Categories: Nut Butters, Toppings & Spreads

15 Aug 2010, Comments (1)

Garlic Gold Sea Salt Nuggets, Parmesan Nuggets, and Italian Herb Nuggets

Author: Healthnuttxo

I’m all for flavor. Just because something’s healthy, doesn’t mean it has to lack flavor, right? : )

Garlic Gold makes which I think are great products to add flavors in a healthy way. They sent me some of their products to try, including the Sea Salt Nuggets, Parmesan Nuggets, and Italian Herb Nuggets, and I was actually quite pleased with them.

I decided to try them on my steamed broccoli that I was having with my dinner. I sprinkled a little of the Garlic Gold Sea Salt Nuggets on first. These were mostly brown in color, with little pieces of visible salt. They had a GREAT garlic flavor that I absolutely loved. It wasn’t so strong where it was overppowering or bitter, but just right. It also was blended perfectly with the sea salt. The nuggets themselves had a bit of a bite to them, and were a combination of being chewy/crunchy.  Yummy! 4 1/2 stars

I tried the Italian Herb nuggets next. These didn’t have quite as a strong garlic flavor, and were mostly the “Italian Herbs”. They weren’t too salty either. I think these would be better with a saucy dish, like as addition to homemade tomato sauce, rather than on stemed broccoli like I had it. 3 stars

Lastly, I tried the Garlic Gold Parmesan Nuggets. I noticed these had a little bit of tang, and a mild parmsean cheese flavor. They had a sort of bread-crumb consistency, and were kind of a bit chewy. I think I would have liked this flavor better if it was a bit saltier, because I LOVE parmsean cheese (especially on eggs and broccoli!). 2 1/2 stars

Overall, these were good. I also noticed that a little goes a long way, so even though 1/2 of a tsp. was 4 calories for the Garlic Gold Sea Salt Nuggets and Garlic Gold Italian Herb Nuggets varieties and 10 calories for 1 tsp for the Garlic Gold Parmesan Nuggets, and while that can add up fast, I really did not need a lot. I also loved that these were organic!! :)

For more information about Garlic Gold products, you can visit here.

9 Aug 2010, Comments (9)

Sabra Roasted Red Pepper Hummus

Author: Healthnuttxo

One of my new favorite things is hummus. I have not really tried it until this year, and I am so happy I finally did after seeing and hearing great things about it.

So, Sabra sent me a coupon to try a free hummus, and I picked the Roasted Red Pepper Hummus. I wasn’t sure really why I had picked that flavor to be honest- I’m not even really a big fan of red peppers! But, it looked interesting and I figured Why Not?

And, after trying it, I am saying to myself Why Not Why Have I Never Tried This Before!?!?

Honestly, this was absolutely DELICIOUS. It is a pale yellow in color, with a center of pieces of red peppers. Super creamy, with a great flavor, I’m almost at a loss how to describe the taste other than delicious. It had a great salty flavor, with bits of garlicy flavor too. What I also liked was that the hummus itself did not have a really powerful red pepper flavor, and I could enhance the red pepper flavor to my preferences simply by mixing some of the middle in with the hummus. Perfection!

Overall, this gets 5 stars. I can CERTAINLY see myself eating this again. I find it very versatile and tasty, and I can’t wait to try other flavors that Sabra has to offer!

* What is your favorite way to enjoy hummus and favorite brand/flavor? If you’d like to answer, please leave a comment below! *

1 serving, 2 tbsp. is 70 calories, 6 grams of fat, 4 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 0 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.

Cooked Chickpeas [Chickpeas (Garbanzos), Water], Tahini (Ground Sesame), Soybean And/Or Canola Oil, Red Bell Pepper, Garlic, Salt, Citric Acid, Seasoning And Spices, Natural Flavors, Potassium Sorbate Added To Maintain Freshness.

29 Jul 2010, Comments (0)

Once Again Nut Butter Inc. and Dawes Hill Honey products

Author: Healthnuttxo

I think it’s pretty obvious that I love nut butters, and I also love honey. So you can bet I was happy when Once Again Nut Butter Inc./ Dawes Hill Honey sent me three products to try. By Once Again Nut Butter Inc. was the Organic American Classic Creamy Peanut Butter and Organic Cashew Butter, and by Dawes Hill Honey, the Honeycreme.

