Category: Bread

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A Wild & Wonderful Weekend

In the midst of everyday stresses and stressors, it’s always nice to have a little break from the things that are just…making you feel so BLAH about life and what you are doing with your life.

For me, this week, it was having my beautiful sister, Karla, drive up from Birmingham, Alabama, with her eldest son, my nephew, Landon.  I didn’t know how much I needed her and the distraction of having her and Landon here to really just allow me to relax, smile, and be me again!

Family, especially my sister, is, apparently, the cure to what ails, troubles, and bothers you.  I’ve been having…a not so amazing time these past few weeks…and, unfortunately, it’s something I am not really allowed to discuss.  Censorship sucks, yes?  YES!  But…just trust me…the type of personality I have and the person I am…it’s been bothering me on a fundamental level, which, has added a lot of added stress to my already chaotic life.

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Suckage.

But this weekend…was amazing.  I love spending time with my sister…and it doesn’t happen often enough.  So, her texts and calls that ask what I’m doing on certain weekends means…she’s coming to visit.  And I LOVE when she comes to visit.  She and I are best friends and sisters and just…have always been close.  So, me living this far away for 11 years (YES…11 years as of Friday)…has not been easy on either of us.  But here is some of the mischief that we got into this weekend, helping me to not even think about the bad and sucky things that have made a certain portion of a time of my day…a thing I have resented and even loathed at times over the past couple of weeks.

Here’s to sisters…and nephews…and family…and general FUN!  They make the world right again.

1.  Fish in the Water

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One thing Karla and I had discussed for Landon to do while here was to go to the new water park in New Albany.  Unfortunately, Friday left us with thunderstorm warnings and the threat of pop-up storms.  So, at around 3:30…when she arrived and we left the office…the lifeguards were being sent home and the park was closing.  So, Plan B…go to the YMCA and let him swim.  He was swim tested and given permission to go to the life guard chair in the lap pool and to go down the slide in the kids pool.  So, for a good portion of the afternoon…about an hour and change, that’s what he did.  Cathy, Karla, and I all sweltered to death in the humidity of the pool area of the YMCA while he played and cooled off in the pools.  It was worth it to see the smile on his face!

2.  SUSHI TIME!

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My sister commented a week or so ago about how delicious my vegetarian sushi looked when I Instagram-ed it and posted it to Facebook.  And then…I had a brilliant moment of brilliance.  My nephew, Landon, is a very, very, very picky eater.  BUT…he does love cheese things.  Cheese quesadillas, cheese sandwiches, mac & cheese….ALL THE CHEESE!  With the excitement over sushi on my post, I thought of the perfect place for us all to grab dinner, that even Landon couldn’t turn his nose up and refuse to order anything.  Dragon King’s Daughter to the rescue!  For those of you who are not local, Dragon King’s Daughter is an Asian-fusion restaurant with two locations…one in New Albany, Indiana, and one in Louisville, Kentucky.  The menu includes traditional fare from the Far East, as well as contemporary fare with a unique twist.  They offer classics of Japanese dining such as lemongrass miso, vegetable, and sushi rolls, as well as a multitude of new creations including a mixture of East and West forms and flavors.  On the kids menu…a cheese quesadilla…and for the adults…we all went sushi.  My sister and I figured we could get a roll each and split one…so I got the Vegetable Roll, she got the Buffaroll, and we split the Green Acres Roll.  Cathy went for the fishies…and got the Shrimp Tempura Roll and the Dragon King’s Daughter Roll.  And after that…a trip over to the Comfy Cow for an ice cream dessert.  What a great first few hours.

3.  Playtime at the County Fair

It just so happens that the Floyd County Fair happens across the street from where I life.  Convenient, yes?  After dinner and dessert, we came home and walked over to the fairgrounds to scope out some rides and the barns with Landon.  He went on three rides (he had 4 tickets, but he wanted his mom to ride with him on one he wasn’t sure about).  He loved going to see the animals.  And one of the highlights for me was seeing my sister crack up every time the goats bleating.  Her laugh is so contagious.  We all shared lemon shakeups and just walked around.  After that…it was time for showers and then we were all down on the couch to watch Zootopia and then…they took over my room and went to bed and I crashed out on the couch so I could get up early and head out for my 12 mile run and get it done before too much of the morning was passed.

4.  It Runs in the Family

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One of the best things we decided to do, was to go for a short run together.  After my 12 miler, I got home and Karla and Landon put on their running clothes.  We hiked up to Sam Peden Park and ran a loop.  It was hard for Karla, as she hasn’t run in a long while…and she’s not used to the crappy air quality of the Ohio River Valley, but she was a trooper and pressed on.  I ran right there with her to encourage her…and Landon…he was busy chasing down the Army men who were running there.  He beat quite a few.  It was awesome.  Landon has amazing speed and gorgeous running form.  He’s a natural and I love watching him run.  Needless to say, it was a great way to start the day as a family.

5.  Wild Eggs

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Breakfast was the next most important stop on Saturday.  We stopped off at Highland Coffee for some coffee first…and then took the drive over to Westport Road to go to Wild Eggs.  Landon already knew he wanted pancakes and BACON.  He made sure to tell me that if I got an omlette, he wanted my BLUEBERRY muffin.  Since I can’t eat the muffin, I was totally cool with this.  It had been forever since I went to Wild Eggs for breakfast…but it was a nice return.  They even have gluten-free bread and a gluten-free menu now.  LOVE that.  Yes…it even includes gluten-free pancakes, French toast and the like.  That was exciting.  But after 13 miles of running and a hike to and from the park…I wanted some protein.  So I ordered the Surfer Girl Omlette (fresh spinach, wild mushrooms, tomato, cream cheese and onion and topped with diced fresh avocado, pico de gallo, sour cream and fresh alfalfa sprouts. Served with skillet potatoes).  I got mine without the cream cheese and sour cream.  My sister got the same thing, just without the mushrooms (she hates mushrooms).  And Cathy got the Kalamity Katie’s Border Benedict (green chili cheddar corn cakes,topped with chorizo, two poached eggs and queso fundido, pico de gallo, sour cream, green onions and avocado. Served with skillet potatoes and an Everything Muffin).  And, yes, I got a blueberry muffin for Landon.  He was pretty full after eating the two pancakes that were as big as his face and the bacon he ordered…but he took a few bites.  The rest…came home with us and then went home with them today.

6.  Pierced Ears

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Okay, here is something that I didn’t expect to happen this weekend.  My sister and I got to talking about earrings…and she brought up how her daughter (she’s 16 months) had her earrings work out perfectly…and how my mom (whose holes closed because she stopped wearing earrings) had just gotten her ears pierced a few weeks ago.  I said that I keep saying I need to get it done but just haven’t pulled the trigger.  I think a part of me thinks it will fail again.  As a kid, I gave the pierced ears a try about 5 times, but always and an allergic reaction to them.  My sister was the same way, but it worked for her as an adult.  So, she told Cathy to pull into somewhere that could pierce my ears.  We did.  And now I sit here with beautiful 4mm white gold studs in my ears.  Karla taught me how to clean and turn the earrings every day (3 times a day)…and the rest is history.  So here is hoping that they work out this time around…because I have wanted to have pierced ears for a long, long time.  Leave it to my sister to get me to do something like this on a short weekend visit.  HA!

A shopping trip to a few of our favorite stores followed up that little adventure.

7.  Putt-Putt

Because you can’t just spend the day shopping when you have a 9-year-old boy with you, we took Landon to the Renaissance Fun Park.  We had discussed Go Karts…but opted, instead, for putt-putt.  It had been ages since my sister and I went putt-putting.  It was a lot of fun.  The easy holes on the course they put together there are actually quite challenging.  But we had a blast.  Afterwards, Landon and I took on some air hockey…which he won…and then he played a few more games after that…until the money on his card ran out.  It was worth every moment to see him out there laughing and being a competitive little boy.


8.  SOCCER!!!

One of the main reasons my sister aimed for this weekend was that the local professional soccer team, Louisville City FC, was playing on Saturday night.  And, since Landon is a HUGE soccer fan, and soccer player himself, we thought it would be fun to take him to a match.  I said I wanted to get him a replica jersey for him to wear during the match and she picked him up a hat and then got a t-shirt for Chace.  I made sure Karla wore the logo t-shirt I owned to the match as well.  They got some pizza for dinner and we settled into our seats at midfield to enjoy.  I have never seen Landon so into an event as that soccer game.  Seriously, he was shouting at the players and the refs…and it was just magical and fun and amazing.  I bought him ice cream at half time because…it’s my job as Auntie…to spoil him and get him hyped up on sugar.  HAHA!  In the end, after a horrible call by a ref, we ended in a draw of 1-1…and Landon had hoped that some of the players would come over to the midfield (they usually do) so he could get pictures and some autographs, but they all returned to the locker room without coming over.  He was bummed, but he still had a fantastic time, and I loved seeing him light up the way he did when Louisville City scored the first goal of the match!

