You know…up until I started on my new 70/30 Clean Eating plan my sports nutritionist has put me on…I never would have thought twice about enjoying the basically guilt-free products put out by Walden Farms. I mean…I’ve had quite a few salad dressings from their extensive line-up that I have quite enjoyed. And, a couple weeks ago, a bottle of their Balsamic Salad Dressing just happened to wind up on Manager’s Special at my local grocery store. I hadn’t tried this flavor yet…so I figured I’d give it a shot. If I didn’t like it, I wasn’t out much thanks to the reduced price.
So…I initially was introduced to Walden Farms by Rocco DiSpirito in his Now Eat This cookbooks. He uses the calorie free (yes…CALORIE FREE) ketchup in a few recipes as one of the ingredients. I was intrigued. I had seen a few of these Walden Farms products lurking at numerous grocery stores in my area…so…one day I decided to try one of the salad dressings. And…it really wasn’t bad at all. For the record…I have never tried the ketchup.
Anyway…a few salad dressings later…here I was with one of my favorite dressings to have when out at a restaurant. Mostly because it’s safe. Any vinaigrette is normally a safe bet when it comes to dressing up a salad. And I’ve always loved the flavor of a good Balsamic Vinaigrette.
Polishing off the lettuce, tomato, and green peppers from my last CSA bin, I’ve been making quite a few salads this week. Tonight, I needed a new salad dressing. So…out came the Walden Farms Balsamic Vinaigrette Salad Dressing. I tore off the seal and twisted off the cap, taking a light sniff of the bottle. It smelled just like Balsamic Vinaigrette…so that was a good sign.
I put the 2 tablespoon serving size over my salad (yes…I did measure it!) and dove in.
The flavor is authentic. It has the feel, taste, smell…everything a normal Balsamic Vinaigrette would have. Just…this one happens to have no calories (save the trace ones that are always in something you eat or drink…even those zero calorie diet sodas!). I was impressed. I was beyond impressed. It was like having a full-barrel version of this dressing…but without all the fats and calories. Delicious. Amazing. Just what my salad needed to be dressed with. It complimented every vegetable inside my bowl. Two tablespoons almost felt like too much. This was a hearty dressing…while still having that oil and vinegar consistency.
But…here is where my sports nutritionist has ruined me. As I’m feasting on this dressing, I start to wonder how a dressing that is normally made from a wine vinegar and olive oil could exist without calories. Yes…these things run through my mind. So, I turned the bottle over and took a look at the ingredients. They include: triple-filtered purified water, balsamic vinegar, white vinegar, cellulose fiber, salt, dijon mustard, lemon juice, onion powder, garlic powder, white pepper, natural flavors, natural spices, caramel color, xanthan gum, sucralose (SPLENDA!! NOOOOO!), and sodium benzoate. Yeah…first of all…SPLENDA! NO NO NO NO NO!! SPlenda is bad. And bad for you. And now I just want to dump this dressing down the drain and get something real and good and made with natural products. That’s my next problem…cellulose fiber? Sodium Benzoate? Huhwha?
As far as the nutrition panel reads…it’s flooded with zeros. Zero calories, zero fat, zero cholesterol, zero protein, zero fiber, but it does have 260 mg of sodium. This dressing is gluten-free, calorie-free, sugar-free, and fat-free.
But the Splenda thing is really bothersome. I just don’t like it. At all. So…fat and calories aren’t bad for you…you just have to take them in moderation. And so that is how I shall take my salad dressing.
But no longer from Walden Farms. While I appreciate their products and have enjoyed all the ones I have tried…I just can’t continue to put Splenda into my body. Not when I’m trying to better it.
Product: Crunchmaster Grammy Crisps Cinnamon & Sugar – $2.95+
One of my favorite things in life is that sweet/spicy blend of cinnamon and sugar. Honestly. I love a light coating on my gluten-free French toast…or over my air-popped popcorn. I love it just dusted over a schmear of vegan butter spread on a gluten-free slice of bread, tasted in the oven…to make the perfect cinnamon toast. Yes…cinnamon and sugar is my thing. It might explain why Snickerdoodles continue to be my favorite cookie…ever!
And while this product is no longer really all that “new”…I had really never been able to find it in the stores around here. Until a local grocery store started to carry them in their gluten-free section. I am, of course, speaking of Crunchmaster Grammy Crisps Cinnamon & Sugar. I fell in love with Crunchmaster crackers a long time ago. And about a year ago, I believe, they introduced a few new products. One of which was the Grammy Crisps. When I spotted these on the shelf…I had to take them home. I had to. There was no arguing with me about budget this time. This was a necessity.
Now…growing up I loved graham crackers. I still do, but my gluten-free options are pretty limited to two brands. So, when I heard about the Grammy Crisps from Crunchmaster, I immediately envisioned that flavor of those cinnamon sugar graham crackers from my youth. You know, the ones where one side is coated in crystals of sugar and cinnamon…the other side plain. And what you get is the most amazing graham cracker flavor…ever?
That’s what I envisioned with these.
And I was…kind of right.
Today was the day I broke out the box of Crunchmaster Grammy Crisps Cinnamon & Sugar and dished up a serving (30 grams) to take to work with me for my afternoon snack. I think I sat in anticipation all day, wondering what these would taste like. I almost started to berate myself for not having a backup in case these were just…nasty. But I don’t think I’ve ever had a product from Crunchmaster that wasn’t at least consumable.
When 3 p.m. rolled around, my snack drawer was opened and I was pulling out my little container that held these squares of graham-cracker like cinnamon sugar flavor. Without any show of self control (because sometimes I have none!)…I popped one of these crackers into my mouth and crunched away. My first initial thought was that it actually lacked in flavor. It just tasted…bland. And I was sad. But then, the dusting of cinnamon and sugar on these rice crackers finally kicked in. So…they weren’t overly sweet…or very sweet at all…but then you get this nice hit of semi-sweet warmth from the cinnamon and sugar. It takes a moment…but it gets there.
The texture of these crisps reminds me a lot of what regular Crunchmaster crackers are like. Very substantial, crunchy, but light. They really do give you a nice crunch with each bite. I just wish the seasoning was, perhaps, cooked into the crisps rather than dusted on the outside. It is just this close to perfect. But it misses the margin ever so slightly.
Let’s talk ingredients. I would say, with the exception of the sugar, that this snack would almost be considered clean. It has very few ingredients, being made from brown rice flour, whole grain sorghum flour, sugar, cinnamon sugar seasoning, potato starch, safflower oil, and salt. I recognize every single one of those ingredients. Which is always reassuring when it comes to buying something processed in the store. At least I don’t have to look up some crazy preservative or chemical additive to find out what it is. The Crunchmaster Grammy Crisps Cinnamon & Sugar are certified gluten-free, free of peanuts, cholesterol free, contain no saturated fat, and are made from 100% whole grain.