Let’s start with the nut butters!

Organic American Classic Creamy Peanut Butter- First off, the front of the jar says “No Stirring Needed”- and they sure were right! Being that I am so used to the peanut butters with the oil on top, this was quite a nice change. Super thick, and not even a little bit of oil separation. Cool! This was super peanut-ty, like literally I felt as if I was eating straight peanuts out of the jar (without the crunch, of course). I sort of wish it had a little more of a salty flavor, as it was just a tad bit dry. But, this is a very pure tasting peanut butter to me- it really just tastes like peanuts! 4 stars

Organic Cashew Butter- now this one actually did have some oil separation, but really not all that much, and I found a quick stir was all I had to do. This was really delicious- again, a very pure tasting nut butter! Slightly sweet, and thick. Enjoyable! 4 stars

Now onto the Honeycreme from Dawes Hill Honey!

Honeycreme- according to the jar, this was raw, and was a product of Canada! I found it quite conveinent, especially for someone like me who likes to spread honey on toast, or stir in oatmeal. Rather than squeezing from a bottle, this was in a jar. I noticed it wasn’t as thick as what I am used to, and  a bit more runny. I also noticed a bit of a gritty texture, but slight. Otherwise, a delicious honey! I can see myself putting this on toast or oatmeal in the future. 4 stars

Organic American Classic Creamy Peanut Butter- 2 Tbsp. is 190 calories, 15 grams of fat, 7 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber, 2 grams of sugar and 7 grams of protein.

Dry Roasted Organic Peanuts, Organic Palm Oil, Organic Sugar, Salt.

Organic Cashew Butter-2 Tbsp. is 180 calories, 15 grams of fat, 9 grams of carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of fiber, 2 grams of sugar and 4 grams of protein.

Organically Grown Dry Roasted Cashews, Expeller-Pressed Organic Sunflower Oil.

Honeycreme- 1 Tbsp  is 60 calories, 0 grams of fat, 17 grams of carbohydrates, 16 grams of sugar and 0 grams of protein.

23 Jun 2010, Comments (0)

I.M. Healthy Soynut Butters

Author: Healthnuttxo

I.M. Healthy Soynut Butters are a great alternative to peanut butters, and come in several flavors. Original (creamy & chunky), Honey (creamy and chunky),  Unsweetened (creamy & chunky) and Chocolate. According to the website, “Because it is safe for the individual with a peanut or nut allergy, but equally important, it is accepted as “peanut butter” by those who can eat peanut butter. That is critical for any institution wrestling with the peanut allergy dilemma because it allows the institution to effectively replace peanut butter, but not loose any of its key advantages. And it gives the individual peanut butter consumer a safe substitute for any “peanut free” environment.”

These sure sound good! :)

The people over at I.M. Healthy generously sent me some of their jars of soynut butter to try, like the Honey Creamy, Honey Crunchy, Chocolate, Original Creamy and Unsweetened. I was most excited for the honey flavored types, as I love things that are sweet! So, I tried those first :)

Honey Creamy- CERTAINLY lived up to my expectations. This was absolutely delicious. Super creamy, and no overpowering soynut taste. It was actually not too sweet, with just a hint of honey. The texture was nice and thick, a good spread for toast for sure. It also has FOUR grams of fiber per serving! 4 1/2 stars

Honey Chunky- Same great flavor as the Honey Creamy, but with delicious crunchy soy nuts! I actually really enjoyed this one, as I liked the texture and crunch. It was a tad bit saltier than the Honey Creamy, and only 170 calories calories for 2 tablespoons. Nice!!  5 stars

Chocolate- this one has a nice blend of chocolate and soy nut flavors. You can taste the soy nut, but it wasn’t too overpowering. It was pretty sweet, the sweetest of the 5, and creamy. A good chocolately spread, I think it would be delicious on fruit or crackers. 4 stars

Original Creamy- This one was salty & sweet, with a tang. I actually enjoyed it, even though you could taste more of a soynut flavor than the others. I would probably try this one with jelly  for a soynut butter & jelly sandwich :) 4 stars

