Disclosure: I received a sample in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.

Learning how to cook is such an important life skill to pass down to our children and grandchildren. I have been noticing that subscription cooking boxes for kids are increasing in popularity. Chef Free Club is unique in that it is an inclusive cooking club specifically designed for kids with special dietary needs.

The founder of Chef Free Club came up with the idea after her son was diagnosed with multiple severe food allergies. Chef Free Club fills an important niche, as it seems like food allergies have become so prevalent in kids these days, including my own.

As a Nourished Festival blogger, I received a sample Hola Mexico kit. This kit includes three recipes that are plant-based, gluten-free, food allergy-friendly and top allergen-free:

• Street Corn
• Pozole
• Churro Chips

We did not have a chance to try the Street Corn recipe yet, as I forgot to buy corn on the cob. However, we are looking forward to trying the suggested method of grilling corn on the stovetop.

My son and I did however, make the Pozole and Churro Chips.

I do not think we have ever made Pozole before, so it was fun to try out a new recipe. My son was curious about hominy, as it is not an ingredient we typically use.

This plant-based Pozole is hearty and super-filling! In addition to the hominy, it is filled with tomatoes, carrots, sweet potatoes and onions; this soup is a great way to increase your kids’ vegetable intake. It also makes a ton, so I think we will be eating Pozole for the next few days!

My son had a blast trying out the recipe for Churro Chips. We appreciated the recipe picture booklets that takes you through the recipes step-by-step.

He enjoyed using the special rotary cutter that was included in the kit to cut the tortillas into wedges. Our family is not gluten-free, so we used regular flour tortillas. However, the recipe booklets include specific brand name suggestions for gluten-free and allergen-free products to use in the recipes, which I can see as being very helpful.

My son also enjoyed the process of dipping the tortilla wedges into melted butter and sprinkling on the cinnamon sugar.

After 8 minutes in the oven, they turned out nice and crispy! I like how there was also a recipe suggestion for savory chips by using taco seasoning instead of cinnamon sugar.

Chef Free Club is recommended for children ages 4-14. In addition to the recipe cards and tool of the month, each kit also includes a pamphlet with games and activities related to the kit’s theme. Another fun surprise was the inclusion of allergy-friendly samples. We received two samples of Coconut Cloud Vegan Instant Hot Cocoa Mix (stay tuned for an upcoming review and giveaway with them, as well!) A subscription to Chef Free Club would make your kids look forward to the mail every month.

Subscribe To Chef Free Club + Discount

It is easy to sign up for a subscription to Chef Free Club here (1-month, 6-month and 12-month subscriptions are available). Chef Free Club is also offering the following discount codes for my readers:

Lim10 ($10 off 6-month subscription)
Lim20 ($20 off 12-month subscription)

Chef Free Club Giveaway

Enter the giveaway below for a chance to win a Chef Free Club kit!

Disclosure: I received samples in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.

Birthday celebrations call for cake and treats. This year I celebrated with samples from Gem City Fine Foods, one of the participants in this year’s recent online Nourished Festival. Their baked goods are certified gluten-free, and made in a dedicated gluten-free bakery. In addition, their products do not contain tree nuts or peanuts, and everything is made in a dedicated nut-free bakery. This is especially important to me, since my kids are allergic to nuts.

This is the Gem City Fine Foods Vegan Chocolate Cake. Gem City ships their cakes frozen on Mondays, and I was amazed how this cake still looked like it came straight from a bakery.

This two-layer chocolate cake with white frosting was a real treat. It would be perfect for anyone who is looking for a cake that is vegan, gluten-free and/or nut-free. The cake was nice and moist and we could not tell that it was gluten-free.

Look at that structural integrity! This cake can be cut up into beautiful slices and does not fall apart. It is nice when everyone can indulge in a dessert together and not feel deprived.

We also had the opportunity to try some other Gem City Fine Foods mini desserts. Aren’t they so cute? Pictured here are the Blueberry Lemon Loaf, Flourless Chocolate Torte, Pumpkin Cheesecake, and Lemon Zest Cheesecake. I like the idea of serving individual desserts so everyone can choose their favorite. I tend to think of gluten-free baked goods as having a strange texture and taste, but that is not the case with these cakes.

I have to say, my favorite dessert was the Pumpkin Cheesecake; luscious and creamy, pumpkin-y and SO good. This should come as no surprise to anyone who knows my love for pumpkin desserts. Did you notice my pumpkin t-shirt in the first pictures? My love of pumpkin knows no bounds!

Where to Purchase Gem City Fine Foods

Gem City Fine Foods can be found at a store near you, or you can order their products through their website.

Gem City Fine Foods Gluten-Free Pumpkin Cheesecake Giveaway

Enter the giveaway below for your chance to win a Gem City Fine Foods Gluten-Free 6-inch Pumpkin Cheesecake!

Disclosure: I received samples in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.