Now, let’s talk the nutrition aspect. These are little brown rice crackers that are dusted with a cinnamon sugar blend. One serving is 30 grams, or about 25 crisps. This serving will dish you up 130 calories and 2 grams of fat. That isn’t bad for a snack. The sugar level sits only at 5 grams, which is actually amazing considering that these are cinnamon and sugar flavored snack crackers. These have only 150 mg of sodium as well. And, this serving will also give you 1 gram of fiber and 2 grams of protein.
My love for Crunchmaster products continues…even though I wasn’t blown away by these crisps. They are good. They are. They remind me of Cinnamon Toast Crunch…actually…just without all the sweet sugary flavor that encapsulated every little square of that cereal. That was my sister’s favorite cereal growing up, so we ate that a lot. The flavor of these is a bit reminiscent of that. I liked these though, enough to polish off the box in the next couple of days (I’m a serving-size stickler). If you love the flavor of graham crackers…with a touch of sweet and spice…then the Crunchmaster Grammy Crisps Cinnamon & Sugar might just be for you.
If you find them…they are at least worth a taste. If you like the taste of cinnamon and sugar…these have it. It just isn’t the initial WOW-factor on flavor I expected. But, they are definitely worth a try. Trust me.
Product: So Delicious Unsweetened Cashew Milk – $2.49+
You know…I’ve found that even if I could drink it…I have lost my appetite for cow’s milk. Seriously. I have no real urge to pour a glass and down it. That being said…I have been drawn in and become hooked on unsweetened non-dairy milks…such as those made from nuts or coconut. Honestly. It doesn’t get much better than your morning cereal swimming in a pool of unsweetened almond milk…does it? It’s one of my little joys in life. And I’m not ashamed.
Well, I think the minds at Turtle Mountain, makers of the So Delicious Dairy Free products, have introduced a new line of dairy-free beverages. From the company that makes, honestly, some of the best coconut milk, some of the best almond milk…and some of the best other products that utilize those…So Delicious Dairy Free has brought Cashew Milk to the market.
Yes.
Cashew. Milk.
Why this hasn’t been done before, I don’t know.
I mean, I’ve downed soy milk, rice milk, hazelnut milk, almond milk, coconut milk…I even did one of those nut-milk blends that was made from almonds, hazelnuts, and cashews. But never, ever…just cashew. Which is sad…because it is my favorite nut. It’s also the most popular nut in America, with 31% of people naming it their top choice (almonds came in at 16%). Cashews have a delicate flavor, but are quite rich. And they are a great source of iron, phosphorus, selenium, magnesium, and zinc. They also contain high levels of antioxidants that can help lower the risk of cardiovascular and coronary heart disease.
Cashews are not just delicious…but little powerhouses in their own right!
Currently, So Delicious offers two varieties of their Cashew Milk. Both of which are unsweetened. One is the original flavor the other…vanilla. I’d love to try vanilla, I just have to find it first. As it was, this was tucked away on the bottom shelf at my local Whole Foods. I didn’t see it, but my roommate spotted it and I commenced with yet another happy dance in the aisles of Whole Foods. Their Christmas video of goofy customers will be filled with me this year, I swear. So, as the only available option is the Unsweetened Original Cashew Milk…that’s what I bought.
This morning…it made its debut. Actually, I opened it up last night to pour into my Maple Raspberry Overnight Oats, but…I didn’t taste the milk. My roommate did…and said it tasted like almond milk. That’s her palate for you.
So, I’m working on polishing off a box of Vanilla Chex…so this morning, my cereal got a nice, healthy dash of So Delicious Unsweetened Cashew Milk. I found it to have a bit more body to it than unsweetened almond milk, meaning it was a bit thicker…more like cow’s milk. I tasted it…and found that it had a very smooth and light flavor. I liked it. Maybe not as much as my unsweetened almond milk…but I liked it. I liked it enough to slurp it up by the spoonful with my cereal. Now…lunch today, I retrieved my Refrigerator Oats and sat down to devour it. The cashew milk was SO good in that. I mean, it had a thicker consistency, so it wasn’t as soupy as it usually is. It really softened up the gluten-free oats, mixed well with my dairy-free yogurt, my pure maple syrup, and the raspberries I added for flavor. It was fantastic. I’d use the So Delicious Cashew Milk in that every single time I make it…if I could. I was blown away. And I think I ate them faster than I ever had before. I loved that both varieties that are out are unsweetened. I only buy unsweetened almond milk, so that was how I wanted my cashew milk. It has a bit of a richer texture and flavor…and I liked it. As a cashew lover…well…that’s a good thing.
Let’s talk ingredients now…because I have been cutting certain additives out of my diet wherever possible. I was so happy to see that So Delicious Unsweetened Cashew Milk did not have carrageenan listed. Total win. What this milk is made up of includes: cashew milk (filtered water and cashews), non-GMO canola oil, calcium phosphate, magnesium, magnesium phosphate, locust bean gum, gellan gum, guar gum, vitamin A acetate, sea salt, vitamin D-3, L-Selenmoethionine (selenium) zinc oxide, folic acid, and vitamin B-12.
As for the nutritional information I like to pass on…keep in mind that this is milk derived from a nut. Therefore…it is going to have more fat than other non-dairy products. And…this one actually has a lot of fat in it. A serving of 1 cup will only serve you up 35 calories, but 30 of those calories are calories from fat. Yeah…that’s…a lot. One cup will also provide you with 3.5 grams of fat and 85 mg sodium. This beverage has no fiber, no protein, no cholesterol, and no sugar. I’m bummed about the protein part. At least I get 1 gram with almond milk.
So…overall…a delightfully tasty beverage from So Delicious. The Unsweetened Cashew Milk is just as good as it sounds. I hope to track down the vanilla version of it sometime because I love my unsweetened vanilla almond milk and treat myself to it every now and again.
So Delicious…you are definitely living up to your name…as you tend to do. Thank you for introducing my favorite nut to milk form and livening up my breakfast and lunch. SO DELISH!
Rice is a staple in my kitchen. It can be used as a base for my quick Indian foods from Tasty Bite. It can be made into a filling for a taco or gluten-free quesadilla. It can be thrown into a stir-fry. Or…it can be used to make a risotto. The possibilities are endless. And I have every variety of rice hanging out in my pantry…trust me.
It just so happened that my CSA bin, last week, had four lovely ears of yellow corn inside. I didn’t have time to get to the corn last week, so I started trying to come up with some unique way to use it…rather than some deconstructed Mexican corn dish or something. The answer came to me via a recipe on the vegetarian food blog, Amuse Your Bouche. A risotto made with roasted corn and smoked paprika. It sounded fantastic. And between my bin and items already in my fridge and pantry…I just happened to have everything necessary to make it.