Unsweetened Creamy- this one was my least favorite of the 5. It was certainly the thickest and creamiest, but also the blandest. It did sort of remind me of peanut butter when there is no salt or nu sugar added, but literally just the peanuts, but I preferred the other flavors to this one. 3 stars

Overall, I enjoyed these soynut butters. I think they are definetely worth giving a try if you have peanut allergies, or if you just want to change things up a little! I really reccommend the Honey Chunky variety. I loved taking a spoon and dipping right from the jar! :)

Honey Creamy-2 Tbsp is 190 calories, 14 grams of fat, 10 carbohydrates, 4 grams of fiber, 4 grams of sugar, and 7 grams of protein.

Roasted Soybeans (Non-GMO), Naturally Pressed Soybean Oil, Maltodextrin (from Corn), Honey, Granulated Cane Sugar, Monoglycerides (derived from Vegetable Oil), Salt.

Honey Chunky-2 Tbsp is 170 calories, 11 grams of fat, 10 carbohydrates, 3 grams of fiber, 4 grams of sugar, and 7 grams of protein.

Roasted Soybeans (Non-GMO), Naturally Pressed Soy Bean Oil, Maltodextrin (from Corn), Soy Protein isolate, Honey, Granulated Cane Juice, Mono and Diglycerides (derived from Vegetable Oil), Salt

Original Creamy- 2 Tbsp is 200 calories, 14 grams of fat, 10 carbohydrates, 3 grams of fiber, 3 grams of sugar, and 6 grams of protein.

Roasted Soybeans (Non-GMO), Naturally Pressed Soy Bean Oil, Maltodextrin (from Corn), Granulated Cane Sugar, Monoglycerides (derived from Vegetable Oil), Salt.

Unsweetened Creamy-2 Tbsp is 190 calories, 15 grams of fat, 6 carbohydrates, 5 grams of fiber, 0 grams of sugar, and 9 grams of protein.

Roasted Soybeans (Non-GMO), Naturally Pressed Soy Bean Oil, Maltodextrin (from Corn),  Monoglycerides (derived from Vegetable Oil), Soy Lecithin and Salt.

Chocolate-2 Tbsp is 190 calories, 14 grams of fat, 12 carbohydrates, 3 grams of fiber, 9 grams of sugar, and 6 grams of protein.

Roasted Soybeans (Non-GMO), Naturally Pressed Soy Bean Oil, Maltodextrin (from Corn), Granulated Cane Juice, Cocoa, Mono and Diglycerides, Natural Vanilla.

13 Jun 2010, Comments (4)

Kettle Foods Hazelnut Butter

Author: Healthnuttxo

Time for a …..nut butter review! My favorite! :)

But, not just ANY nut butter- hazelnut butter! I’ve had plenty of peanut butter in my life, along with cashew and almond butter, but never hazelnut butter. So, I was excited when Kettle Foods sent me a jar of Hazelnut Butter to try. I mean, I like hazelnuts- I’ll admit, I normally leave them last to eat when there is mixed nuts available (usually the order goes pecans, cashews, almonds, and then peanuts/macadamia nuts/hazel nuts), but I certainly don’t mind them :)

So, I opened up the jar, and actually was a bit taken aback at first- there was a LOT of oil on top! Which means it required some stirring to get it to a better consistency- I spent a few minutes or so. Which means, if you have one of those super-cool nut butter “stirrers” that you attach to the top of the jar- I reccommend  using it! That way, it’s easy stirring for you, and none of the oil will spill. I also reccommend refrigerating this nut butter before eating it. I left it in the fridge for a few days, and while it wasn’t super stiff like I’m used to, it had a thicker consistency and was more workable. However, this consistency was PERFECT for drizzling! Those of you who love to drizzle peanut butter or almond butter on your oatmeal, toast, etc., this one will be PERFECT for doing  so!

