. Once opened, the milk turns sour in seven to ten days.

Theo Pure 45% Milk Chocolate

Chocolate is sweet commonly containing soy as emulsifying agent soy lecithin. Although there are chocolate brands which do not use soy in their products, there appears to be few from which to choose. Even searching high and low at my beloved Whole Foods grocery store only has a handful of soy-free chocolates for purchase.

One of these chocolate brands is Theo, a chocolate company based in Seattle, Wash., boasting organic, non-gmo and fair trade ingredients. How did Theo make out in the Sans Soy product review?

First victim, I mean, test product: Theo Pure 45% Milk Chocolate

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Quality: Upon opening my chocolate bar, I noticed the chocolate to be smooth and shiny. Separated into breakable rectangles by five thin, horizontal lines, the entire bar was a bit thinner than a ubiquitous Hershey’s candy bar. This chocolate resembled a artisanal chocolate similar to that of Vosges or New Tree brands.

Taste: Creamy and silky was the chocolate. As it melted in my mouth subtle flavors became more apparent. Faint, earthy flavors made a cameo appearance.

Price: A bar of Theo chocolate costs the average price of organic competitors. I purchased my bar from Whole Foods, and I paid around four dollars. To put this into perspective, a bar of Whole Foods’ generic brand (with soy!) organic chocolate is around two or three dollars depending on flavor.

Overall grade: B+. Chocolatey goodness without a grainy texture. Bonus points for non-gmo and fair trade company policies. I can't wait to test another Theo chocolate bar.