So…this morning after an 8 mile run, I came home, showered, then got to roasting up the corn for this particular risotto. The kitchen smelled fantastic as it was roasting away in the oven. Yes…the oven. The rest…that all was worked on after a quick circuit training session. And it all came together in a beautiful and highly tasty dish. In fact, Cathy, my roommate, declares it her favorite risotto I have ever made. And I’ve made a lot of risottos in my cooking days. So, that was a huge win.
250 grams corn kernels (I used fresh, cut from the cob, and weighed it. It was just over a cup. You could also use sweet corn from a can, if fresh corn is not an option for you)
10 grams butter (just under 1 tablespoon)
100 grams cheddar cheese, grated (just under 1/2 cup)
Salt
Black pepper
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 medium onion, finely diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons smoked paprika
200 grams arborio rice (I weighed it, and it’s just about 1 cup)
4 cups vegetable stock (or 1 stock cube plus ~4 cups hot water)
1 tablespoon fresh coriander, chopped (optional)
Directions:
Lay the corn kernels out on a baking tray in a single layer.
Add a few small pats of butter and sprinkle with just a little of the cheddar (around 2-3 tablespoons – save the rest for later).
Season with salt and pepper and place in an oven heated to 400°F for around 30-40 minutes, stirring well halfway.
Remove from the oven when it is golden brown and the pieces at the edge are beginning to turn crispy.
While the corn is roasting, prepare the risotto itself.
Heat the oil in a large, deep frying pan, wok or risotto pan, and cook the onion and garlic, along with the paprika, over a medium-low heat for 5 minutes, stirring regularly.
Add the rice and cook for about 2 minutes more.
Then begin to add the stock, around 1/2 cup at a time, allowing it to be mostly absorbed by the rice before adding a little more. Be sure to stir regularly. It’s okay if the mixture bubbles very gently, but keep it on a low heat.
Continue adding more stock (and stirring well) until the rice is cooked and at your desired consistency – around 30 minutes. Add the remaining grated cheese, the chopped coriander (if using), and the roasted corn.
Serve warm.
~*~*~
The Amuse Your Bouche Web site does say that this risotto reheats really, really well. Which is good, because both Cathy and I have a serving of it for tomorrow’s dinner as well. Honestly, this risotto was packed…and I mean…packed with flavor. Cathy said it reminded her a lot of a gourmet macaroni and cheese…but with rice and corn.
I know…sometimes she states the obvious. But…the fact is…this risotto was just amazing. Super delicious. Creamy. Filling. And just made of epic YUM!! But…you should be the judge of that. So…don’t fear risotto. Embrace it. And make some tonight. I recommend this recipe. I highly recommend it.
My training program has me running at least two 20 mile training runs. Due to upcoming vacations and time spent at a higher altitude…my training schedule got a little bit flip-flopped in the upcoming weeks. It had to happen. While I don’t doubt I could rock out 20 miles in Boulder, CO or even Denver, CO…I don’t know of any places to rock such a run out in, nor do I know if my body can adjust to that high altitude in order to hit the required paces. Therefore…I took some liberties with my training schedule and bounced things around. Never hurts…keeps it interesting.
That being said…this meant that yesterday was my first ever 20 mile run. Believe me, it can seem a bit daunting. But I was feeling good that morning. My legs felt strong. There was a light breeze…and 20 miles felt like nothing. Now…how many people can honestly say that. It was run with Harry and Linda…part of my running group…and I kept it at my Long Slow Distance pace. I was so surprised with how good I felt at the end of the run itself. I probably could have kept going for a few more miles. That is the best feeling in the world. It means I’m training right. Just the boost of confidence I needed.
This week ushered in some gorgeous morning weather that made my runs really, really enjoyable. Nothing like waking up in August to 57°F and low humidity. Loving it. Seriously loving it. And what that meant was that I was really feeling good on my running this week. The difficulty and mileage went up…but I just rolled with it. I even did good on the extras I’m doing to better myself. And, I can actually see results. And that is the most fantastic part.
Let’s take a look at this week…
Sunday ushers in what I like to call my “Whatever My Legs Feel Like” training run day. I just go until I don’t want to go anymore. I always keep it under the previous day’s mileage…just normally run it a little harder. My Long Slow Distance training runs on Saturday help with endurance. These Sunday runs…they’re a chance for me to see what my legs can do while still recovering from the previous run. If they aren’t feeling the run, I stop. It’s that simple. I did a grueling 17 miles on Saturday in high humidity and rain, testing out new shoes and socks. There were many breaks on this run, as two of my fellow runners were keeping a more deliberate pace in the distance we were covering. So, on Sunday, when I headed out, I had no intention of running 14.3 miles…but I did. I can’t tell you what possessed me to go that long after a hot 17 the day before, but the morning felt good and I got out early in order to beat any of the sun for most of the run. I stayed off the hills as well, but really enjoyed being out and about. I clocked my 14.3 miles in 1:51:41…which felt good. It really did. I think I was smiling at the end of it.
Monday morning put me back on my revamped training schedule. I start almost every run these days in the dark, so that doesn’t even factor in now. Amazing how that happens. I am missing my earlier light in the morning, but I just strap on my headlamp and reflective gear and get it done. On the weekdays…that’s the norm for me. I was out the door at 4 a.m. to log 7 easy miles. The temperature was in the high 50s, which felt amazing. But as I was running, my left shin started to bother me. I was concerned it might be shinsplints, but it turns out I have a bruise on my shin and my compression sleeve was just hugging that area. Figures. I managed to get through that 7 miles with negative splits. And, as always Monday is also the day of the Daily Double…so after work and a quick bite to eat, I was heading down to my running store for the Monday fun run. There were six of us there, two (Laura & Amy) were heading out to do their run/walk routine on the scenic loop. So the remaining four of us (Mike, Joe, Ellen and myself) all headed out to run the Scenic Loop at Cherokee Park. Because my calf muscle on my right leg was being finicky (I blame breaking in new shoes on a 17 mile run) and my shin was bruised and bound again in compression sleeves, I wanted to take this run easy and stick with the group. And I did. Up until Ellen stopped for water and said she would catch up. Mike and I went on ahead…and we ran back to the store. Ellen never did catch up, but I think Joe stuck with her. As we were waiting on the light to change to cross over Bardstown Road, Mike said to me, “You’re so fast. And that’s not a bad thing for a runner.” It made me feel good! Honestly. And as I made some gluten-free chocolate chip cookies as a reward to my fun run group, Ellen said she could have a cookie if she didn’t start walking on Dog Hill. And she didn’t. So she got her cookie as a reward. Another 3.3 miles logged on Monday.