9.  Home-Cooked Breakfast

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I gave my sister and Landon the option of grabbing breakfast out at a restaurant before they hit the road…or having me cook breakfast for them.  Landon really wanted waffles (with powdered sugar, which he now LOVES thanks to Wild Eggs putting it on his pancakes), scrambled eggs…and bacon.  So, my sister and I hit the grocery store for bacon (this vegetarian does not have bacon on hand), eggs, and a gluten-free waffle/pancake mix.  And then, this morning, I got to cooking.  I started the waffles first, knowing that would take the most time.  He wanted the Mickey Mouse shaped waffles…so I made that happen for him.  And, because we adults weren’t too sure we wanted waffles, we had gluten-free avocado toast with our eggs.  I started cooking the bacon before Karla emerged from the bedroom, but she took over that so I could focus on toasting the bread, doing the waffles, and scrambling the eggs.  It all finished up at the right time…everything done when it should be.  Breakfast was served.  And I didn’t take a picture of it, but Karla and I cook epic breakfasts together.  And Cathy now has lots of bacon in the fridge for this coming week.  Which makes her happy.

After that…they had to hit the road and get home…

It was hard to let them go, but I know Karla’s husband and other two kids were missing her and Landon like crazy.  I just was having such a good time and all the time together went by way too fast.

They got home late this afternoon…and she said that they missed me as well.

I hope we do it again soon.

Sisters really do make everything better!

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Product Review: Sweet Note Gluten Free French Toast Bagels

Sweet Note Gluten Free French Toast Bagels
Sweet Note Gluten Free French Toast Bagels

Product: Sweet Note Gluten Free French Toast Bagels – $7.25

Breakfast.  Breakfast is not only the most important meal of the day…but the most versatile and best meal…in the history of ever.

Anything can be breakfast, honestly.  There was a time when a cold slap of pizza would carry me through my morning classes to lunch time.  That was a very long time ago.  Back when a container of spaghetti was fair game for brekkies.

That being said, I have always been a fan of “real” breakfast food.  Seriously.  Breakfast has always been the most magical and wonderful meal of the day.  My mom made it a point to cook a hot breakfast for myself and my two siblings every morning before sending is off to school.  It was always something different…nothing fancy…but just what we needed.

We were also that family that would eat pancakes for dinner.  Or scrambled eggs.  Maybe waffles or French toast.  Yep…breakfast has always been one of my favorite things in the history of ever.

So, you can only imagine how my mind was blown when the Crazy Bagelers at Sweet Note Bakery put together the ultimate fusion of ultimate breakfast favorites.  Bagels (because…New Yorker here!)…and French toast.

YES…introducing the ONLINE EXCLUSIVE Gluten Free French Toast Bagel.

FRENCH. TOAST. BAGEL.

Let those three words sink in for just one moment…

…one epic moment.

Because this, my friends, is epic breakfast food.  Bagel fusion at its finest, for real!  Imagine, if you will, the most perfect, dense, chewy, amazing New York-style bagel.  Now…imagine if it tasted like maple syrup and dreams.  Can you imagine it?  If not, you’re in luck…because this heavenly breakfast food is available through Sweet Note Bakery’s online store.

It’s Friday…and I was out of the vegan and gluten-free pumpkin pancakes I made earlier in the week.  I asked my roommate if bagels were okay in the morning.  She agreed.  So, as is my typical Friday morning…I did my core work, my physical therapy exercises, and all that before heading to my 5:30 am spin class.  Upon my return, I turned on the oven, greeted the roomie who was on the couch, ready for the freshly brewed coffee.  She got a nice warm cup of coffee and I pulled the last package of Sweet Note Bakery bagels out of my freezer (don’t worry…four new packages that I ordered came in today).  It was the (amazing sounding) Gluten Free French Toast Bagels.  I set out to my usual perfect thawing method…heat for 30 seconds on side, flip over, heat for another 30 seconds.  Let sit for about 30 seconds…slice…toast in oven.  It’s simple…and this has been the best way to not get harder parts on the bagel when you thaw them in the microwave.  My microwave is ancient…but it came with the apartment…so maybe that just happens with my caveman microwave…but this helps even out the heat and allows the bagel to get to that right level of softness to make the knife slip right through.  I placed them on a baking sheet, stuffed them in the oven, and went to take a shower.  15 minutes later, I was out of the shower, dressed, and pulling these amazing smelling bagels out of the oven.  Seriously…it smelled like…like warm maple syrup and pancakes.  But like toasty bagels too.

Before leaving for spin, I pulled the Daiya Vegan Cream Cheese out of the fridge and measured out two servings.  Then, I sifted in a bit of confectioners sugar and drizzled in a bit of maple syrup.  I whipped it all together and put it back in the fridge to chill.  This is what got spread over each half of the Sweet Note Gluten Free French Toast Bagels.  To finish it off in true chefy fashion, each half got a small additional drizzle of pure maple syrup.  I walked out a bagel to my roommate, schmeared with my special cream cheese and set her to feasting.  I went back to prepare my own…ready to dive in because I was H-U-N-G-R-Y.  And these smelled A-M-A-Z-I-N-G.

As I was preparing to grab my own cup of coffee and settle in on the couch to watch some of the news before heading to work, I asked her what she thought.  She was chewing…and didn’t actually answer me.  I asked her later on and she said, “I don’t know where the French Toast part came from, but they were tasty.”  I explained that the French Toast part of the name probably comes from the cinnamon and maple flavor that infuse the bagel and rests atop it too.  Finger-licking-good!

Sweet Note Gluten Free French Toast Bagels with a schmear of Vegan Sweet Maple Cream Cheese and Coffee!!
Sweet Note Gluten Free French Toast Bagels with a schmear of Vegan Sweet Maple Cream Cheese and Coffee!!

So, here is my more thorough take on the Sweet Note Gluten Free French Toast Bagels.  Do you love a breakfast that you can pour maple syrup over and devour?  Do you like French Toast?  Do you like bagels?  Texture-wise…the Sweet Note Gluten Free French Toast Bagels taste like…a bagel.  But the sugar-y, maple-infused top and bagel itself, with that little brush of cinnamon flavor…definitely makes you think of French Toast.  Without that weird egg-y flavor/texture that you can sometimes get.  It’s, honestly, the perfect fusion of two of the most amazing breakfast foods.  I loved the little hint of spice that the cinnamon adds, and the sugary sprinkle on top was a very nice touch.  That maple flavor is key, though, making it taste like pancakes and bagels and French toast and breakfast.  All the breakfast.  I think the sweetness that the confectioners sugar added to the cream cheese made for the perfect topping for this breakfast treat.  I mean, powdered sugar and French Toast go together like…pancakes and syrup.  The maple syrup that was stirred in added to that French Toast appeal.  And yeah…I had to remind myself to slow down and savor my breakfast instead of just gobbling it down mindlessly because it tasted so amazing.  That perfect golden toasted crust and that soft and chewy dense center…ah…so good.  So very good…and reminiscent of the bagels I could eat back before the Celiac diagnosis.  Seriously, no one would guess these were gluten-free if they were just given one to eat.

So, what exactly goes into this breakfast nosh of dueling breakfast treats?  Well, I can tell you!  The Sweet Note Gluten Free French Toast Bagels are made from love (yep…that’s an actual ingredient), water, white rice flour, tapioca flour, sweet white rice flour, sorghum flour, sugar, cane syrup, molasses, maple syrup, yeast, xanthan gum, psyllium husk, salt, cinnamon, and vanilla extract.  As with all other Sweet Note Bakery bagels, the French Toast variety is gluten-free, soy-free, dairy-free, non-GMO, egg-free, peanut & tree nut-free, and cholesterol free. And breakfast heaven.

As far as nutritional information goes, these bagels have all the basics covered.  A serving of the Sweet Note Gluten Free French Toast Bagels is 4.5 ounces (128 grams), or one (1) bagel.  This bagel will serve you up 310 calories, 4.5 grams fat, 0 grams saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 300 mg sodium, 65 grams carbohydrates, 3 grams fiber, 14 grams sugar, and 4 grams protein.  Due to the higher fiber and protein, these will leave you feeling full all the way through lunch.  I know the sugars seem a bit high, but it’s a French Toast bagel.  There’s going to be sugar.  Worth it.

Okay…so if you still haven’t tried Sweet Note Gluten Free Bagels…what are you waiting for?  I have reviewed every single one of them…so look up the tag “Bagels” on my site and look them over.  Seriously…you need these in your life.  Whether you have to eat gluten-free or not, these taste amazing and are the most authentic gluten free bagels I have ever eaten.  The first time I ate one, I had to double-check the package to make sure they were seriously gluten free.  Small, dense, and NY-style all the way…you’ll love every bite of the French Toast bagels…or any of the other varieties.

Hop over to their Web site and check them out.  Just…trust me!

