Review: Skratch Labs Cookie Mix
(2016) I am a fan of (not-so) recent movement of cleaner eating. I must confess I was a regular child at the mercy of die cast cars in children’s fast food meal boxes. The urge to collect all one hundred was too irresistible. I’ve paid attention to what I eat more each year to the point it becomes almost obsessive. I have a tendency to snub grocery store produce in favor of co-op or the neighbor’s garden produce. I walk past the eggs regularly in anticipation a friend will drop them off from his hen house. If time allows, I’ll make a trek down to the raw milk farm to reserve a gallon or two. Rest assured my obsession stops there, though. If I don’t have those items on hand, I’ll walk over to the nearest grocer and pull something off the shelf. “Good enough” I’ll say to myself as I load up my basket.
I had always wanted to try Skratch Labs Cookie Mix. Since they stress clean eating I feel their mix will fall in line with their preachings. I was skeptical at the start since this qualified as prepared food in my mind; I continued my trust in their products. All a chef needs to get started is a stick of butter, some additions, and a large egg. According to the box chef can be fancy with a stand mixer or economical with the use of hands. I used a convenient hand mixer.
In no time I had a moist ball, just the like the packaging said I would. Quickly I lined a square glass cooking bowl. Prior to sliding the dish into the preheated oven I had mixed in raspberries and sliced almonds. These would be a snack for work as well as fuel for the bike. The whole thing smelled like oatmeal and cinnamon. The house soon wafted with the smell of the cookies rising.
In as little as thirty minutes I pulled them out and let them cool. It was a perfect time to prepare for the workweek by trimming the facial hair with a straight razor shave. It would give the cookies time to harden and be sliced. According to the box there should be eighteen cookies. I sliced nine and that was that. That put each cookie at about 250 calories, making them ideal for a mid-ride snack. Plus their shape makes it easy to wrap for on-the-go access.
As for the taste: They weren’t overpowering. I think that’s a good thing. All too often a ride fuel can be too flavored making me not want to go back for seconds. This set up worked out perfectly. The middle of the cookie was moist; the cut as a whole was satisfying and made me want to go back for more. Those aromas of oat and cinnamon came through as flavors. Having the crunch of almonds came in handy too. I really see myself using these regularly as a ride fuel instead of those cardboard-like bars.
These cookies are definitely worth the purchase. Being as flavorful as they are and, more importantly, having the control to add whatever flavors I wanted, these cookies can create a regular eating habit on the bike. I’ve talked myself out of nutrition often by saying regrettable comments such as, “I’m not going far, so I won’t need nutrition,” or, “I’m conditioned enough to not need calories during the ride.” Saying these things and then coming up short with a bonk aren’t coincidence. Having Skratch Labs Cookie Mix at my disposal can open farther rides as the season unfolds.
Skratch Labs Cookie Mix can be found at your LBS or online at thefeed.com for $8.50 (USD). Always start with your local bike shop, though.