Tuesday, as always, is my cross-training day. And this Tuesday really was no different from the previous ones. I resist the urge to go for a run…despite really wanting to do so. And I hit the gym before work. This time…I was on the Arc Trainer for 45 minutes, set it for Program 4 – Pike’s Peak. And I did this at Level 5. I managed 2.36 miles, which isn’t bad given the changes in incline, resistance, and the intervals that it puts you through. Afterwards, it was the rowing machine. I bought gloves to wear when I do this one, which definitely made rowing so much easier. I have a love/hate relationship with the rowing machine. It works everything, but it can be just as boring as the stationary bike or treadmill. I usually end up glancing around at the others on machines…or focusing intently on my form. Anyway, I managed 1.19 miles in 10 minutes on the rowing machine. I hit up a few strength machines to help build up some muscle. After work, it was time to circuit train and that was a challenge after the gym…but it had to happen. The circuit training felt good to hit up after a long day at the office, even if I really didn’t want to tackle it. The fact is…I did.
Wednesday was speed work day. With classes back in session, my track workouts had to move to the treadmill. BAH! I hate that blasted machine. But…when speed work and pacing day comes along, the interval speed work has to be monitored properly. And this was no easy session either. I got up early and got to the gym right as it opened. This morning called for a 1 mile warm up, then 3 x 1600 meters at Marathon Pace with 2 x 800 meters at an easy pace for recovery. Then I finish it all up with a 1 mile cool down. I did just as I was instructed and rocked out these 6 miles in 47:21. Not too shabby. I kept my warm up and cool down slower than usual to allow my muscles to get warm, and then finally relax. I ran the marathon pace part slightly faster…and then the easy recovery at an easier than normal easy pace for me. So, I think in the end it all balanced out. I felt like a rockstar though when I finished it up. After work, it was the second day of circuit training. I’m trying to keep it so my roommate and I blast through the circuits at least 2 times a week. More if we feel the need. But twice a week seems to work. We were both feeling the previous day’s workout so I think this circuit was done a bit easier than the prior day.
Thursday is my crazy-busy workout day. That morning I got up to log my 7 easy miles, which were, in fact, faster than Monday’s 7 miles. How I managed that on legs that were tired and sore from speed work and circuit training, I’ll never know. But…I did in fact manage it. Maybe it was the amazing 57°F weather that morning. Maybe I was just feeling good. I felt like my legs were really having to push on this one, but somehow…negative splits happened again. That was the confidence I needed going into the gym afterwards. I pushed through 45 minutes on the elliptical, dialing in 9.13 miles. Then, the dreaded stationary bike was next…and in 10 minutes I hit it up with 3.89 miles. So bored. I was trying to actually take it easy on my run and gym routine, because on this particular Thursday, the BlueMile Brew Mile series was wrapping up with its final race. Yep. I was able to make all 5 of them. Love running races for charity and getting my roomie a free beer at the end of it. So, this BlueMile Brew Mile was at Against The Grain over by Slugger Field. It was the sight of the first one that we ran this year too. Came full circle for sure. Anyway, I donned my Wonder Woman outfit for this one and we headed out for the mile run. I even convinced a co-worker of min, Justin, to come out and do it too. He used to run cross country, so he agreed. I knew this wouldn’t be my best mile…so I just kept it comfortably hard. I knocked it out in 6:55, which isn’t too bad. I’ve had slower and I’ve definitely had faster during this series…but it was fun. And I lost Justin on the hill coming back up to round to the finish line. He did manage a sub-8 minute mile though. Proud of him. Trying to get him to come out for the Monday runs.
Friday is the dreaded, but necessary, rest day. As usual, I took myself out for a brisk stroll in the morning. Why? Because I need to do something in the morning or I might go insane. This Friday, I logged a 3 mile walk in 34:42. Not bad. I was wearing (or attempting to wear) a fuel belt that Harry brought for me to try, since it had four bottles. But…it didn’t quite fit me. BUMMER!! So, I have a purchase I need to make at the race expo in two weeks at Disneyland. It was another gorgeous morning in the high 50s. The walk was just what I needed.
30 foot Statue of David in front of the 21c Museum Hotel
Saturday was the long slow distance pace…for 20 miles. Not just the furthest distance I have run yet…but also…the first time 20 miles even came into the picture. Was I nervous? Not really. I was pretty stoked to be gearing up my marathon training to hit that 20 mile mark. It was going to be myself, Harry, and Linda leaving at 6 a.m. on Saturday to hit 20 miles. But Harry had a route picked out…and, man, was it ever gorgeous. Linda was running a little more deliberately than I was…so Harry tended to rotate between running with me, then falling back to run with her. I took to the streets in Louisville, running to the Second Street Bridge…then across it. Man…that has to be one of my favorite runs ever. That bridge, when you catch a breeze like I did that morning, just gets you to that happy place. I wasn’t quite 4 miles in and I felt like I had reached that runner’s high. It was an amazing run across the bridge. And when I got to the other side, I waited on Harry and Linda. When they caught up, we headed to the Falls of the Ohio, then ran the flood wall. I pulled ahead here, too, running at an easier than normal pace, but taking the lead and running until the yellow line on the trail ended. I waited for Harry and Linda there. Harry took Linda and I off the beaten path briefly to show us a log cabin. Very cool! We refilled water bottles, then took the path through the parking lots…instead of back out to the road and down a mega-steep hill. We ran this road all the way out to Hwy 62 in New Albany. I gave a wave in the direction of my home as we came up to the road and stopped to turn around. Harry said he was off by a mile so we’d have to make that up somewhere. I was good with that. We started back, and instead of turning to immediately head back over the bridge, we hit up Jeffersonville’s river front where lots of restaurants are. We ran through a neighborhood, just over to the border of Jeff Boat. And…then…we came back to the normal route. We refilled water bottles again, then it was time to hit the Second Street Bridge and head back. Once again, I hit that bridge and every part of me just wanted to GO! Runner’s high for the second time. It felt awesome. I just took off and when I reached the other side, I paused and waited. Linda was heading back to the store, but Harry and I had about a mile to add on. So…he took me over to the Statue of David, which stands outside Louisville’s famous 21c Museum Hotel. This gold statue is 30 feet tall. Amazing. We used this as a photo op, then continued to make our way through the streets of Louisville. When we got back toward Baxter Avenue, Harry told me that if I wanted to take off to do so, as he was running another 20 miles on Sunday, so he needed to conserve some energy. I took him up on the offer and for the last 2 miles…I ran my pace…my speed…even passed up Linda at one point. And when all was said and done…I hit 20 miles in 3:01:59. Not too shabby. Not bad at all. And the reward to everyone who ran that Saturday was Paleo Cinnamon Glazed Pumpkin Donuts that I stayed up late and baked. Everyone complimented me on how delicious they were. Total and epic win!! And, despite not really wanting to do so…I did down my Arbonne Chocolate Protein Shake after the run. My stomach wasn’t wanting it, but I knew my body needed it. Later that day, I scored a pair of Vibrams for $20 on sale at a local running store. They were even the ones I wanted. TOTAL WIN!! Don’t you worry…I have no intention of ever, EVER,EVER running in these. I got these to walk around in and build up some strength in my feet. My podiatrist might have a stroke if he knew I was wearing them…but he’d definitely have a stroke if I ever ran in them. Not risking tearing my plantar fascia again. That totally sucked last year. I stick to the shoes that my feet need when it comes to running. These…are to hopefully build strength in my tender feet. We’ll see. At least if they don’t work out…I’m only out $20 and not the usual price of $100.