This year’s Nourished Festival featuring gluten-free and specialty diet products is going virtual, from September 24-26, 2020. To sign up for updates & prizes, go here: online.nourishedfestival.com. As an official Nourished Festival blogger, I am excited to connect with several brands in this wonderful community. I have been busy setting up a lot of reviews and giveaways for my readers, so get ready!

First up is a new-to-me brand, called Grab the Gold. Grab the Gold Snack Bars come in two delicious flavors: Chocolate Peanut Butter and Peanut Butter & Jelly.

As soon as I tasted one of these Grab The Gold Snack Bars, I knew we had a winner! The first ingredient is organic oats, which gives these bars a nice, hearty texture. They also contain natural peanut butter, which provides 11 grams of hunger-satisfying protein. The chocolate (in the Chocolate Peanut Butter flavor) and the cranberries (in the Peanut Butter & Jelly flavor) provides just the right amount of sweetness.

You cannot go wrong with oats + peanut butter + chocolate! One half of one of these hefty disc-shaped bars makes a good mid-morning snack for me. Of course, there would be nothing wrong with eating the whole bar if you are looking for more sustenance. I should also mention that Grab The Gold bars are gluten-free, vegan and kosher!

The Peanut Butter & Jelly flavor is also super tasty. I seriously cannot choose a favorite between the two flavors because they are both really good. Although these bars are perfect to have on the go, they also make a great work from home snack, as well.

Grab the Gold also sent us a sample of their Immune Boost Shot Berry Drink Mix and a Blender Bottle With Storage. The drink mix contains natural flavors and includes elderberry, vitamin C and echinacea + zinc. It can be combined with water or your favorite drink. It is an easy way to help support your immune health, which we all need these days.

Where to Purchase Grab The Gold Snack Bars

Grab The Gold snack bars and supplements can be purchased through their online store.

Grab The Gold Snack Bars Giveaway

Enter the giveaway below for your chance to win a Box of Grab The Gold (12 bars) in the flavor of your choice. The winner will receive a promo code equaling a 100% discount (including shipping).

Disclosure: I received samples in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.

Have you ever had the hard part of a piece of popcorn become stuck in your teeth or throat? It is a very unpleasant experience, which I can attest to from personal experience. Papa’s Skinless Popcorn Pops came up with a popping process that eliminates the skin (aka hull). The resulting fluffy “pops” are soft and easy to eat.

Papa’s Skinless Popcorn sent us the following flavors:

• Sweet Cinnamon
• Creamy Ranch
• White Cheddar
• Sweet & Salty
• Smokin’ BBQ
• Honey Mustard

My kids were eager to try these snacks out, although we were not quite sure what to expect.

As you can see, the individual pieces are a good size. I was surprised by how flavorful they were. The Honey Mustard had a good balance between sweet and savory. I also really enjoyed the Sweet Cinnamon flavor for when you are looking for a sweet snack that is not too sweet.

Besides being delicious, Papa’s Skinless Popcorn Pops are a snack that you can feel good about. They are non-GMO, gluten-free, nut-free, kosher, and do not contain preservatives, trans-fats or cholesterol.

Where to Purchase Papa’s Skinless Popcorn Pops

Papa’s Skinless Popcorn Pops can be found at a store near you. I am hoping they will become more widely available soon!

Papa’s Skinless Popcorn Pops Giveaway

Enter the giveaway below for your chance to win a variety pack of Papa’s Skinless Popcorn Pops.

Disclosure: I received samples in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.

I find it interesting that eating seaweed has recently become a lot more mainstream in the United States. If anyone brought seaweed in their school lunch when I was a kid, it was considered weird. Now I see kids munching on seaweed as a snack and no one bats an eye.

Nora Seaweed Snacks uses seaweed to make a unique, bite-size, munchable snack. Seaweed makes a good snack because it is high in vitamins A, B6, and B12, as well as protein, iron, and fiber. Nora Seaweed Snacks are also non-gmo, vegan, contain no trans-fat and no artificial flavors.

Nora Seaweed Snacks come in three flavors:

• Crispy Original Flavor
• Tempura Original Flavor
• Tempura Spicy Flavor (we did not find this flavor too spicy).

Nora Seaweed Snacks are light crisps that are SO delicious! Seriously, my family is addicted. If you like salty snacks, Nora Seaweed Snacks are worth a try!

Where to Purchase Nora Seaweed Snacks

Nora Snacks can be purchased on their website or at a store near you.

Nora Seaweed Snacks Giveaway

Enter the giveaway below for a chance to win a variety pack of 24 grab and go packs – 8 Crispy Original Flavor, 8 Tempura Original Flavor, and 8 Tempura Spicy Flavor!

Disclosure: I received samples in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.

Everyone in our family enjoys spicy food. Sometimes I am actually surprised at how much heat my kids can handle! Recently, I took a closer look at the bottle of hot sauce that we usually use and spotted some questionable ingredients. I immediately went to the internet to try to find an alternative. My search led me to Kitchen Garden Farm.