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Restaurant Review: Hops & Fire: Craft Tap House

Hops & Fire: Craft Tap House, Greenwood, Indiana
Hops & Fire: Craft Tap House, Greenwood, Indiana

Restaurant: Hops & Fire: Craft Tap House, Greenwood, Indiana

Normally, whenever I venture up to Indianapolis for an event, race, or whatnot, my one requirement is a stop at Cheeseburger in Paradise…because I can get a gluten-free veggie burger with gluten-free fries (or sweet potato fries)…and the burger custom made (no cheese; no sour cream) to fit my dietary needs.  This is awesome, as any frozen burger patty, or even homemade burger, tend to be a bit mushy and end up slipping out of any sort of gluten-free bread used as a bun (be it an actual gluten-free bun or just some gluten-free bread).  Cheeseburger in Paradise doesn’t have that problem…and it’s nice to be able to safely eat a veggie burger (so many use breadcrumbs as binder) out at a restaurant AND not have to eat it with a fork and knife (meaning…they have a gluten-free bun and I can pick it up).

Needless to say, I ran two half marathons, two weeks apart up in Indianapolis.  After the first one (OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini Marathon), I did hit up Cheeseburger in Paradise.  But two weeks later, I wasn’t ready to revisit Paradise.  I just had it.  My craving had been satisfied.

That being said, when I returned to the Indianapolis to run the Geist Half Marathon, I wanted to try something different.  Step out of the comfort zone…try something new.

I had been hearing some buzz around a place located in Greenwood, Indiana, by a bunch of my friends up in that area.  It was a craft beer tap house called Hops & Fire.  And what was pointed out more than once was that when you step inside to be seated, the hostess will ask if you require any special menus.  In addition to their regular menu, they have extensive vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free menus.  I told her I was a gluten-free vegetarian and she grabbed both of those menus and a regular one for Cathy and told me that the menus don’t often cross over each other, but anything on either menu can be made gluten-free, vegan, or vegetarian.  She took us to our table and we were seated.

Our waiter was totally adorable and came over to introduce himself.  His name was Kyle and he asked how we were doing.  Cathy pointed at me and said, “Well, she just ran a half marathon…”  He raised his eyebrows and said, “So I’m guessing you want water.”  HA!  He was so right.  Cathy had thought about trying one of their craft selections, but in the end started with the water.

Two menus and having so many options was a bit overwhelming to me.  The only thing I knew I wanted to try was Gluten Free 3-Cheese Garlic Bread.  I bought Lactaid specifically for this meal.  No joke.  We went ahead and mentioned that we wanted that as an appetizer and Kyle said he’d put that in while we finished making our decisions on what to eat, as it was the appetizer that took the longest to prepare.  While he was gone, I started to narrow down my choices, getting it down to three options.  After a little back and forth and pros and cons, I went for the one that didn’t contain cheese…as I was certain I was about to consume more cheese than my body was going to like momentarily.

Kyle returned to take our order, and as usual, as I’m the complicated one, I ordered first.  I went with the Gluten Free California Wrap…keeping the House Chips as a side.  Cathy went with the Stout Pork Belly BLT, which was served with a side of their Parmesan House Chips.  Orders were in…after Kyle had to go and figure out how to combine two menus to make a dish.  Poor guy!

Hops & Fire Gluten Free 3-Cheese Garlic Bread
Hops & Fire Gluten Free 3-Cheese Garlic Bread

Only a few moments late, a large plate was being carried to our table and put in front of us.  Clearly, when I saw the fact that I could get Gluten Free 3-Cheese Garlic Bread…I didn’t read the description.  This plate and appetizer was HUGE.  Definitely enough for 4-8 people.  Hops & Fire Gluten Free 3-Cheese Garlic Bread ($9.00), is a full gluten-free baguette, which is drenched in roasted garlic and salted butter, served with a gooey, melted blanket of shallots and chives, which are smothered in Provolone, Mozzarella, and Romano cheeses.  This is then baked so that the top of the cheese gets golden and everything is melty and ooey-gooey.  It comes with a side of marinara.  I took my Lactaid and hoped for the best (sometimes it helps; other times, it doesn’t).  I grabbed the slice on the end and pulled it away, the cheese stretching and making me…so happy.  I cut it up, dipped a piece into the marinara…and immediately lost my mind.  If you go to Hops & Fire, this is their signature appetizer and it is not to be missed.  The gluten-free baguette was crispy on the outside and that perfect toasty, but still soft on the inside.  The cheese was melted to perfection.  The garlic was superb.  Yeah…this made me SO happy.  And, for the record, the Lactaid worked…this time.  Thank goodness!  This was A LOT of food, so Cathy and I said we’d eat half of it and get a box and take the rest of it home.  That’s what we did as our food arrived.  We boxed it up…and it was lunch the next day.

Hops & Fire Stout Pork Belly BLT with a side of Parmesan House Chips
Hops & Fire Stout Pork Belly BLT with a side of Parmesan House Chips

So, let’s start with Cathy’s lunch, shall we?  My om-nom-nomnivore (haha) friend loves to eat pig in any form she can.  This is no joke.  She loves her pork products.  So it was no surprise to me that she chose the Hops & Fire Stout Pork Belly BLT ($12.00) off of their Brewed Baskets selections on the regular menu.  It came with a decent serving of their Parmesan House Chips on the side.  This sandwich is not your typical BLT.  Hops & Fire serves up a stout beer and kosher salt-brined local pork belly, which is seared, roasted, sliced thin, and pan fried, then topped with baby bibb lettuce, beefsteak tomatoes, and homemade apricot onion jam…served on their grilled garlic shallot bread.  Here’s the thing…they do NOT skimp on the pork belly bacon in this BLT.  Not one bit.  You’ll see by the photo I’m putting up here for those of you who are not a gluten-free vegetarian like me.  I mean…it was BACON. FOR. DAYS.  She had more bacon than Parmesan House Chips.  And that’s not a bad thing, as the protein is, honestly, what you are shelling out money for.  She said the garlic shallot bread was amazing (we Celiacs will never know…).  She said it could have used a slight bit more mayo…but it was awesome.  And yes…she devoured it all and the chips.  Carnivores.  Oy!

Hops & Fire Gluten Free California Wrap with a mountain of House Chips
Hops & Fire Gluten Free California Wrap with a side of House Chips

As for me…I went ahead and combined an offering on the Vegetarian Menu and asked that it be made gluten-free.  I opted for the Gluten Free California Wrap ($12.00)…mostly because it didn’t have cheese and avocado always wins.  The California Wrap is a gluten-free tortilla that is stuffed and rolled up around fresh sliced avocado, beefsteak tomato, bibb lettuce, pickled onions, and a roasted garlic aioli. OH MY GLUTEN FREE GODS!!  This was a simple, basic, wrap, but it tasted amazing to me.  Maybe it was because I had just pounded out 13.1 miles and was living off of watermelon and water at that point, but this wrap was great.  Gluten-free tortillas are nothing to write home about, and I’m pretty certain this was the standard gluten-free teff tortilla.  But it just serves as a way for me to pick up and devour the veggie-licious produce that was stuffed and rolled up inside.  The aioli, by the way, was delicious.  The avocado was ripe and sweet.  The tomatoes…so good.  I loved every bite of this wrap.  It came with a mountain…no…a landslide of their House Chips, which I couldn’t even finish.  Where Cathy had a decent side of hers, the chips serving was bigger than my wrap…so…I ate what I wanted and left the rest.

Hops & Fire Gluten Free and Vegan Ice Cream Sundae
Hops & Fire Gluten Free and Vegan Ice Cream Sundae

We were full, but we couldn’t end our experience there.  Kyle tempted us with a dessert menu, pointing out that those marked with a gf were gluten free and also the codes for vegan and vegetarian as well.  We were very tempted to get one of the Desserts For Two (yeah…we so wanted the Gluten Free and Vegan S’mores Cast Iron Cake), but in the end, decided we were too full for that and went with splitting a single serving of the Vegan Ice Cream Sundae ($5.00).  This was a small bowl (thank goodness) that had a scoop of vegan ice cream, drizzled lightly with hot fudge.  It was perfect and a great way to end the meal.  It was amazing.  The ice cream was not as creamy as regular ice cream, but it was cold and melty and amazing.  And the hot fudge…that’s always a welcome addition to anything ice cream-ish.

Kyle brought us our check once we had polished it off and we paid in cash and got our things together to go.  We talked about the food for a bit of the drive home…and how amazing and good it was.  I was beyond happy with the service and the attention paid to each dish that was ordered, making sure that it fit my dietary needs…nothing that made me take pause and question whether it was safe for me to eat or not.

I’m already planning my return to Hops & Fire.  So, if you happen to be in the Indianapolis area, or traveling through, do make the trip to Greenwood and check out this amazing and delicious place.  You have a specialty diet…they have you covered.  And I love it.

Next time…gluten-free onion rings.  It’s happening!

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Product Review: Sweet Note Gluten Free Unicorn Bagels

Sweet Note Gluten Free Unicorn Bagel
Sweet Note Gluten Free Unicorn Bagel

Product: Sweet Note Gluten Free Unicorn Bagels – $9.99

You didn’t think they existed…but they do.  You thought they were a myth…but they are not.  Yes…the infamous Rainbow Bagel gets a gluten-free makeover thanks to the crazy bagelers at Sweet Note Bakery.