Things that I’m learning…I’m craving fruit more and more each day. I get cases of the RUNchies on runs and definitely on those higher mileage days, get RUNgry. A lot. It amazes me how fast my body burns through the fuel I give it while out that long. I also can tell that these longer, slower runs are helping me with my speed and endurance. When I focus on speed, I can feel the renewed strength in my legs, and the power. And I know a lot of that comes from the endurance I’ve built, running easier, running farther, and just…minding my form and everything else.
Already looking forward to seeing what I manage this coming week in my training schedule. Another flip-flop ahead…but for good reason. More on that…next week.
Baking makes me as happy as cooking does. Especially when I am doing it for other people. And it has become a bit of a habit for me to spend my Friday nights in my little closet of a kitchen, baking up something for all the runners who come out and do their long distance run on Saturday morning. I am a part of this group. And, I think we all need something to run for, when it comes down to it. Why not a little treat…a reward for pushing through all those miles and ending up back at the coffee house where those who didn’t go as far, or perhaps ran a little faster, congregate and catch-up for a bit.
There is one member of this group of amazing people who has been having so many issues with the foods she eats. She is currently trying the Paleo diet, but working in some of those “forbidden” foods…because she is an athlete and she needs certain things to power her through. It’s just been a matter of seeing how her body reacts to certain things. Have I ever been there, done that. While most of my goodies are gluten-free (the Paleo diet is gluten-free), they haven’t always had items that she could eat. I was determined to change that this week.
As I have donut pans that are always begging for use…I went out, purchased a small bag of coconut flour (for an ungodly amount of money) and spent the later hours of the evening making donuts for my group the following morning, using a recipe from FastPaleo. Paleo donuts. Donuts she could, in fact, eat. Who would have thought? And I made them with two of my favorite things…pumpkin and cinnamon. Yummy!
Combine all ingredients in a mixer, food processor or blender (anything works) except for the glaze.
*Note that coconut oil and maple syrup is needed for the doughnut and the glaze. Optional ingredient if it appears too dry: 1 cup room temperature applesauce (the kind with cinnamon would rock).
Evenly distribute onto the baking pan and bake for 20 minutes.
Cool on a cooling rack.
When cool, flip over to allow them to fall off pan.
The Glaze:
Combine the coconut oil and maple syrup in a dish.
Combine the coconut crystals and the cinnamon in a bowl.
Use a pastry brush to brush the top (or all sides) of the donut and then dip it onto the dry mix.
~*~*~
It’s really that easy. I didn’t need to add applesauce to my mixture of ingredients. And these donuts were soft, moist, and really, really packed with flavor. I was beyond impressed. So was my group, apparently. Because I ended up baking 20 of these and only 3 of them were left on Saturday morning after we all finished our runs. And the leftover three were devoured by my roommate and I this morning for breakfast. Even gave them a little warm-up in the microwave, as if they were fresh out of the oven. Honestly…SUPER delicious.
One of the group was raving to me afterwards about the donuts. It makes me happy to share something I love to make with those I enjoy being around. And with those I know appreciate the time and effort I put into these.
My Paleo runner was not there this past week…but after this three week hiatus where I am out of town…I’ll resume my baking trend and see what I can create that will be safe for her as well.
Until then…I intend to make many many more of these donuts. And at 104 calories and 6 grams of fat per donut…it’s a treat that is definitely worth indulging in. Epic yum! Try them. You don’t have to be gluten-free or Paleo to enjoy them. Obviously. My running buddies proved that. High marks and high praise all around.
Seviche – A Latin Restaurant, Louisville, Kentucky
Restaurant: Seviche – A Latin Restaurant, Louisville, Kentucky
After a lot of talking about doing it…and then never…never…ever getting around to actually doing it…my roommate and I, along with our co-worker, Justin, have been making a point of visiting various local restaurants in the ever-expanding foodie city of Louisville, Kentucky. And why shouldn’t we? It’s in our own backyard. We live here…and yet we fell into always going to the same spots over and over again. And yet, Louisville is really finding its voice in the culinary world. Why overlook the spoils that we are readily provided?
Yesterday, we upgraded a little as far as restaurant choice. We opted to go to Seviche – A Latin Restaurant, located on Bardstown Road in Louisville, Kentucky. In all the years I’ve lived here, I have often walked by this restaurant, gazing in as I’ve passed…seeing the white table cloths and wondering…what the food was like.
Tack onto that the fact that the restaurant’s kitchen has three-time James Beard semifinalist, Anthony Lamas, at the wheel. Anthony Lamas has been featured at the Atlanta Food and Wine Festival, the Charleston Wine and Food Festival, and Bobby Flay’s Breeders’ Cup “A Taste of the World” event. He proudly serves only sustainable seafood at Seviche. He opened Seviche in 2005 and since then, the restaurant and Lamas has garnered major praise and attention. Esquire magazine said that “Seviche has emerged as one of America’s best and most innovative Nuevo Latino restaurants with plenty of the chef’s personality in every dish.” It later states that if you have time for one meal in Louisville…you should make it Seviche. In 2011, Lamas won the title of Extreme Chef on the hit Food Network show by creating a wedding menu with $99 worth of ingredients from a 99 cent store.
As for the restaurant itself, it was named “one of the ten great places for Latin flavor and flair” by USA Today in 2009. Louisville, Kentucky is very lucky to have this little gem. Honestly…I was impressed, hands down, even before I reached the restaurant.
Here’s why…
You see, with my special dietary needs, I tend to look at menus ahead of time and then get in contact with the restaurant itself in order to better prepare for my visit. It’s always good to know if I’ll be dining on a protein bar while my friends eat or if I, too, can indulge in the food that is being served. That being said, I sent an e-mail to the General Manager, Hap Cohan, who replied promptly to my inquiry about gluten-free and vegetarian options. After all, I was heading to a restaurant known for…seafood…so I wasn’t sure what would be good for me to eat. He replied that they do not have any gluten-free vegetarian options on the menu, per se, but the chef would be more than happy to make something for me. They often do a local vegetable plate with whatever fresh produce is in house…or they could build an entree with the items that are on their regular menu. He also recommended the gazpacho that was served during the summer. He asked for my name and party I am dining in so he could notate my requirements on the reservation so the chef and manager on duty would be aware when we arrived.