Anyway- onto the taste. Honestly, it reminded me of those Ferrero Rocher candies my mom used to buy for holidays, although not as sweet and without the chocolatey flavor. It wasn’t salty, and just a tad sweet. It just tasted very fresh and had a very clean hazelnut flavor. Creamy and smooth- it was actually quite good. Different, but good. I’ll be honest, I was tempted to add cocoa powder & a little bit of sweetener to make it taste like the Nutella brand spread! Can you imagine? :)

Overally, this spread gets 4 stars. It certainly was unique and not quite like anything I have had before, but delicious and refreshing. However, I prefer my nut butters to have a little more thickness to them, (so it’s easier to eat straight from the jar of course!) and one serving provides only 4 grams of protein as compared to other nut butters that are a bit higher. But, if you like hazelnuts, I highly reccomend this nut butter! I also did a review of Kettle Brand’s cashew butter, which you can see here.

1 oz (28g) is 180 calories, 17 grams of fat, 5 carbohydrates, 3 grams of fiber, 1 gram of sugar and 4 grams of protein.

Dry Roasted Hazelnuts.

7 Jun 2010, Comments (5)

Sunbutter Natural Sunflower Seed Spread

Author: Healthnuttxo

Ah, nut and seed butters. Nothing’s better than these spreads of fruits, chips, sandwiches, or even straight from the jar. I’ve tried my fair share of peanut and many types of nut butters in my life, but never had sunflower seed butter. In fact, I didn’t even know it existed! Well, that all changed when I was introduced to Sunbutter. This spread is made from sunflower seeds, and is peanut free and gluten free, making it good for those who have allergies. Sunbutter comes in Creamy, Natural,  Natural Crunch,  Natural Omega-3, Organic Unsweetened, and the On-The-Go Snack Pack. The company sent me some jars to try, and I decided to do a review on the Natural flavor.

I’ll be honest, at first I was not a fan. But I think that’s because I was sort of expecting peanut butter. Like I said when I reviewed soy nut butter- you cannot  expect a flavor- you have to just TASTE it for what it is. So, I tried the Sunbutter a few times, and it really grew on me. In fact, I like it now!

Upon opening the jar, you can see it is a very creamy and “liquidy” spread- sort of like my experiences in the past with almond butter, it makes a good “drizzly” spread. As in, you can put a spoon in it, and then it will drip off of the spoon (there are no hydrogenated or palm oils in this spread, so I would imagine that is why it is not as stiff as other nut or seed butters). It’s the same color as peanut butter for the most part, and has a strong sunflower seed smell. The taste is quite good- a mild sunflower seed taste, and has that creamy aftertaste that peanut butter sometimes provides. Not salty, but it has a slight sweetness. It’s quite good! I tried mine straight from the jar, but I think I’m going to try it with jelly for a Sunbutter&Jelly sandwich, or maybe on a toasted english muffin.

Overall, I give it 3 1/2 stars. It’s not my favorite, but it actually is quite good. It reminds me of baseball, actually, and being a little kid. I remember always eating sunflower seeds while watching the game with my brother or father, so this spread brought back good memories! I also like that there are no hydrogenated oils, and that it’s a good source of fiber and protein.

*Have you ever tried sunflower seed butter? How do YOU use it?*

2 Tbsp is 200 calories, 16 grams of fat, 7 carbohydrates, 4 grams of fiber, 3 grams of sugar, and 7 grams of protein.

Sunflower Seed, Dehydrated Cane Juice, Salt, and Natural Mixed Tocopherols to preserve freshness.

3 Jun 2010, Comments (0)

Suzanne’s Specialties Organic Maple Rice Nectar

Author: Healthnuttxo

We all know my love for maple and maple syrup- so you can BET I was excited when a jar of Suzanne’s Organic Rice Nectar in Maple variety landed on my doorstep, courtesy of Suzanne’s Specialities (thank—you!)

This sweetener is all natural, organic, gluten free, vegan, and has no refined sugars. According to the jar itself, “Organic Maple Rice Nectar is a rich, thick, absolutely delicious maple flavored syrup. We have simply added the very best natural maple flavorings to our Organic Genmai Rice Nectar. This all natural syrup contains no emulsifiers or stabilizers or preservatives”. 

Well, if you’re going to eat the sweet stuff, you might as well go with the healthiest ones out there!

So, instead of traditional maple syrup, I had some of this on top of my waffles tonight with a sliced banana. (Yes, I purposely had waffles for dinner to try this syrup!)