God, I love them!

Just before…and I mean…right before…as in DAYS before I went to New York City back in March, the big article about the Rainbow Bagel that The Bagel Store in NYC was offering hit the mass media…and it was…insane.  I felt a little pang of judgement (okay…okay…resentment) because I, myself, could not have one.  And they looked so, so pretty!  And delicious.  Pretty delicious too!

So, my bagel experience in NYC was left up to the gluten free offerings at Tompkins Square Bagels…which was fine…but it wasn’t a true NY-style bagel…and it just didn’t seem perfect to me.  And…the Rainbow Bagel was out there.  Sometimes schmeared with birthday cake cream cheese.

Life wasn’t fair.

But then the rain lifted and the sun came out, and the amazing ladies over at Sweet Note Bakery said, “You know what?  Celiacs shouldn’t have to miss out on tasting the rainbow.  Skittles got nothing on us.”  And so, a little while after my return from NYC…I saw a prototype of their own rainbow bagel on their Instagram feed.

And I coveted it.  I said if they put it out on the market, I’d buy it.  I needed it.  No, I wanted it!  They had asked if people would be interested in buying it…and that they were going to look into more natural food dyes as well (although their first attempt was with natural food dye and it baked out)…before offering it on the Web site.  I immediately chimed in with my calm, cool and collected, “I would buy them”…which…the more times the Rainbow Bagel appeared on their feed…the more this became…”OMG I NEED THESE IN MY LIFE RIGHT NOW!”

Well, last week…it happened.  They aren’t using natural food dies yet…but those crazy baglers have made their version of the Rainbow Bagel…called the Unicorn Bagel (don’t you love it??!) available as an Online Exclusive purchase in their store.  So…yes…for now, you can only order these online.

So…I threw more money at these wonderful people and put in my order.

Here’s the thing…I have been a collector of unicorn things since I was a child.  No joke.  Then, when I became a runner and qualified for the Boston Marathon…unicorns returned to the forefront of my obsessions.  So…you give me a swirly breakfast bread of wonderment in fun colors and call it a “Unicorn Bagel”…my money is coming at you and these are finding a way into my life.  No doubt about it.  And that, my friends, is how I wound up with the new Unicorn Bagel in my freezer…which lasted all but 15 hours before they were out and being thawed in the microwave and toasted in my oven.

It’s important.  Because…NEW GLUTEN FREE BAGEL.  Because…COLORS!  Because…UNICORN.  And because it’s a RACE WEEKEND.  So the unicorn theme should be good luck, yes?  Good omen, yes?  Oh…I hope so.

I think I’ve told you enough about Sweet Note Bakery…their origins and the like in all the past blogs I’ve done about them.  If you are just now tuning in…you can read about their history here.  If you want to know why size always matters, especially in certain important matters like…bagel size…read all about it here.  Seriously…if you want authentic New York-style bagels…that are both vegan and gluten-free…NOTHING beats Sweet Note Bakery!  Their bagels are phenomenal.  Feel free to go back to all the past entries (and I still have 1 more of their new flavors to review!) and see what every flavor is like.  Trust me…I grew up in New York.  Bagels and I are BFFs.

Just really quickly though, I will revisit the proper way (or at least the best way) to evenly thaw out the frozen bagels.  DO NOT thaw these on the counter.  It’s easy.  It only takes 60 seconds out of your daily routine.  Simply place a bagel on a plate and place in the microwave. Microwave on HIGH for 30 seconds.  Then, flip the bagel completely over and turn it about 180°. Microwave for another 30 seconds.  Let it sit for a few seconds and then slice in half.  Place each half in a toaster oven or on a baking sheet and in the oven and let it toast up for about 15-20 minutes.  This is normally about the time I leave the kitchen to shower and let my roommate make sure that if she smells smoke to shut off the oven.  But I’m always done before anything gets burned.

Sweet Note Gluten Free Unicorn Bagel with a schmear of Kite Hill vegan cream cheese and rainbow sprinkles
Sweet Note Gluten Free Unicorn Bagel with a schmear of Kite Hill vegan cream cheese and rainbow sprinkles

I can’t even begin to tell you how giddy these bagels made me.  Seriously. They were swirly and rainbow-y and just plain fun!  I pulled them out of the oven when they reached that perfect level of toasty.  I mean…perfect crispy outer crust with the dense and chewy dough in the middle.  Bagel perfection.  I gave each half a schmear of vegan cream cheese from Kite Hill.  And then, because, I’m eating the rainbow here…I gave the cream cheese a smattering of rainbow sprinkles.

DUH!  You can’t eat a Unicorn Bagel without rainbow sprinkles.  And with that…breakfast was served.

Who doesn’t love fun food, right?  The more fun, the more exciting breakfast is.  I loved eating a colorful breakfast.  They say to eat the rainbow…well…they may not have had a Unicorn Bagel in mind when they said that…but…I successfully ate the rainbow today.  HAHA!  And it was tasty.  I get it…it’s a plain bagel with all the dressings of a sparkly soul, but it somehow makes it fabulous, you know?  It tasted sweet, but I don’t know how much of that was the bagel and how much of that was the little sprinkles of rainbow goodness I topped the cream cheese with.  Nevertheless…this bagel is made of complete awesomeness.  You can top it off without whatever floats your boat.  Frosting would have been pretty epic.  I mean, you’re devouring a breakfast bread that is dyed to every amazing color in the color spectrum…have frosting and sprinkless…or whatever…whatever makes you feel like a kid at heart.  Or a Boston Marathoner.  Or a lover of unicorns.  Or just…a lover of bagels.  Or rainbows. Or all of the above.

So, let’s discuss what goes into each of the Sweet Note Gluten Free Unicorn Bagels.  Each bagel is made from love (because all rainbow-type food is made with love…and unicorn tears), water, white rice flour, tapioca flour, sweet white rice flour, sorghum flower, sugar, cane syrup, olive oil, molasses, yeast, xanthan gum, psyllium husk, salt, food coloring (red 40, red 3, yellow 5, yellow 6, blue 1, blue 1, titanium dioxide, modified corn starch, vegetable gum, citric acid, and less than 1/10 of 1% sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate).  They are still experimenting with natural food dyes that won’t fade…and I have every faith that they will find something that works.  But…for now…if food dyes don’t bother you, these are totally epic and worth a try.  As always when it comes to Sweet Note’s bagels, these bagels are gluten-free, soy-free, dairy-free, non-GMO, egg-free, peanut & tree nut-free, and cholesterol free.  Made with love, indeed!!

As far as nutrition goes for the Sweet Note Gluten Free Unicorn Bagels…well…here are the magical facts.  A serving size is one (1) bagel, which is about 4.5 oz (128 grams).  There are 4 servings per package.  Each bagel will deliver 280 calories, 3.5 grams fat, 0.5 grams saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 320 mg sodium, 60 grams carbohydrates, 3 grams fiber, 7 grams sugars, and 4 grams protein.  The mythical morning hunger pangs remained at bay…this was delicious and filling.  Loving the rainbow.

Breakfast should be fun.  After all, it is the most important meal of the day.  You might as well color it up, top it off, and eat it with a smile.  That’s the magic that is inside the Unicorn Bagels.  They are simple…but simply wonderful.  Just because you have to eat gluten-free doesn’t mean that you can’t have fun bagels for breakfast.  Sweet Note Bakery is taking the standard bagel and making it for the gluten-free and vegan bagel lovers.  No limits.  No boundaries.  Anything goes.  Like rainbow unicorn bagels.  The Unicorn Bagel will totally win you over.

Maybe it will make me run faster.

Maybe.

I’ll go for my run…and you go ahead and run over to the Sweet Note Bakery online store and purchase a pack or five of the Gluten Free Unicorn Bagel!

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Product Review: Sweet Note Gluten Free Sunrise Swirl Bagels

Sweet Note Gluten Free Sunrise Swirl Bagel
Sweet Note Gluten Free Sunrise Swirl Bagel

Product: Sweet Note Gluten Free Sunrise Swirl Bagels – $9.99

To a former New Yorker…love is a good gluten-free bagel.  And when I say good, I mean that it has to actually be NY-style bagel quality.  For the longest time, this is exactly what every single gluten-free bagel I tried wasn’t.  Not to say the big corporation names that have placed gluten-free bagels in the freezers of grocery stores and natural food stores didn’t put out a quality product.  In fact, I’ve been smitten by both Udi’s Gluten Free Bagels and the Canyon Bakehouse Gluten Free Bagels (EVERY. SINGLE. VARIETY).  But then…

…the ultimate gluten-free bagel tweeted its way into my life.  This is not a joke.  It literally tweeted its way into my life.