And when I arrived, I didn’t even have to specifically ask for the gluten-free menu. The hostess was already grabbing for it for me. I felt a lot of relief. We were seated and given a chance to look over the options for dinner. I was really stoked about being all dressed up for dinner at local restaurant that has received so much praise and high accolades for its food and its chef. I already had an idea of what I’d be eating…but then an option caught my eye on the gluten-free menu. So, I think I had my mind made up right away. As for drinks, while they had an amazing list of alcoholic beverages to choose from, with a 20 mile run awaiting me the following morning, I stuck with water, which comes with a cucumber in the glass. Refreshing. And different. Loved that. When Justin arrived (fashionably late), we all settled in to decide on what we’d like to eat that evening.
Time to place our orders. Justin went with the Mahi Mahi Tacos ($19.00), which included pico de gallo, cabbage, and a cuban lime aioli. Cathy went off the specials menu…ordering first the Sopa de Dia, which that evening was a Chipotle Cheddar Potato Bisque ($7.00). With that, she went out of her comfort zone, ordering the Albacore Tiradito Seviche ($15.00). She always said she hated tuna…so this surprised me. Turned out she forgot Albacore was tuna.
As for me, I ordered the Roasted Beet Salad ($13.00), which included lemon arugula mojo, capriole goat cheese, and mustard.
Seviche – A Latin Restaurant’s Roasted Beet Salad
With our orders in, we were able to sit and chat, drink our water (or in Justin’s case…his mojito)…and just talk about whatever we wanted…that didn’t involve work. As we all work together…that seems to be the way of it. And it’s nice that way.
When food arrived, I was just blown away by the sheer beauty of the plates. First of all, every plate on our table was a different size and shape. We joked with the waiter who brought out the food about it being culinary Tetris. But, we managed to get it all on the table and soon we were diving in. Cathy first tried the soup, immediately falling in love. She said it was right at her heat threshold…the perfect amount of spice and heat without it killing her palate. This is saying something because, as stated before, she is a heat and spice wimp! As for her Albacore Tiradito Seviche…she was in love. It was paired with watermelon, yuzu, and chili flakes with it. And yeah…she was enamored. With TUNA!! I applaud her foodieness. I told her not to judge tuna by the stuff in the can. She agreed!
We asked Justin how his Mahi Mahi Tacos were, and he was already done with one of the two he was served. Obviously…he was impressed. This was good, because he didn’t look at the menu before coming to the restaurant and had a bit of sticker shock at the prices. It was good that the food did live up to the cost. Besides…sustainable seafood. That’s important.
But…with the gluten-free vegetarian dining at a Latin Restaurant known for seafood dishes…well…I was the tricky one. First of all, the Roasted Beet Salad looked stunning. So bright and vibrant. Beets are a great food for runners. So, that was part of the reason I chose it with my long run the following day. It’s supposedly like legal doping. Who knows. I’ve grown very fond of roasted beets, so this salad won me over. Pairing it with the goat cheese and the mojo and mustard was fantastic. Fresh tomatoes were scattered about the beets as well. Super delicious. I savored each bite. And this was not a giant salad by any means. But every bite of it was amazing. I definitely cleaned the plate.
When our waitress returned…we had clean plates and smiles on our faces. She inquired if we were interested in desserts. Cathy said…”We are always interested in desserts!” She retrieved the dessert menu and we made the initial inquiry as to what, if anything, was gluten-free. She didn’t think anything was, but went to the kitchen to check. She returned a short moment later, saying that the renowned The “Avocado” dessert was gluten-free, as was the Bourbon Butterscotch Pudding and the Housemade Ice Cream. Since they were known for The “Avocado,” Cathy and I decided we had to get that. So we decided we would split it. Justin got one all to himself.
The “Avocado” ($7.00) is avocado ice cream, formed into the shape of half an avocado and sitting in a chocolate shell. The pit is a bourbon chocolate truffle. It is accompanied by dulce de leche and a coffee pine nut soil. It definitely sounded intriguing. And…hello…avocado ice cream. SOLD!
This dessert was gorgeous. Literally…gorgeous. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but it was plated beautifully and totally looked like an avocado. I love whimsical dishes and this definitely was a fun play on a favorite food. All in delicious dessert form. It looked gorgeous, but how did it taste? SUPER! Cathy took the “pit”…the bourbon truffle…and ended up saving it for last because, while she is not a fan of bourbon…she loved the flavor of that particular morsel. The avocado ice cream was fantastic. Seriously. It was mild, but had light citrus (perhaps lime) notes to each bite. The chocolate shell was crumbly and yummy. And that dulce de leche…the best pairing with the avocado ice cream and chocolate. As for that coffee and pine nut “soil”…when you put everything together…it was magic in your mouth. I was beyond impressed. I was in dessert heaven to be honest. One of the best desserts I have ever been served. Seriously. EVER!
I couldn’t agree more with the sentiment about visiting Seviche if you had just one restaurant to go to in Louisville, Kentucky. Be prepared for a high quality meal…and with that…higher prices than someone might be accustomed to paying. But Seviche, the servers, and the chef all took great care of me and worked with me and my food allergies. For that, I am forever grateful. And the food…it blew me away. I’ve been spoiled. I loved every bite of everything I ate there. I’ve heard good things about their guacamole (also on the gluten-free menu), so next time I venture to that restaurant…I think an appetizer might be in order.
For what it’s worth…Seviche is worth its weight in gold because it really does put out fantastic food, great service, and it’s all right here in my own city. I am one lucky gluten-free girl.
Seviche – A Latin Restaurant’s The “Avocado” dessert
Endangered Species Natural Dark Chocolate Bar with Espresso Beans
Product: Endangered Species Natural Dark Chocolate Bar with Espresso Beans – $2.99+
I love chocolate covered espresso beans. They are little “pellets of power” as my roommate calls them. And she couldn’t be more right. But they have to be dark chocolate coated. Why? Because dark chocolate…as I stated before…is my favorite chocolate and the only one I prefer to consume. Milk chocolate is not for me. And white chocolate…it’s never really impressed me. Dark chocolate, with all it’s healthy antioxidants and heart-healthy qualities is the way to go.
I still remember reading one of Dean Karnazes’ books (he is the Ultramarathon Man for those of you who are unfamiliar with the name) about running in his first ultra marathon. He was at one of the checkpoints and he was given a slice of brownie. What made this brownie the most amazing thing he had ever tasted…was the espresso beans that were baked inside the chocolate fudgey treat. Runners love that extra kick that caffeine can give to their runs…and having it with a hit of chocolate is my favorite way to eat espresso beans.