In the jar, it looks almost like coca- cola syrup, having a thick yet still moveable texture/consistency. As in, yes, I can pour it out of the jar faster than maple syrup, but it doesn’t POUR out of the jar like sugar free syrup would. It’s an inbetween consistency. I drizzled it on top of my waffles, and actually only needed 1 tablespoon. Some people drown waffles in syrup, but I think it’s better to have a small amount of the real stuff- you really get to savor the flavors of both the waffle and the syrup.

Anyway- this stuff was STICKY, yet TASTY! It almost had a buttery-maple flavor, but definietely a clean and pure maple flavor. I absolutely loved it. It was sweet, but not sugary-sweet, and just great on top of my waffles. I agree with what the jar says, how it will make what your eating “great tasting without the over-powering sweetness of those supermarket-type maple flavored syrups”. I can picture it really good stirred in oatmeal or oat bran as well. (And, we all know how yummy peanut butter & maple syrup sandwiches are. Yum!!)

Overall, 4 1/2 stars. Only 2 ingredients, it’s organic, and tasty. I love that it’s so pure and a little goes a long way. Just be careful, 1 Tablespoon has 60 calories- and boy is it easy  to eat one tablespoon of this ;)

2 Tbsp. is 120 calories, 0 grams of fat, 31 carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 17 grams of sugar, 0 grams of protein.

Organic Brown Rice Syrup, and Organic Maple Flavor.

30 May 2010, Comments (3)

Justin’s Nut Butter Maple Almond Butter

Author: Healthnuttxo

Yes, I already did a review tonight. But, here’s another! And a yummy one at that! (But before I start the review, don’t forget about this awesome Nutridel Cookie giveaway! )

Anyway- I’m sure you have all heard of Justin’s Nut Butter here on bloggie world, or perhaps seen their products in stores. I know I was always envious to try it when I saw it on other blogs or on their website- I mean, c’mon, how does chocolate peanut or chocolate hazelnut butter NOT sound good?!

So I was quite pleased when I was sent some squeeze packs of Justin’s Maple Almond Butter in the mail from Justin’s Nut Butter. Squeeze packs are so conveinent! Why? Well…
1. You don’t have to worry about spoons! or knifes to spread the nut butter! Just squeeze and go!
2. A squeeze pack fits better in your purse than a jar does. ( I hope I’m not the only one who has done that ;) )
3. (most importantly) PORTION CONTROL! I don’t know about you, but 2 tablespoons seems like nothing compared to a giant jar of nut buttery goodness. So, if I have a pre-portioned 2 Tbsp in a handy pack, I won’t eat more than that (unless… I bring two packs..*oops*)

So, first I kneaded the package as instructed, and opened it at the top. Where did I squirt it? A banana? Bread? An Apple? Nope- right in my mouth (that’s how I do things!).

It was really good! Nutty with a nice almond flavor. Smooth and not too thick, or gritty at all. Just a hint of lightly sweetened maple, which added a nice touch. Addictive and I will be using it again. I’m tempted to squeeze all the packs out and put it in a jar for easier and faster enjoyment (but, wouldn’t that defeat the purpose of squeeze packs?)

Overall- 4 1/2 stars. Very tasty- and although you don’t have to refrigerate it, i think I might. Sometimes I like my nut butters to have a bit of chill to them, and a bit more thickness. Nonetheless, you should try this one! It won’t disappoint!

Anyone tried any other Justin’s flavors? Which ones? I want to know which one’s to buy in the future!

1 squeeze pack is 200 calories, 17 grams of fat, 8 carbohydrates, 3 grams of fiber, 3 grams of sugar and 6 grams of protein.

Dry Roasted Almonds, Maple Sugar, Organic Palm Fruit Oil, Sea Salt.

29 May 2010, Comments (3)

Artisana Cacao Bliss Raw Chocolate Coconut Butter

Author: Healthnuttxo

Artisana- a company that makes a bunch of nut butters. BUT- these nut butters offer a little something special. They are all raw, organic, and don’t contain any bad fillers or preservatives.

Artisana sent me a couple of their nut butters to sample (in the CUTEST little jars that have about 1 Tbsp. of each nut butter in the jar!), and I was excited, actually. I haven’t had a lot of raw nut butters- I usually have the flavored nut butters, or the all natural ones.