Kitchen Garden Farm is a certified organic vegetable farm located in Sunderland, Massachusetts. Kitchen Garden Farm uses some of their organically grown vegetables to make salsas and srirachas, as well as other products.

Kitchen Garden Farm Salsa

Kitchen Garden Farm Salsa comes in two varieties:

• Tomatillo
• Roasted Chili

The Kitchen Garden Farm Roasted Chili Salsa was the perfect addition to a breakfast burrito. I am so impressed by this clean ingredient list: Organic tomatoes, organic chilies, organic onions, organic garlic, organic lime juice, sea salt. It had just the right amount of heat, and you could taste the freshness of the tomatoes and chilies.

If you like your salsa on the spicier side, the Kitchen Garden Farm Tomatillo Salsa is for you. This salsa also has an admirable ingredient list: Organic tomatillos, organic onions, organic chilies, organic garlic, organic lime juice, sea salt. My family loves to snack on chips and salsa, and we all enjoyed the extra kick that this salsa added.

Kitchen Garden Farm Sriracha

Kitchen Garden Farm also makes three different types of sriracha:

• Ghost Pepper Sriracha
• Habanero Sriracha
• Sriracha Chili Sauce

We use sriracha several times a week, so we were excited to try out these different varieties. I was especially curious about the Ghost Pepper Sriracha since I had seen this pepper on various foodie television shows, but had never tried it before.

I tried out all three srirachas as an accompaniment to a chicken teriyaki bowl. The Ghost Pepper Sriracha definitely delivered the heat, but it was a tolerable heat for us. The Habanero Sriracha contains sweet orange peppers, which adds a fruity note to the spiciness. Finally, we also loved the spicy sweet tang of the Original Sriracha Chili Sauce. The Kitchen Garden Farm website suggests that their sriracha is delicious on eggs, rice, noodles, in soup, on grilled meats and fish and fried chicken. I have a feeling we are going to be adding these sriracha sauces to even more of our food now!

Where to Purchase Kitchen Garden Farm Products

Kitchen Garden Farm Products may be purchased through their online shop or at a store near you.

Kitchen Garden Farm Giveaway

Enter the giveaway below for a chance to win a Kitchen Garden Farm Sriracha and Salsa Set. The set includes 3 bottles of Sriracha (Original, Habanero and Ghost Pepper) and 2 jars of Salsa (Roasted Chili and Tomatillo).

Disclosure: I received samples in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.

Drinking coffee is an enjoyable part of my (almost) everyday routine. Pocket Latte has taken coffee and made it into an edible square that can literally fit into your pocket.

Pocket Latte coffee bars are made from real coffee. Eating one square has the same caffeine boost as drinking one cup of coffee. These bars definitely pack a punch! Pocket Latte coffee bars are made in the USA, and contain all-natural ingredients.

Pocket Latte comes in four delicious flavors:

• Dark Roast
• Cream + Sugar
• Lavender Vanilla
• Hazelnut

The flavors are all amazing, but I would have to say that my favorite is the Cream + Sugar.

Pocket Latte is an ingenious idea that delivers coffee in a perfectly portable form. If you are searching for a natural energy boost, this is a tasty way to accomplish your goal.

Where to Purchase Pocket Latte

Pocket Latte can be purchased through their website or at a store near you.

Pocket Latte Giveaway

Enter the giveaway below for your chance to win a 12-pack Variety Box of Pocket Latte, plus a custom printed mask, lanyard and stickers!

Disclosure: I received samples in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.

You cannot beat the convenience of having a stash of soup cups in your pantry. I consider them “insurance” for those days when you just need a quick lunch or snack. Therefore, I was excited to hear about Lotus Foods Rice Ramen Soup Cups. Boil some water and three minutes later you have a delicious cup of soup!

Lotus Foods Rice Ramen Soup Cup Flavors

Lotus Foods Rice Ramen Soup Cups come in six unique flavors:

• Red Miso
• Spicy Kimchi*
• Hot & Sour*
• Tom Yum
• Garlicky Veggie*
• Masala Curry

*Includes Freeze-Dried Chunky Veggies

Instant ramen has gained a bad rap because it often contains not-so-healthy ingredients. These Lotus Foods Rice Ramen Soup Cups contain just organic whole grain brown rice noodles and spices and veggies. They do not contain any artificial flavors, colors or preservatives and they are also Non-GMO Project Verified.

We enjoyed the unique chewy texture of the organic brown rice noodles. Our favorite flavor was the Garlicky Veggie. I cannot wait for the weather to cool down so that we can enjoy soup season to the fullest!

Where to Purchase Lotus Foods Products

Lotus Foods offers an expansive line of products, ranging from rice to crackers to rice noodles, all of which can be ordered online through their website.

Lotus Foods Rice Ramen Soup Cups Giveaway

Enter the giveaway below for your chance to win a variety of Lotus Foods Rice Ramen Soup Cups (over $25 value!).