I’m talking about Sweet Note Bakery and their amazing, gluten-free, vegan, delicious NY-style bagels!  Sweet Note saw my link to my blog on the Canyon Bakehouse bagels and challenged me to try their bagels.  While I was hesitant at first, I finally decided that it was actually worth a try.  Their Web site intrigued me.  The bagels looked phenomenal…and they made traditional NY-style bagels.  Not these giant monstrosities the other gluten-free bagel manufacturers were producing…but dense, thick, and perfect NY-style bagels.  Size does matter when it comes to bagels.  An authentic bagel should be about 3 inches in diameter, have a crunchy crust and a chewy, dense center.  And this…this is what Sweet Note recreated to perfection.

Sweet Note began in 2012, when founder and president, Michelle MacDonald, stepped up to a challenge.  She had been baking ever since she was a child and was very passionate about it.  When her grandfather and sister were diagnosed with Celiac Disease, she took the first steps on her entrepreneurial journey.  Her family really missed a good New York Style bagel.  (Hey…I can’t blame them…I know this feeling all too well). So with a lot of experimentation and trial and error, MacDonald perfected the recipe, getting huge approval from her family (also bagel lovers).  Gluten-free bagels that taste good?!  It was a reality.  Sweet Note Bakery’s vision is to make gluten-free options more readily accessible.  Those of us who live with Celiac understand how isolating this disease can be, when you can’t have a meal while out with friends and family, be it at a restaurant or a ballpark, or wherever your adventures take you.  MacDonald wanted to change that…one gluten-free bagel at a time.

And she did…and now she’s delivering these bagels, one step at a time, to the gluten-free (and even the non-gluten-free community).  Seriously, purchasing (and continuing to purchase so that my freezer is never without bagels) bagels from Sweet Note was one of the best gluten-free food decisions I have made…in the history of ever!

I know that I recently reported on the latest four flavors (three of which were online exclusive), but Sweet Note has been busy prepping new flavors and have released three more!!  YES!!  And, for the record…YES…I bought them.  Like…the day that they were announced.  I am not ashamed.  I proudly wave my gluten-free bagel lovin’ flag.  A happy freezer contains a package of some sort of Sweet Note’s amazing bagels.

Well, the three new flavors are actually quite playful and fun.  They introduced the French Toast Bagel, the Sunrise Swirl Bagel, and the Unicorn Bagel (aka: Rainbow Bagel).  My Unicorn Bagels are on the way, but the freezer has been happily cradling my packages of the French Toast Bagel and Sunrise Swirl Bagel…up until yesterday when breakfast rolled around.

I came home from spin class that morning and asked my roommate, who had emerged from her room and was shambling toward the couch, which bagel she’d like to try today.  I won’t lie…I also have the Tomato Basil in the freezer…as they make amazing Bagel Pizzas.  HA!  She immediately said, “Sunrise Swirl.”  Okay…it might have been sort of sleepily slurred (she hadn’t had coffee yet), but I pulled out the bagels that were beautifully swirled with reds and oranges and yellows and set about the usual prep on a Sweet Note Bagel.

My current thawing method seems to be perfect.  So, you can always give this a go too, because I expect you to order at least ONE variety of their bagels.  You won’t be disappointed.  Anyway…my currrent method for perfect defrosting in the microwave…30 seconds on one side, then flip it over for another 30 seconds.  Let it sit for a moment and then slice in half.  If you’re not into toasting (like a true New Yorker), then go ahead and schmear this bagel up with whatever goodness you like.  If you are a true New Yorker (or not) but love a toasted bagel (like me!)…toast it up.  If you have a toaster…go to town.  If you, like me, don’t own a toaster, simply put these beauties on a baking sheet and into an oven heated to 350°F for about 15-20 minutes.  I left them to toast while I showered and changed…and emerged in enough time to get my breakfast chef skills on.

An Egg & "Cheese" Bagel Sammie made with the Sweet Note Gluten Free Sunrise Swirl Bagels
An Egg & “Cheese” Bagel Sammie made with the Sweet Note Gluten Free Sunrise Swirl Bagels

Deciding to do something a little different, I (*GASP*) skipped the cream cheese schmearing this particular morning and instead, dug out my little egg pan and cracked an egg into it, frying it to perfection.  While the egg was working, I pulled some Daiya Cheddar-Style Slices out of the fridge and placed them on the bottom half of the bagels as they finished up their toasting time in the oven.  This gave the cheese some time to melt (as well as vegan cheese melts).  Afterwards, I placed fried eggs on each bagel and topped it off with the top half.  Breakfast sammies…DONE!

Even better…gorgeous breakfast sammies at that.  The colors were amazing and bright and just…beautiful in the Sunrise Swirl Bagels.  What makes that even better is that the colors (that smattering of sunshine) are added naturally to their original plain bagel recipe by using spices such as paprika, annatto, and turmeric.  Yep.  No fake chemicals, dyes, or bad stuff.  Don’t you love it?

Needless to say…the bagels are not only colorful and uplifting to your spirit on an early morning…but they taste good too.  This was the first time I stuck a fried egg between a Sweet Note bagel…but it certainly won’t be the last.  The Sweet Note Gluten Free Sunrise Swirl Bagels taste like an ordinary bagel, but they are extraordinary.  You’ll love how it will perk up your breakfast, whether you schmear it with butter, cream cheese, jam, nut butter…whatever floats your breakfast boat, right?  OR…go ahead and use it as a vehicle for a fried egg, or some (vegan) bacon or (vegan) sausage…layer it with (vegan) mayo and stick some tomato and greens in there.  The gorgeously swirled carb-loaded disk of goodness is your canvas…so accessorize it however you want.

Let’s discuss what goes into Sweet Note Gluten Free Sunrise Swirl Bagels, shall we?  These bagels are made from love (yep…actual ingredient that is…and one that makes ALL the difference), water, white rice flour, tapioca flour, sweet white rice flour, sorghum flour, sugar, cane syrup, olive oil, molasses, yeast, xanthan gum, psyllium husk, salt, paprika coloring, annatto coloring, and turmeric coloring.  As with all of Sweet Note’s bagel offerings, these are completely gluten-free, soy-free, dairy-free, non-GMO, egg-free, peanut & tree nut-free, and cholesterol free.

As for nutritional information, Sweet Note really stacks up when it comes to fueling and providing for your body.  These stats are equal to if not better than standard bagels out on the market.  A serving size of the Sweet Note Gluten Free Sunrise Swirl Bagels is 4.5 ounces (128 grams) and there are four (4) servings per package.  One bagel will provide you with 290 calories, 3.5 grams fat, 0.5 grams saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 320 mg sodium, 170 mg potassium, 62 grams carbohydrates, 4 grams fiber, 8 grams sugars, and 5 grams of protein.  The higher protein and fiber definitely helps keep you feeling full throughout the day.

Here’s something all those big corporation gluten-free bagel producers aren’t doing…they aren’t stepping outside of the box when it comes to bagels.  But Sweet Note is not only thinking outside the box, but they are stepping up and really taking charge of the gluten-free bagel market out there.  Where else will you be able to find a gluten-free bagel that is gorgeously swirled with colors…no where.  While they do offer the standards as well, Sweet Note has really stepped up and created bagels that you normally could only get in a glutenous form at a bagel shop, probably in New York City.  The Sunrise Swirl Bagel is a definite example of that.  And it is not only a joy to look at, but also to eat.  It will brighten up your morning for sure.

The Sweet Note Gluten Free Sunrise Swirl Bagel is an Online Exclusive offering, so hop on over to their Bagel Shop and place and order ASAP.  While you’re at it, try out a few of their other flavors, standard, or artisan…it doesn’t matter.  I swear, you won’t be disappointed.

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Product Review: Sweet Note Gluten Free Onion Bagels

 

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Sweet Note Gluten Free Onion Bagels

Product: Sweet Note Gluten Free Onion Bagels – $7.25

Oh yeah…Sweet Note Bakery is back with some brand new flavors in their online store…and this just means morning are bagelicous again.  Bagelicious is a word, for the record.  I used it in a sentence.  HA!

The moment the announcement of the store carrying their new Online Exclusive flavor on Sweet  Note Bakery’s social media sights, I was heading over there to make a purchase?  Because…that is how much I love these bagels.  No other gluten-free bagels live up to the amazing flavor, texture, taste, and size of these bagels.  And I don’t mean bagels as big as your head, either.

If you have looked at past reviews of other Sweet Note Gluten Free Bagels that I have written, you will know that they developed a gluten-free (and vegan) New York-style bagel for all of us to enjoy.  There is no law that says you have to be on a gluten-free or vegan diet to want to devour these at each setting.  My roommate is neither of those things, and she eats these faster than I do at times.  Anyway, what sets the Crazy Bagelers at Sweet Note apart from the other gluten-free bagels on the market is that they are true to New York-style, creating a smaller, thicker, denser bagel.  When toasted, it has this amazing crunchy crust and a chewy center.  That’s bagel perfection.  BAGEL PERFECTION.  Other gluten-free bagels on the market are light as air, packed with chemicals, and gigantic.  They aren’t as filling and they just don’t have that true bagel mouthfeel.  This is where Sweet Note hits the sweet spot.  Authentic bagels are made with real ingredients and in real size…not super-mega-jumbo.  And I’m okay with that.  I love a good authentic bagel…size, texture, feel…the whole carby package.

