Cave Cravings Paleo Snacks Subscription Box Review

I recently agreed to sample some Paleo snacks from Cave Cravings.  If you aren’t familiar with them yet, Cave Cravings is a subscription box service that offers healthy, natural, and organic Paleo snacks, delivered monthly to your door. 

And I was quite eager to get into mine when I opened it and saw the contents.

This box contained:

1. 4 Caveman Cookies
2. 2 Bearded Brothers Bars
3. 2 Bite-sized samples of other Bearded Brothers Bars
4. 2 packages of Coco-Roons, Vanilla Maple and Lemon Pie
5. 2 packages of Sophia’s Survival Food Jerky Chews, Mild and Original

And an information card describing each item and listing their retail values.

The first item I sampled was the Caveman Cookies.

It is a chewy and somewhat sticky cookie, just under 2 inches in diameter, made from almond meal, honey, raisins, walnuts and some tasty spices.  It is very similar to, but much sweeter, than one I make myself and I did like the chewy texture and spicy flavors.  If you like oatmeal raisin cookies, you would like this one.  I really like that they are individually packaged for convenience, portability, freshness, and portion control.  The Captain says ‘thumbs up’, too.

The full sized Bearded Brothers Bars are 2 oz. so I cut one in half and shared it with The Captain, to sample and enjoy with tea one afternoon.  The flavor … Radical Raspberry Lemon, and it was delicious.

It is made from organic figs, dates, sun butter, hemp seeds, raspberries, chia seeds, lemon extract, and sea salt.  Of course it’s delicious!  And I like the soft, chewy texture too.  Very much like a  … dare I say it…. LARABAR.  And very much like one you would make at home with similar ingredients. 

We also really liked the bite-size samples…those flavors were Colossal Coconut Mango, and Bodalicious Blueberry Vanilla.

Next up… Wonderfully Raw Mini Coco-Roons.  I am a big fan of coconut macaroons and was really wondering about these little guys.    Lemon is one of The Captain’s favorite flavors so we opted to sample them first.

The package weighs 2 oz. and there are 9 pieces inside.  The suggested serving size is 3 pieces… which doesn’t seem like very much.  But if you eat them slowly and savor each bite, 3 are quite enough.  They are so flavorful and packed with healthy coconut, almond meal, coconut oil and natural flavorings… nutrient dense ingredients that are filling and satisfying.

I have to admit I am saving the Vanilla Maple Mini Coco-Roons for a special occasion. And I just may eat them all myself!

It took us a while to get around to trying the Jerky Chews.  I haven’t eaten much jerky and was not sure I really would like them.  These are from Sophia’s Survival Foods and came in two flavors… Mild and Original. 

So far we have only sampled the Mild.

It is not like any other jerky I have ever had… it is softer, and drier, but still quite chewy like a jerky should be, I think. I could taste the lemon and the garlic in this jerky and was kind of sorry I had shared it, quite honestly.  But it is very filling and I am sure the whole 1 oz. bag really would have ended up being too much!  I am looking forward to trying the Original flavor soon.

All in all, I was really pleased with the selection of snacks in this Cave Cravings box.

If you are interested in Paleo snacks for you and your family, check them out.

Have you tried a subscription snack box service?  What do you think of them?

Souvlaki Style Pork with Vegetables and Sauce

This dish was inspired by something I found in a magazine a few weeks ago.  It is kind of an easy version of one of my favorite Greek dishes, Pork Souvlaki.  But here there is no messing with the barbecue or kebabs… it’s just a lean pork loin roast (or a tenderloin if you prefer) and some veggies.

It is a simple matter of browning the pork roast in a pan with some olive oil, and then baking it in the oven while the veggies are cooking in the same pan you used to brown the roast.  It all comes together pretty quickly and it is quite delectable.

I used a mixture of white and sweet potatoes. I would have used all sweet for me, but The Captain prefers white.  And the sauce is very garlicky… just the way we both like it!

This meal fed the 2 of us on three different occasions so I only made up two servings of the sauce each time... one for each of us.  I prepared it first and let the garlic work its magic in the yogurt while I prepared the main dish. Of course you will omit the sauce if you follow a Paleo diet.