Imagine my joy when I was at my local Earth Fare store and spotted the Endangered Species line of chocolate bars. They had so many varieties on their shelves and my roommate told me to pick one. ONE!!!!! How was I supposed to choose? But…I did. And while the Dark Chocolate Bar with Blueberries was very tempting (blueberries…another super food for runners!)…I ended up selecting the Natural Dark Chocolate Bar with Espresso Beans.
And I couldn’t be happier with my choice. This chocolate bar ended up getting tucked away in my drawer of run goodies in my kitchen. And, like the chocolate bars that came before it…I totally forgot that they were in there. With sell by dates coming up…I figured now was as good a time as any to work my way through them. A nice little sweet treat for the office day. Perfection. Just what I needed for that mid-afternoon pick-me-up. With the espresso beans, that shouldn’t be a problem.
So, this past week, I opened up the bar and broke it up into 1/5 portions. The serving size on the back indicates that the actual serving is 1/2 of the entire bar. But I just needed a taste…not half a bar at 2 p.m. Just saying.
Let me say this…this bar won me over at first taste. The dark chocolate is some of the best I have ever had the chance to taste. Rich. Smooth. It wasn’t too bitter at all. Just the perfect hit of dark chocolate goodness. And it’s the perfect percentage for dark chocolate so that it isn’t too bitter and you still know you are eating dark chocolate. This particular bar sits pretty at 72% cocoa. The espresso beans…oh…yeah. Just like eating a few dark chocolate espresso beans. That’s what this tastes like. Caffeinated love with a hit of coffee flavor. Color me a happy chocolate-eating girl.
This chocolate bar is certified gluten-free, vegan, uses Rainforest Alliance Certified Cocoa, it’s kosher, and it’s non-GMO certified. The cacao is sourced from ethically traded cacao farms that ensure fair trade, responsible labor practices and sustainable farming. Are you sold on this yet? What is even better, 10% of the net proceeds of each bar purchased are donated to help support species, habitat and humanity. That means…indulging in a cause. A very good and important cause.
So…this clean eating chocolate loving lady gives this bar a huge, huge thumbs up. Honestly. I’m totally addicted. Maybe it’s the espresso beans. Maybe it’s the delicious bittersweet dark chocolate. But I’d wager it’s the combination of the two. As far as ingredients go, this chocolate bar is made up of bittersweet chocolate, and roasted coffee. No…really. How’s that? It’s sweetened from vanilla and beet sugar. Clean eating chocolate for sure.
Nutritionally speaking, by breaking it up into 5 portions of 3 squares, I only consume 84 calories and 7 grams of fat. But, if you were to consume the 1/2 bar (or 43 grams) listed as the actual serving size, you’d be taking in 210 calories and 17 grams of fat. It is cholesterol-free and sodium-free. Seriously. And, for a chocolate bar, the 12 grams of sugar isn’t enough to make my eyes bug out of my sockets. There is also 5 grams of filling fiber and 3 grams of protein as well. Love it.
If you want a sweet treat without breaking up with your diet…if you just require a hit of chocolate every now and again, I highly recommend the Endangered Species brand. Even better…if you love coffee…indulge a little in the Dark Chocolate Bar with Espresso Beans. You won’t be sorry. And it does give the right hit of bittersweet goodness and a little pick-me-up when you need it most.
Indulge in a cause. Indulge in Endangered Species Chocolate. Enjoy!
Endangered Species Natural Dark Chocolate Bar with Espresso Beans (unwrapped)
Product: Dark Chocolate Dream Pure Dark Dark Chocolate Bar – $3.59+
If there is one treat (aside from peanut butter) that I allow myself on a daily basis…it’s dark chocolate. Why? Because I love, love, love dark chocolate. I have never been a big fan of the mild milk chocolate…and white chocolate…that’s not even chocolate. Dark chocolate has and will always be my one true chocolate love. I blame my mom for this…as she was a dark chocolate fiend when we were growing up. I guess I do get some of my best traits from mom!
Anyway…I had a stash of these Dark Chocolate Dream dark chocolate bars in my drawer at home. I got them when a local store put them on closeout…as if they were going away forever. At the discounted price…I couldn’t let them get away without me trying them. Right? Right!
Well…I forgot I had them. *hangs head in shame*
No…really…I forgot. I FORGOT I HAD DARK CHOCOLATE IN MY HOME!! What in the world is wrong with me??! Anyway, I uncovered them not too long ago, as I was digging for a protein bar to take with me in case a restaurant didn’t have food for me. It was like uncovering treasure. A stash of like…six dark chocolate bars. All different. All just waiting to be devoured…savored…or whatever.
Working my way through them…the other day, without a dessert plan in mind after dinner (dessert is important…it must happen and it always does in my home!), I remembered that I had a Dark Chocolate Dream Pure Dark Dark Chocolate Bar in that drawer…and in my pantry…Marshmallow Fluff and some gluten-free graham crackers. Do you see where I am going with this?
S’MORES!
I mean…gluten-free s’mores for dessert?! Brilliant, yes? Absolutely!
So, I went to the drawer and dug out the Pure Dark bar. Prior to this, I had a couple other Dark Chocolate Dream Dark Chocolate Bars…the Raspberry and the Rice Crunch. I broke off two of the squares for the s’more, retrieved the gluten-free graham crackers from the pantry and the fluff. One graham cracker got the bit of chocolate placed onto it…the other one…layered with Marshmallow Fluff. I took my kitchen torch (yes…I have my own kitchen torch) and toasted up the fluff before sandwiching them together for the perfect gluten-free (and vegetarian) S’more.
One bite…and I knew I was in Pure Dark heaven. Because the star of the s’mores was not the toasted fluff (although that is delicious) or the gluten-free graham crackers. No…the star is that hit of bittersweetness that can only come from amazing dark chocolate. This chocolate is rich…which meant it was the perfect thing to pair with the sweet fluff and the salty-sweet graham crackers. It just brought balance to everything. And…the Pure Dark Dark Chocolate Bar is simply that…dark chocolate. Nothing else. Just solid dark chocolate. And…yes…it is amazing. Let’s not forget, dark chocolate is actually considered healthy and good for you. It is loaded with antioxidants and heart healthy stuff.
So…what is this amazing Pure Dark Dark Chocolate Bar made from? According to the wrapper, the Pure Dark bar from Dark Chocolate Dreams contains evaporated cane juice, unsweetened chocolate, roasted soy flour, soy lecithin, cocoa powder, pure vanilla extract.
As for the nutritional value. Well…it’s chocolate. Need I say more?