Those Crazy Bagel Ladies sure do make this former New York-er, who had to go gluten-free after a Celiac diagnosis 5 years ago, one happy girl.  But I am not alone.  There is an entire community…nationwide…of crazy bagelers who are also in love with ALL THE BAGELS!!  Sweet Note has definitely hit a sweet note with those who are daring enough to try.

So, they have released a few new flavors…at a variety of times, these past few weeks.  But the first of these was none other than…ONION!

Yes…the ever popular, Onion Bagel!  The Sweet Note Gluten Free Onion Bagel is amazing.  Seriously.  I prepared this as I normally do any Sweet Note Bagel.  I pulled it out of the freezer this morning after a short run and a spin class and microwaved two bagels…one at a time…for 30 seconds.  Then, flipped it over and hit it up for another 30 seconds.  I then sliced each bagel in half and placed it on a baking sheet.  You all know by now that I don’t own a toaster or a toaster oven, so I put these into the oven and left them in the mindful watch of my roommate while I went to shower off and get ready for work.  About 15-20 minutes later, the amazing aroma of roasted onion wafted through the apartment and I was pulling the baking sheet out of the oven and making goo-goo eyes at the golden bagels that now awaited a schmear of some sort of topping.

Today…Daiya Vegan Cream Cheese.

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Sweet Note Gluten Free Onion Bagel with a schmear of Daiya Cream Cheese

It just made sense.  And, technically…was all I had in my fridge for this bagel.  Although…mashed avocado…ooooh…I know what I’m doing on Wednesday…

So, now properly schmeared with some cream cheese, I delivered one bagel to my roommate and went to pour myself some (very important) coffee before settling in with my own bagel while the news droned on over the presidential campaign and such nonsense.  Ignoring the news, I turned my full attention to my bagel.  My roommate had already devoured one of her halves…so I had a good feeling about this.  I drew in a breath…inhaled that sweet onion smell…and took a bite.

OH YES!  Layers (onions…layers…get it?) of flavor.  Seriously.  I thought that this bagel might have reached bagel perfection.  You have that bitter/sweet/caramelized flavor of the bagels that sit atop the upper half of the bagel.  You have this flavor penetrating all the way through the dough, the chewy center, the crisp crust…all of it…infused with this great, but not overpowering, onion flavor.  The flakes of onion on the surface were a nice touch.  I saw my roommate making sure she swiped up any bit of onion that might have fallen away from the bagel itself.  Nothing goes to waste.  That is the sign of a winner-winner-bagel dinner!  If you’re an onion lover, these are sure to make you tear up (I did it again…onions…tears…HA!  I’m punny!).  With joy.  Tear up with joy.

So, let’s discuss what goes into each Sweet Note Gluten Free Onion Bagel, shall we?  These bagels are made from: Love (yes, that is an ingredient!), water, white rice flour, tapioca flour, sweet white rice flour, brown sugar, cane syrup, olive oil, molasses, yeast, xanthan gum, psyllium husk, onion, and salt.  As with all their bagels, the Sweet Note Gluten Free Onion Bagels are gluten-free, soy-free, dairy-free, non-GMO, egg-free, peanut & tree nut-free, and cholesterol free.  Made with love, indeed!!

As for nutritional information for the Sweet Note Gluten Free Onion Bagels…you’ll eat this up!  They really do stack up to the competition.  Since they are made with real ingredients, every bite of these bagels are better for you and your body.  A serving size is 4.5 ounces (128 grams), or one (1) bagel.  ONE FULL ONION-Y BAGEL!  One bagel will serve you up 290 calories, 3.5 grams fat, 0.5 grams saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 320 mg sodium, 62 grams carbohydrates, 4 grams fiber, 8 grams sugars, and 5 grams of protein.  With the higher fiber and protein counts, these bagels will keep you feeling full all morning.  Gotta love that!

Your search for the perfect bagel has come to an end.  Sweet Note Bakery definitely has the top of the line bagels…and you would never guess that these are vegan and gluten-free…unless you were told or read their packaging.  That being said, they really nail the bagel…and make it for everyone to love and enjoy.  The new Sweet Note Gluten Free Onion Bagel packs a great onion flavor, but won’t overwhelm your palate either.  Top these off however you like…and feast on them often.  They would make the perfect vehicle for a burger or sandwich as well.  So. Much. Love.

I urge you to check your local stores for Sweet Note Bagels as soon as you can.  Their products are carried here at Whole Foods and in CVS stores.  But their online exclusive flavors are NOT to be missed.

Go on…place an order.  You’ll thank me!

 

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Restaurant Review: Mythos Restaurant, Orlando, Florida

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Mythos Restaurant, Orlando, Florida

Restaurant: Mythos Restaurant, Orlando, Florida

Twas the first time since coming to Orlando that my breakfast (the final bagel, it was cinnamon raisin from Erin McKenna’s in Disney Springs) wore off long before I thought it would.  That usually is okay, except my dinner reservation yesterday was actually a late lunch reservation.  So, when my stomach apparently wanted elevensies…I was nowhere ready to pop a protein bar for fear of not being hungry for the best and big meal of the day.

Cathy, Jenn and I all shared a cup of watermelon and hoped for the best…but the 12:45 reservation couldn’t come soon enough.  At 12:30, we went in, hoping that perhaps they could seat us early.

No such luck.  We were told our names would be called around our reservation time.  I wasn’t too surprised though.  Mythos Restaurant, after all, is one of the hottest and most sought over reservations in all of Universal Studios Islands of Adventures theme park.  No joke.  Mythos Restaurant was voted the Best Theme Park Restaurant from 2003-2009, came in third in 2010…and who knows what happened after that.  The thing was…the place was hopping.  There was a 35 minute wait for people/groups that didn’t make reservations…and that wait time quickly escalated.

What makes Mythos Restaurant such hot spot?  Well, it’s located in a prime spot, carved into the side of towering rock formations, cascading waterfalls and ancient figures.  So, you sort of know you’re in for quite a treat as you approach the restaurant itself.  It is known for its exceptional cuisine.  And the setting and friendly staff do make for an exceptional, contemporary dining setting.

About 12:55, we were finally called for our seating and led through the restaurant to a nice corner booth near the open kitchen.  I sat on the side facing the kitchen with hopes of being able to watch the chefs, but the booth was too tall for me to really see.  Ah well.

Our server, Lindsey, was an absolute doll.  And totally hilarious.  I loved that she immediately made us feel welcome by calling us “her friends.”  That continued throughout the entire meal, mind you.  I love making new friends.  Anyway, it took her a moment to come back around to us, but she eventually got there and made us feel immediately welcome all over again.  She asked about where we were from, what all we had been doing, and through in some fun Harry Potter references, because she’s awesome like that.  She took our drink order…a Diet Coke ($3.19) for Cathy, a Unsweetend Iced Tea ($3.19) for me, and Water (FREE!) for Jenn.  We were given some time to look over the menu, which had clear markings for things that could be made vegan and gluten free…not always the same, but some dishes could be both.  This left me with two very good sounding options…the Pad Thai and/or the Seasonal Risotto.  AH…decisions!!

After a spill that Lindsey had to clean up, she came over to the table again to get our orders.  She apologized for the delay and since I was the difficult one, she started with me.  I asked her which she would get if she was a vegetarian and gluten free…and she said that most vegan and gluten-free guests LOVE the risotto, but she is a huge fan of the Pad Thai for that sweet and sour sauce they put on it…that being said, she pairs it with meat and wasn’t sure how it would mix with just vegetables.  So, she highly recommended the Seasonal Risotto.  I went with that per her suggestion. Cathy went with the Mythos Signature Burger with Lamb and the Parmesan Fries.  Jenn went with the Crab Cake Sliders, subbing the potato salad for the Parmesan Fries.  Orders in.

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Mythos Restaurant’s Gluten Free Bread (cut up gluten free hamburger buns)

It took awhile for our meals to come out, which was fine.  I was starving, but I love knowing that food is being prepared to order.  In fact, Lindsey explained that everything, save for two (2) of the dishes on the menu are made to order.  The two that are prepped ahead are the Mediterranean Chicken Salad Wrap and the Pressed Porchetta Panini, due to the volume of orders they get for those.  Interesting trivia.  She delivered some bread and butter to the table…and then said that they had some gluten-free bread if I was interested.  I always am.  She returned a few minutes later with some warm bread…which looked like their gluten free hamburger buns chopped up.  Hey…it worked.  I loved having the option.

But food came out, hot, fresh, gorgeous, and…amazing.

