Krusteaz Zoom Hot Cereal Review

I love a bowl of oatmeal in the morning because it's filling, delicious, quick to make, and nutritious. I've tried various kinds, and have also expanded my horizon to other hot cereals, such as grits and cream of rice. Recently I stumbled upon Krusteaz Zoom, a 100% cracked wheat hot cereal.

I cooked my Zoom on the stove, although despite the directions, I added the cereal to the water before it boiled. It only took a couple of minutes to cook, and it thickened like oatmeal, releasing starch that made a creamy texture. I mixed in some maple syrup, raisins, and walnuts and indulged in a spoonful. It did remind me of hot Grape-Nuts cereal! It's less chewy than Steel-cut oatmeal, but much more toothy than any other form of oatmeal I've had. There is a mild, wheaty taste which makes this taste very bland when it's by itself without the benefit of added sugar and fruits.

Krusteaz Gingerbread Cake & Cookie Mix Review

Having had prior experience with the delicious taste of Krusteaz Fat Free Muffin Mixes (check out our reviews of the Wild Blueberry and Cranberry Orange), I decided to turn my attention to the Krusteaz Gingerbread Cake & Cookie Mix.

I followed the directions - hard to mess up adding 1 egg and 1 cup of water and heat for 35 minutes - and out popped a perfectly baked cake. Five minutes later, my family was migrating to the kitchen to see what creation I had made (and if they could have some). Even before I opened the oven door, a heavenly gingerbread aroma was wafting through our entire house. Honestly, I would purchase this product simply for the wonderful aroma that fills the house (up AND downstairs). The texture is very cake-like, not too dense and not too airy. Furthermore, each bite is moist and not overly sweet. Each delicious bite tastes like ... gingerbread! The sugar, molasses and various spices combine to form a phenomenal gingerbread flavor.

Personally, I would rather have a warm square of this scrumptious gingerbread cake than a wimpy 100 calorie pack with a few cookies (and I'm talking about the Entenmann's Little Bites 100 Calorie Pack Chocolate Chip Squares which I previously reviewed).

Krusteaz Fat Free Wild Blueberry Muffin Mix Review

Getting muffins from the vending machine is like asking to waste 500 calories. Otis SpunkMeyer Muffins is a prime example, because one muffin has 460 calories, a little more than 1/3rd of your suggested fat intake and high sodium to top it off (read the review). A much better option is to spend about 10 minutes in your kitchen and you can make 11 tasty fat-free muffins for everyone to enjoy!

Krusteaz Fat Free Wild Blueberry Muffins are very simple to make! All you need is a bowl, spoon, oven, a cup of water and a muffin pan or cups. The muffins do tend to stick to the paper liners, so if you are going to use them, I would still spray them with a little cooking spray!

After mixing together the muffin mix and the water, I opened the little can of blueberries and did a double take: "These are blueberry muffins, right?" The blueberries are micro (smaller than a pea) and there is only about a half of a 'tuna can' amount once you drain them (in other words they are more for show)! In the end, they cook up great in 18 minutes, just like the box states! When you take them out of the oven, you will not miss the bakery one bit because the smell of fresh baked goods consumes the room! The tops come out slightly crusty and lightly browned, while the inside is soft and fluffy! The flavor is delightful and tastes slightly like white cake! And there isa hint of blueberry although I topped each muffin (prior to baking) with about 5 frozen blueberries, which added a plump, juicy sweetness to a few select bites.