Souvlaki Style Pork with Vegetables
Makes 6 servings

• 1-1/2 lb lean pork loin or tenderloin
• 2 tsp olive oil
• 1 red bell pepper, cut into 3/4-inch chunks
• 1 medium zucchini, cut into 3/4-inch chunks (about 2 cups)
• 2 cloves garlic, peeled, smashed and minced
• 1/2 medium onion, sliced vertically (about 3/4 cup)
• 8 ounces sweet potato, cut into 3/4-inch chunks
• 8 ounces white or yellow potato, cut into 3/4-inch chunks
• 1/2 cup chicken broth
• 1/4 cup water
• 2 dried oregano

1. Trim any fat from the pork roast and then rub about 1 tsp of dried oregano all over the surface.
2. Place 1 tsp of olive oil into a large non-stick pan set it over MEDIUM heat. 
3. Set your oven to 425°F to preheat.
4. Put the roast in the warm pan and cook it a couple of minutes on each side until browned.
5. Place the roast on a baking sheet and bake in hot oven about 20 to 25 minutes.
6. When the roast is cooked through, remove to cutting board and allow to rest for a few minutes until slicing into 18 slices.
7. Meanwhile, add the other 1 tsp of olive oil to the same non-stick pan and add the potatoes, onion, and garlic, and cook about 6 minutes till the potatoes begin to soften and the onions are lightly browned.
8. Add the chicken broth and water, and bring to a boil.
9. Reduce the heat and simmer till the potatoes are almost cooked through. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
10. Add the remaining vegetables and 1 tsp of oregano.  Cook about 5 minutes until the zucchini and the pepper are tender.
11. Remove from heat and serve with Souvlaki Sauce on the top. Garnish with more oregano if desired.

Souvlaki Sauce
For each serving

• 2 Tbs fat free plain Greek yogurt
• 1 clove garlic, peeled, smashed, and minced

1. Mix together and refrigerate while preparing the roast and vegetables.

If you happen to be following the Weight Watchers new Simple Start program, or the Simply Filling Technique, there is no counting to be done here… these are all Power Foods. But I did calculate the N.I. for those of you who count Points Plus Values.

Per serving, without Souvlaki Sauce
Weight Watchers P+ = 7.
Calories 266; Protein 27g; Carbohydrate 21g; Fat 8g; Fibre 3g.

Per serving, with Souvlaki Sauce
Weight Watchers P+ = 7.
Calories 287; Protein 30g; Carbohydrate 23g; Fat 8g; Fibre 3g.

Printable Recipe

Are you a Greek food fan?  What is your favorite dish?

My Latest Obsession - North Coast Naturals Organic Hemp Protein Powder

I have several friends who really like North Coast Naturals Organic Hemp Protein Powder… so when I was given the opportunity to sample it recently, I was eager.  I had no idea what to expect.  But I trust these particular foodie friends!

When I checked the North Coast Naturals web site and looked at their Organic Hemp Protein Powder, I found this information:

Who wouldn’t be interested in  all of that?

I must say I was surprised by the color, which is sort of a light dusty brown… and the texture, which is a wee bit gritty.  I can discern no real flavor or taste to it, but I do like the nutritional information.  Two (2) Tbs of this protein powder contains 15g of Protein, only 2.5g of Fat, 9g of Carbohydrate and a whopping 8g of Fibre. It is Vegan, and sodium-free.  Normally I select a protein powder with fewer Carbs, but when they are mostly Fibre, I don’t hesitate.

Since it is flavor-neutral, I have been using it in savory dishes as well as sweet and am really pleased with the results.  The only time I would not recommend using it is where the color might be an issue… it does tend to make things brown or green!

I am always in favor of adding protein to my diet.  Without powders or other supplements, I find it nearly impossible to get in my daily requirement.  And, I do find that this Hemp Protein Powder seems to keep me satisfied much longer than a whey or soy protein powder does…and I wonder if that is because there is so fibre in it.

Here are some of the recipes I have created using this NCN Organic Hemp Protein Powder.  The first 2 are sauces for my zoodles… which of course could be used with pasta if you prefer.  And then I created a grain-free hot ‘cereal’ breakfast dish, and a dip for fresh fruit, too.  Read on!