Mythos Restaurant's Signature Burger with Lamb and Parmesan Fries
Mythos Restaurant’s Signature Burger with Lamb and Parmesan Fries

Cathy’s Mythos Signature Burger with Lamb ($14.99) with the Parmesan Fries (+ $0.50) looked fantastic and perfectly cooked.  The bun was huge, encompassing the burger and all the toppings that came on it.  This included grilled onion, shredded lettuce and fresh tomato topped with feta-olive aioli.  She was nervous about the feta-olive aioli, but loved it.  She found the burger to be a little dry (NOT LAMB!), but it was well cooked and full of flavor.  While the patty was thick, it was way smaller than the bun.  To this day, though, she raves about the “killer” feta-olive aioli.  She almost missed out on it as she doesn’t love olives at all…but it worked.  And now, I think she’s smitten.  She ate every bit of that burger.  And the Parmesan fries were “good.” she said.  The cheese, both of my dining compatriots said, needed to be melted so that they stuck to the fries rather than just sprinkled on top.  Otherwise, the cheese fell off the fries.

Jenn’s Crab Cake Sliders ($12.99) dish was her favorite meal of this entire trip.  Nothing overpowered the taste of the crab.  It wasn’t overseasoned.  The remoulade sauce wasn’t drowning the sliders…they had the perfect amount.  While the buns were thick, they were soft and squished down.  She absolutely LOVED this meal.  Like I said, of the 4 days we have been in Florida, this topped her list.  The Crab Cake Sliders were served on mini rolls with lettuce and remoulade sauce.  She subbed the Potato Salad for the Parmesan Fries (+ $0.50) and liked them, but also felt that the cheese needed to be melted on there so it didn’t just tumble off, leaving regular fries.  She didn’t touch the watermelon-tomato medley that was served on the side…it was probably delicious though!

Mythos Restaurant's Gluten Free and Vegan Seasonal Risotto (beet risotto with sauteed mushrooms and spinach)
Mythos Restaurant’s Gluten Free and Vegan Seasonal Risotto (beet risotto with sauteed mushrooms and spinach)

This comes to me.  I ended up ordering the Seasonal Risotto ($15.99), done gluten-free and vegan.  The risotto of the day was a Beet Risotto, which normally would be served with beef on top, but thanks to being practically vegan, that was left off.  This dish was served with sauteed mushrooms and baby spinach on top.  And it was seasoned to perfection.  It was creamy and earthy and just…amazing.  I loved the richness of the beets infused into the creamy rice.  The sauteed vegetables on top added some great texture and bright flavors.  It was really good.  I had to work hard not to inhale it.  But, in the end…gone.  And I was one happy girl.

While Lindsey exercised her Slytherin tendencies and gave us dessert menus, we opted out this time.  We paid the bill and headed out to get over to Hogsmede to wrap up our time at Islands of Adventure at Universal Studios.  Happy bellies and all.

There is a reason that Mythos is a hot ticket at Universal Studios Islands of Adventure.  The atmosphere is really great…the service is phenomenal…and the food was delicious.  Also, serving sizes weren’t ridiculous either.  We were full, but not stuffed.  And after a bit of shopping for sweets at the candy store in Hogsmede, we rode rides and all.

Yeah…Mythos was a nice way to treat ourselves that day after a long morning of wandering the parks and riding rides.  It was great food…and a great experience.

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Restaurant Review: Emeril’s Restaurant Orlando, Orlando, Florida

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Emeril’s Restaurant Orlando, Orlando, Florida

Restaurant: Emeril’s Restaurant Orlando, Orlando, Florida

I am a foodie.  Hard to believe with all my food allergies and intolerance…and the fact that I am a vegetarian…that this is a true statement.  But I LOVE food.  I love to eat food.  I love to enjoy food.  And I love to cook food.  I love to share food.  Food is love.  And, as an athlete, food is also fuel.

I am on a nice vacation at the moment, enjoying myself and my time away from the stresses of life.  And, as is the way me and my traveling compatriots do vacations…we work in one nice meal out.  And, as we were enjoying some time at Universal Studios today, we opted to eat on the Universal Studios Citywalk…at Emeril’s Restaurant Orlando.

Now, I have loved Emeril Lagasse for a long time.  He is, not only, one of the most recognizable and quotable chef’s (“BAM!”)…he is just awesome.  His food is simple, pure, cajun goodness!!  He is pure Louisiana.  And that’s what we went there for.

We were in for a treat.  White tablecloths.  Chairs were pulled out for us.  Napkins were dropped into our laps.  I sort of felt under dressed with my roller-coaster windblown hair and my Wonder Woman t-shirt.  But, none of the staff minded.  We were greeted soon after by our waiter for the night…which was actually going to be three people seeing to us.  Our waiters were amazing and funny and extremely helpful.  We were given the menu to look over and I mentioned that I was a gluten free vegetarian…and after some witty bantering…he pointed out the Chef’s Creative Vegetable Plate of the Day (which changes from day to day) and explained to me that it was a noodless lasagna…where the chef layers squash, zucchini, eggplant and roasted red peppers, all seasoned with amazing herbs, and makes them into the noodles.  They could even make it vegan for me.  They let us peruse the menu and I noticed the special as well being a Roasted Cauliflower in a tomato broth with crispy kale that sounded SO good.  I needed to ask about it being gluten free.  Cathy had settled on the Grilled Double Cut Pork Chop and Jenn said she was getting the Shrimp and Grits (I had a feeling all the veggies would be tossed aside…LOL!).  But then, after checking with the chef about the gluten-free status of the cauliflower special (it was), and answering Jenn’s question as to what an étouffée was (all the veggies)…he went on to say that the Shrimp and Grits was the best dish on the menu.  So…Jenn was sold.  He also went on to say that the other dishes he considers the best served there were the Scallops and the Short Rib.

So now Cathy was undecided.  And I still was torn between the special and the menu special.  Both were special.  LOL!  But…both were different enough that I knew that I couldn’t get them anywhere else.  So, once Cathy decided on the Scallops instead, I was still torn.  And my dinner buddies weren’t making the decision any easier.  Back to our waiter for his opinion…and with his help, I opted for the Vegan version of the Chef’s Creative Vegetable Plate of the Day.  This meant none of the cheese or alfredo would be added to the dish.  Gluten free and vegan vegetable goodness.

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Emeril’s Cast Iron Corn Bread with Honey Butter and Bacon Jam

As we were going to have a little wait while our food was prepared, Jenn and Cathy decided they were going to split an appetizer.  They ordered the Cast Iron Skillet Corn Bread with Honey Butter and Bacon Jam ($8.00).  The cornbread looked fantastic.  They said it was light and fluffy and just soft and amazing.  Cathy was a big, big, big fan of the Bacon Jam (pork belly cooked in butter with brown sugar and reduced).  Jenn said she could take it or leave it…but the honey butter at the bottom was just soaking into the bread.  I thought it was just…awesome looking.  But, alas, so not something I could eat.

Before too long, our entrees were being served.  They had Cathy and Jenn’s backwards, but that was easily fixed.  The plates were changed out and we were ready to dive in.

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Emeril’s Shrimp + Grits

Jenn ordered the Shrimp + Grits, which was Louisiana shrimp, étouffée, Anson Mills rice grits, and local cherry tomatoes ($30.00).  She said the shrimp was nailed to the perfect cook.  The grits were smooth and creamy.  I looked at them.  I thought it was rice at first…with all the cheese.  Much of the étouffée was cast aside, as she is not a cooked vegetable person, but the rest of it was devoured.  I really do think it was a 1/1 ratio of cheese to grits…but it looked awesome.  Her only qualm…the tails were left on the shrimp.  It’s kind of hard to be classy in a nice restaurant when you have to use your fingers to remove the tails.

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Emeril’s Blackened Diver Scallops

Cathy went with the Blackened Diver Scallops, which was served with a Creamy Corn Moque Choux, Wilted Greens, and Local Tomato Jam ($32.00).  It looked GORGEOUS!!  The corn sauce fascinated her.  She said it was almost like a corn chowder.  The greens were cooked perfectly.  They weren’t mushy or overly done.  She said the tomato jam was sweet and paired beautifully with everything.  But the star…the scallops.  They were tender and buttery and had a perfect sear.  She said they were the best scallops she ever had.

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Emeril’s Chef’s Creative Vegetable Plate of the Day – Noodleless Lasagna (tightly stacked slices of eggplant, zucchini, squash and roasted red pepper) with a marinara sauce and greens

So…my perfectly gluten-free and vegan dish is now up.  As I stated, I ordered the Chef’s Creative Vegetable Plate of the Day ($23.00).  This was a noodleless lasagna, where the noodles were stacked slices of eggplant, zucchini, squash, and roasted red pepper.  The seasonings were crazy good.  And all of this was topped off with an amazingly rich marinara and greens.  I could hardly make out the noodles, and I didn’t want to destroy the dish to get a picture.  So, trust me…there are tightly stacked veggies under there.  OMG.  The tomato sauce, for starters, was killer.  Just mouth watering, savory, amazing flavor.  The vegetables were cooked perfectly…not limp and wet, but perfect, with still a little crisp to them, but tender to bite into.  Almost like real noodles.  I didn’t miss the cheese or the heavy Alfredo.  This was pure perfection.  Why go back to noodles when you can do this to have lasagna?!  Seriously…so glad the waiter talked me into this one.  I was one happy girl.