But for those genuinely interested…one serving of the Dark Chocolate Dreams Pure Dark Dark Chocolate Bar is 1/2 of the bar. That would be four squares. This serving would provide you with 240 calories and 14 grams of fat. This is why I only do one square at a time…which works out to 60 calories and 6 grams of fat. Regardless…let’s say you really needed chocolate that day…so you went with half the bar. This would also provide you with 15 mg sodium, 23 grams of sugar, 1 gram of fiber, and 3 grams of protein. So…all-in-all…not too bad. Not great. But, this is to be a treat. I recommend 1 square a day…not half the entire bar. Much more manageable. Oh, and you get to enjoy it longer too.
Dark Chocolate Dreams has really impressed me. Honestly. I have enjoyed all three of the dark chocolate bars that I had in my drawer. Each one had something different about it that sort of set it apart from the others. But for the simple love of something dark chocolate and sweet…I highly recommend the Pure Dark bar. It doesn’t get much better than the original.
Dark Chocolate Dream Pure Dark Dark Chocolate Bar (unwrapped)
Product: Pillsbury Gluten-Free Pie & Pastry Dough – $4.49+
I had heard stories about these. Rumors. Whispers in the dark. Advertisements in my gluten-free magazines. I knew they were out there…the problem was I couldn’t find them. Anywhere.
What am I talking about?
Pillsbury’s new line of gluten-free refrigerated mixes.
For real!
Yes…Pillsbury. As in the Doughboy. Or…now…the Gluten-Free Doughboy.
I was strolling through my local grocery store over the weekend. I was on a mission. Bananas for Tuesday’s after-I-work-out breakfast banana split. Honestly. But first I had to check out the manager’s special area. Usually Sunday is the day to do that. But not this week. But as I was striding past the refrigerator section holding the yogurts, the cheeses and the butters and margarine…I spotted these beautiful little containers that had that light violet color I saw in the ads.
“OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD!” And then I took off. Which left my roommate watching me scurry over to the refrigerated space. She followed and I started picking up the three different items that the store had in stock. You see Pillsbury introduced three gluten-free doughs, pre-mixed and ready…very convenient. Gluten-Free Cookie Dough, Gluten-Free Pizza Crust Dough, and Gluten-Free Pie & Pastry Dough.
I did this hillarious happy dance of joy, pumping my fists, doing a little jig and…turning to face my roomie and giving her the sad eyes that declare, “I really, really, really want these in my life!” We had plenty in our fridge, so she said maybe next week. I conceded, but my hand went back to the Pie & Pastry Dough.
“But…I can make the Tomato and Goat Cheese Tarts…”
That was all I needed to say. The Pillsbury Gluten-Free Pie & Pastry Dough made its way into my hands to be taken to the register…along with the bananas, which was our original reason for shopping that afternoon. We paid, we went home, and this little tub of gluten-free joy went right into my refrigerator. And on Tuesday (Moday is fun run night…so that’s an easy food day), after a rough circuit training…it was time to see how this dough would do with the Tomato and Goat Cheese Tart that I used to make using puff pastry…you know…before I knew I had to go gluten-free.
Pillsbury Gluten-Free Pie & Pastry Dough (rolled out for the tarts and topped with grated Parmesan)
I knew that this dough wouldn’t puff up like a puff pastry, but I figured I could make it work. I basically followed the recipe for the tarts as I used to make them, substituting the puff pastry portion with a serving of this Pie & Pastry Dough. I scooped out a serving (56 grams) of dough and placed it on my lightly floured board. I floured my rolling pin and rolled the dough out to a six-inch circle (roughly). I repeated this with another serving, then plated them on the baking tray, gave a light sprinkle of Parmesan cheese, topped that with the onions I caramelized, a thick slice of tomato, a little salt, a little pepper, some goat cheese, fresh basil, and finally some shaved Parmesan.
While the container has this baking at at a much lower temperature, I went with what my recipe had for the original tart with puff pastry. Into the oven at 425° F, I baked this for the 20-25 minutes, checking on it every now and again to make sure that it wasn’t burning.
I was shocked that this actually worked. Honestly. But the tart came out beautifully. Sure, it didn’t puff up like it used to, but it didn’t need to. I served each of us one of the tarts and we settled in for dinner. My roommate dug right in, commenting on how she loved how the dough didn’t get soggy and how that it was still golden and flaky. I took that as a win as I took my fork and sliced into mine.
She was right. This was the ultimate dough for the crust of my Tomato and Goat Cheese Tart. The dough itself baked into a perfectly golden crust, not turning soggy in the middle where the toppings were all stacked onto it. In fact, I was so pleased with the way this turned out. It had this beautiful crisp outside and this flaky texture. It was one of the most amazing things I managed to make with a gluten-free dough. I was in love with every bite. Every. Single. Bite.
For real!
Needless to say…Pillsbury impressed me. Honestly. Pillsbury won me over with this dough. And I’ve only used it for one thing. I might have to try to make a calzone with it next. Hmmm…that might be an idea for Sunday…
So, let’s talk ingredients and nutritional information. The not-so-fun part of this blog. But…it is important, because I value everything I put into this body. So, while it’s not always pretty, I like to be aware of what I am consuming.
The Pillsbury Gluten-Free Pie & Pastry Dough is made from soybean oil, water, cornstarch, modified potato starch (BOO!), hydrogenated soybean oil (BOO!), rice flour, whole sorghum flour, fructose, sugar, salt, xanthan gum, guar gum, citric acid, and some preservatives. So…yeah…clean eating it is not. But I made a deal to do at least 70%/30%…so I was going to allow this to fall into my 30%.
Nutritionally speaking, a serving (56 grams) will bake you up a crispy golden serving of 250 calories and 17 grams of fat. So…yeah…it’s not a light dough by any means…but at least it tastes good. All things in moderation, my friends. That being said, the Pillsbury Gluten-Free Pie & Pastry Dough is cholesterol-free and has 340 mg sodium. This has 3 grams of sugar and less than 1 gram each of protein and fiber.
That being said…using it as the base for my Tomato and Goat Cheese Tart worked out wonderfully. I just want to make that again and again and again. And I can, because I still have over half the dough in the container in my refrigerator. Squeak of gluten-free doughy glee! Honestly…the dough was perfect. I was afraid that it would just be mushy and unimpressive, but this was one of the most beautifully baked crusts I witnessed. Especially in the gluten-free crust world. I am so happy with Pillsbury right now…I could…just hug that little Doughboy.
Gluten-free…anything…that might need a flaky, golden crust…just got a whole lot easier. And yes…it’s true…
Nothing says lovin’ like somethin’ gluten-free from the oven.
Pillsbury…I think I love you.
Gluten-Free Tomato and Goat Cheese Tart made with Pillsbury Gluten-Free Pie & Pastry Dough
The Celiathlete 