Hemp and Yogurt Sauce for Zoodles and Noodles
Makes 1 serving

• 1/4 cup fat free plain Greek yogurt
• 1 Tbs North Coast Naturals Organic Hemp Protein Powder
• 2 cloves garlic, peeled, smashed, and minced

1. Mix yogurt and hemp protein powder until well-combined.
2. Stir in garlic and then refrigerate about 15 minutes for flavors to meld.
3. Toss with zoodles or noodles to serve. 
4. Season with salt and pepper if desired.

Per serving.
Weight Watchers P+ = 2.
Calories 97; Protein 14g; Carbohydrate 8g; Fat 1g; Fibre 4g.

Printable Recipe

And, you all know how much I love my Sensational Sesame Sauce.  I decided to add some Organic Hemp Protein Powder to it to give the nutritional value a boost, and it worked just fine… no change at all to the wonderful salty, smoky sesame taste.   And yes, I licked the bowl!



Hemp and Sesame Sauce for Zoodles and Noodles
Makes 1 serving

• 2 tsp Tahini paste
• 1 Tbs North Coast Naturals Organic Hemp Protein Powder
• 1 Tbs tamari soy sauce
• 1/2 tsp dark sesame oil

1. Mix tahini paste, hemp protein powder and tamari soy sauce till well-combined.
2. Stir in the dark sesame oil.
3. Toss with zoodles or noodles to serve.

Per serving.
Weight Watchers P+ = 4.
Calories 153; Protein 11g; Carbohydrate 7g; Fat 10g; Fibre 4g.

Printable Recipe

I like to have a hot ‘cereal’ sometimes for breakfast, but because I rarely, if EVER, eat grains (I hate to declare never cause ya never know!)  So, instead of oats or quinoa, or farro, or even brown rice, or wheat berries, I like to use ground flax meal.

I dressed mine up with some Greek yogurt, a few raisins and a bit of cinnamon.

Hot Hemp and Flax ‘Cereal’
Makes 1 serving

• 1/2 small ripe banana
• 1/4 cup egg whites
• 1 Tbs ground flax meal
• 1 Tbs North Coast Naturals Organic Hemp Protein Powder
• Dash of cinnamon

1. Mash banana in a medium bowl.
2. Add the egg whites and whip with a fork till frothy.
3. Stir in flax meal, hemp protein powder, and cinnamon.
4. Lightly coat the bottom of a saucepan with non-stick spray and set over MEDIUM heat.
5. When the spray has melted, add the banana mixture to the pan.
6. Cook, stirring continuously for approximately 3 or 4 minutes.  The color will lighten considerably as the egg white cooks and it will increase in volume.
7. Remove to serving bowl and garnish as desired.

Per serving.
Weight Watchers P+ = 4.
Calories 182; Protein 16g; Carbohydrate 18g; Fat 5g; Fibre 7g

Printable Recipe

Sometimes I like to slice up apples and have then with an almond butter and yogurt dip. So I added some NCN Organic Hemp Protein Powder and a dash of cinnamon to it… and it was really good, but the addition of a couple of drops of liquid vanilla-flavored Stevia turned it into fabulous. 

Hemp and Almond Butter Dip
Makes 1 serving

• 3 Tbs fat free Greek Yogurt
• 1 Tbs North Coast Naturals Organic Hemp Protein Powder
• 2 tsp almond butter
• Dash of cinnamon
• 2 drops of liquid vanilla Stevia, or to taste

1. Mix all the ingredients together till well-combined and enjoy with fresh cut up fruit such as apples, pears, peaches or bananas.

Per serving.
Weight Watchers P+ = 3.
Calories 140; Protein 14g; Carbohydrate 8g; Fat 7g; Fibre 6g

Printable Recipe

I am so enjoying this North Coast Naturals Organic Hemp Protein Powder… and will be sure to keep coming up with additional ways to get it into my day.  Watch for more new recipes and ideas coming soon.

Have you tried a Hemp Protein Powder?  Does the color put you off at all?