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

There is nothing more comforting than drinking a hot beverage on a cold day. Coconut Cloud, one of my recent discoveries from the Online Nourished Festival, has a line of vegan hot cocoa, lattes and creamers that are sure to provide comfort in a cup when the weather turns cooler.

Coconut Cloud sent us samples of their Vegan Instant Hot Cocoa Mix. It is available in a 7 oz. or 12 oz. bag, as well as convenient individual stick packs. Coconut Cloud Hot Cocoa Mix is unique because it is dairy-free. The ingredient list includes dried coconut milk, rich cocoa powder, and a hint of sugar. When I first opened the package, I was immediately struck by the strong cocoa aroma.

All you have to do is add 2 Tablespoons of the Coconut Cloud Hot Cocoa Mix to 8 oz. of hot water and stir. I was impressed with the rich chocolate-y flavor that was not overly sweet like other instant hot chocolate mixes I have tried. There is just a hint of coconut flavor at the end, but it is not over-powering. Coconut Cloud also makes instant hot cocoa in other flavors, including:

• Toasted Marshmallow
• Peppermint
• Salted Caramel

If you are more of a coffee drinker, Coconut Cloud also makes Dairy-Free Coffee Creamer. Like the hot cocoa, it is also made with dried coconut milk powder. I’m actually thinking I should add a spoonful of the hot cocoa mix to my next cup of coffee!

Where to Purchase Coconut Cloud Products

Coconut Cloud products can be purchased at a store near you, through their online store, or Amazon.

Coconut Cloud Vegan Hot Cocoa Giveaway

Enter the giveaway below for a chance to win a 12 oz. bag of Original Vegan Hot Cocoa & an 8 count bag of the Single Serve Hot Cocoa Packets.

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

If I ever had to switch to a gluten-free diet, I think bagels would be one of the food items that I would miss the most. Although there are a growing number of companies making gluten-free bagels, the founder of Odd Bagel was not impressed with the available options. Instead, he took it upon himself to create a gluten-free bagel that would provide a satisfying bagel experience for everyone.

I connected with Odd Bagel as a blogger with the online Nourished Festival that took place last month. We received samples of their Sesame, Everything and Onion bagels. (In addition, Odd Bagel also makes Plain, Poppy and Cinnamon-Raisin bagels). When I received the package in the mail, I was surprised by how hefty these bagels were. They certainly are not light and fluffy rolls masquerading as bagels!

My kids’ favorite type of bagel is the Everything bagel; it is their usual order when we go to a bagel shop. I could not believe how much “Everything” toppings were packed onto the Everything Odd Bagel!

We tried the Odd Bagels toasted, with cream cheese spread. However, Odd Bagels are also dairy-free, in case that is a concern for you.

I like how Odd Bagels have that signature smooth and shiny outside crust and chewy interior. My son and husband did not even realize that these bagels were gluten-free.

If you are in search of a gluten-free bagel, Odd Bagel should be at the top of your list!

Where to Purchase Odd Bagels

Odd Bagels can be purchased at a store near you, or online through their website.

Odd Bagel Giveaway

Enter the giveaway below for your chance to win three packages of Odd Bagels in the flavors of your choice! There will be two winners!

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.