One of the jars I was sent is the Cacao Bliss Chocolate Coconut Butter. Yum. This sounds liek a mix of tropical and chocolatey delight. According to the website, “Finally! A  vegan and sugar cane free, rich, creamy chocolaty coconut spreadable nectar.  Indulge guiltlessly with pure Organic, raw ingredients of the highest quality. Artisana™ – Chocolate Is a dreamy and delicious delight – melts in your mouth in sweet celebration while also giving you real energy and nutrition.
Spread on Fruit, bread, cakes, cookies, crepes and more! Excellent in smoothies, energy bars, and anything you want to turn into sweet succulence.”

Sounds good to me!

I opened up my mini jar, and was actually a little surprise. This nut butter was kind of, err, stiff. It reccommends NOT to refrigerate it, actually. I wonder why it’s so stiff, as I’m used to very supple and smooth nut butters.  Anyway- I tasted a little bit of it- not bad! You can definitely taste the coconut, which is nice, with a mild blend of chocolate/cocoa flavor. It was almost a “melt in your mouth” consistensy- and almost “cool” in flavor. Bizarre- but quite good! It’s not that sweet, so if you are used to sugary spreads, you might be a little shocked with this one. However, I liked it. I think it would be great mixed in with oatmeal, on toast, or even with a banana (or maybe just a mini spoon and my mini jar!!).

Overall, I give it 3 1/2 stars. It lacks protein, which is one of the reasons I eat nut butters, but I think it’s quite good for a “dessert” spread- and you can reap up some benefits of coconut as well! It wasn’t as sweet as I had hoped, but, sometimes less is better! This one is also gluten, peanut, and dairy free!

1 Tbsp is 89 calories, 8 grams of fat (7 saturated), 4 carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber, 2 grams of sugar, and 1 gram of protein.

Artisana™ Organic  Raw Coconut Butter, Organic Raw Coconut Oil, Organic Raw Agave Syrup,  Organic Raw Cacao,  Organic Raw Cacao Butter.

Dont forget about the newly posted NUTRIDEL giveaway! Woooohooo!!

21 May 2010, Comments (2)

Eden Organic Apple Cherry Butter

Author: Healthnuttxo

If I had to pick a fruit to eat everyday for the rest of my life, it would definetely be the apple. (strawberries a close second!!) In fact, I consume an “apple” way way or another almost every single day. Most days I have a good ol’ Fuji, Braeburn, Gala, etc., but then I also consume a lot of applesauce, apple juice, and apple spreads!

So, I was super excited when Eden sent me their organic apple cherry butter in the mail. I LOVE apple butter. I use it in place of jelly for PB&J sandwiches and spread it on toast. Sometimes I even eat it out of the jar! ;)

Eden’s Organic Apple Cherry Butter is literally just apples & tart cherries. The back of the jar says “Certified organic fruit (4 pounds to a jar) from family owned orchards on the Great Lakes’ shores. We kettle simmer select apple varieties with a bit of organic apple juice concentrate, then blend in a 30 brix puree of Organic Montmorency Tart Cherries.” Wow- 4 pounds of fruit a jar? That’s a LOT of fruit!!

So I whipped open the jar and took a look. Brown in color and smooth in consistency, it smelled like apple juice with a hint of cherry. I took a spoonful…. Be prepared to pucker up! This stuff is TART!!  They weren’t kiddin gwhen they said they used TART cherries!! And yet, tart as it was, I went back for more! It was sweet and bitter at the same time from the cherries, with apple-y undertones of taste. Not bad! :)

Overall, I give it 4 stars. It’s actually quite refreshing, and I think it would be great on some buttered toast or mixed in with hot oatmeal. It’s also organic and has no added  refined sugar. I don’t know if I’ll be eating this one directly from the jar, but it certainly is unique and tasty! :)

1 tablespoon is 25 calories, 0 grams of fat, 6 carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of fiber, 5 grams of sugar and 0 grams of protein.

Organic Apples, Organic Montmorency Tart Cherry Puree, Organic Apple Juice Concentrate.

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