And while we were all rather full from dinner…we decided we had to do dinner.  The waiter had tempted me with a Flourless (and Gluten Free) Chocolate Torte earlier that evening.  And I had been on the fence.  He did deliver dessert menus to us, to let the Cathy and Jenn choose what they might want to have…and then said the sorbets (strawberry lemonade, coconut, and passionfruit tonight) were another option for me.

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Emeril’s Flourless Decadent Chocolate Torte with Butter Pecan Sauce

In the end, we decided to split the Flourless Decadent Chocolate Torte with a Butter Pecan Sauce ($10.00) between the three of us.  I am so glad we did.  While the slice of torte isn’t as huge as say, a slice of Emeril’s famous Banana Cream Pie…it was rich.  Smooth, perfect, rich, creamy, amazing, sinful, decadent, chocolatey goodness.  Pure sinful goodness in each bite.  And that butter pecan sauce…oh yeah…that just tied it all together.  Cathy and Jenn split the whipped cream.  I ate the strawberry.  This…was a perfect end to a perfect meal.

I was beyond impressed with the service, setting, and food that we received at Emeril’s Restaurant Orlando.  They were so good at working with me and my dietary needs.  Didn’t even bat an eye.  Immediately knew what to ask about and explained to me what I could eat and what was delicious.  Our waiter was awesome.  He made me laugh, he made me feel so good about the food that was going to be made for me, and he even helped me make a decision on my dinner that night.

If only more restaurants turned out a meal and an experience like this one did.  Emeril is an amazing chef…and his restaurant didn’t let me down.  This was a meal I will be talking about for a very long time.

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Restaurant Review: Toasted, Orlando, Florida

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Toasted, Orlando, Florida

Restaurant: Toasted, Orlando, Florida

Sometimes I find food places to try in the most peculiar and unexpected places.  As I was prepping to head out to Orlando, I was sitting on my couch at home, scrolling through my Instagram feed…when I spotted an amazing looking photo on #NationalGrilledCheeseDay from someone that I follow on there.

And it just happened to be in Orlando.

And it also just happened to feature grilled cheese and…FRIES.

Fries.  I rarely get to eat fries when I go out to eat.  And it’s potato.  And potato is one of my favorite things in life.  So, naturally, I had to check them out.

The place was called Toasted.  And I suddenly needed to know more…like…was there more than just gluten free fries that I could eat there?  Like…did they have…vegan cheese??!!  Was it possible??!!

I went to Toasted’s Web site..and lo and behold…they had a regular menu, a vegan menu, and a gluten free menu…and they were all interchangeable.  They even have a gluten-free vegan burger if I wanted to do burger rather than sandwich.  And as tempting as a burger was…GRILLED CHEESE!  Hello!!

I was handed the gluten free menu first and was looking it over…and when I asked about vegan options, I was handed that menu as well.  And the first thing that caught my eye was a sandwich that involved all the spicy goodness that I love.  Sriracha, jalapeno, and then…random tomatoes.  Mmmm.  That was easy.

So, my traveling brigade and I decided to get our orders in because we had been on the go pretty much all day (since downing bagels from Erin McKenna’s at Disney Springs around 10 am.

Jenn ordered the Truffle Melt ($6.25), which is a sammie made from Havarti, truffle oil, arugula, and fresh ground pepper.  Mmmm…cheese-y goodness.  She got the Truffle Fries ($2.50) as her side.

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The As Gouda As It Gets with Rosemary Truffle Fries from Toasted, Orlando, Florida

Cathy ordered the As Gouda As It Gets ($6.75), which is a sammie made with Smoked Gouda, pulled chicken, roasted red peppers, and garlic spinach.  She also got the Truffle Fries ($2.50) as her side.

As for me…as I said…I saw some spicy goodness listed on the vegan menu.  So, I ordered the Vegan Fireball ($5.75) done Gluten Free (+1.25).  This was gluten free bread with Housemade Vegan Cheese with jalapeno, sriracha, and tomato.  And I went for broke and ordered the Vegan Truffle Cheese Fries ($3.50)…which was a happy accident, as I really just wanted the Truffle Fries.  Oh well.

We were given one of the signs, which contained a code from their Periodic Table of Cheese.  We had Gr (Gruyere).  It was a short weight…long enough to listen to a woman having a loud conversation on her cell phone and discuss how excited we were about dinner.  Maybe about 10 minutes later, our food arrived.  This was when I realized I had somehow got the Vegan Truffle Cheese Fries.  Like I said…happy accident.  I was ready to dive in.  I needed to slice my sandwich in half and it made for a gooey (yes…GOOEY VEGAN CHEESE!) sandwich mess.  And I loved it.  Usually vegan cheese doesn’t melt to the point of epic gooeyness.  This one…this one did!  God bless amazing housemade vegan cheese.

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The Gluten Free Vegan Fireball Sandwich with Vegan Truffle Cheese Fries from Toasted, Orlando, Florida

One bite…and I no longer want Tom + Chee or….well…that’s really the only place I’ve been able to have a gluten free and vegan grilled cheese.  And they don’t get gooey runny vegan cheese in theirs.  THIS WAS LIFE CHANGING!!  I loved that it was spicy, without being too spicy.  It had a nice balance with the warm, melty, messy cheese (YAY!), the jalapeno slices, the cooling tomato, and just the right hit of sriracha.  SO good.  I was seriously dredging the crusts of the bread through the cheese puddle on my plate.  And the fries…oh…those were good.  I was sort of disappointed at first because I’m such a huge fan of ketchup, but the vegan cheese was delicious with the truffle and rosemary flavors.  The only downside…was when the cheese got a bit cool.  Nevertheless, despite saying I wouldn’t be able to eat them all…I did.  Happily.

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Look at the GOOEY vegan cheese in the Gluten Free Vegan Fireball from Toasted, Orlando, Florida

Cathy loved the fries…and thought they were amazing.  She liked her sandwich, but despite being a fan of Gouda, she felt the sandwich needed a stronger cheese to pair with the boldness of the garlic spinach.  But she LOVED it. She also stole some of my Vegan Truffle Cheese Fries and thought the vegan cheese was awesome.  Nice smokey flavor.

Jenn gives two thumbs up to her sandwich and fries.  Wouldn’t change a thing.  We all just hoovered and loved every moment of our culinary sandwich and fries.

Yeah…Toasted is just that good.  It’s simple, easy, but crafted and amazing grilled cheese sandwiches.  If you aren’t into sandwiches (and if not…what is wrong with you) they have burger options (also available gluten-free and vegan), salads, amazing side dishes, and even a kids menu.

If you are going through Orlando, Florida…not doing the whole Disney thing where you pretty much just stay on Disney property and don’t leave until you are forced to go to the airport…check out Toasted!  They have two locations in Orlando – Winter Park and Lake Nona.

Seriously, I’d go back to eat here in a heartbeat.  When you give me one of my favorite comfort foods and do it up beyond my expectations…you have my full and undivided attention.  Toasted…thank you!  I am one happy gluten-free, dairy-free girl!

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Product Review: Better Way Gluten Free Hamburger Buns

Better Way Gluten Free Hamburger Buns
Better Way Gluten Free Hamburger Buns

Product: Better Way Gluten Free Hamburger Buns – $6.69+

Two ladies in my running group have mentioned Better Way Gluten Free Bread to me on various occasions.  They said they could find it at their Kroger in the regular bread aisle.  I admit, I haven’t visited the regular bread aisle…in five (5) years.  My roommate doesn’t eat regular bread these days unless we’re out or visiting someone…because we keep cross-contamination out of the kitchen.

Needless to say, after putting in miles with these ladies, I ultimately forgot, time-and-again, about the bread discussion.  Despite usually going grocery shopping directly after running and breakfast.  Go figure.  That being said, they both posted friendly reminders and rave reviews on my Facebook page that, ultimately, I remembered while at a Kroger in Louisville.  The one on my side of the river, near my home…does not carry too much in the line of gluten-free bread, save for the standards in the frozen natural food area (Udi’s and Rudi’s).

The brand I was seeking…Better Way.

I was so happy to find a loaf of their white bread (although I have heard I need to definitely seek out and devour the 7 Grains), which I have already used up an entire package.  I haven’t blogged, because I forgot…so with the new one sitting in my pantry…I’ll be sure to do that.

That being said, I had a meal (or 2) on the menu this week that would require hamburger buns.  Because when you’re making Pizza Joe’s (plantbased…made with lentils and lots of delicious stuff to make it taste like pizza)…the bread is highly important.  Normally, I would pick up sandwich buns from my local allergen-free bakery (Annie May’s Sweet Café), but I forgot.  Whoops!  So, while I was out running, my roommate took it upon herself to surprise me…by going to a different Kroger than we normally hit up while in Louisville and returning with…Better Way Gluten Free Hamburger Buns!!

They were a part of lunch today!

This morning, I opened up the orange bag and sliced through the freshness seal that the four (4) hamburger buns were placed in.  I pulled out two of the buns, noting how soft and squishy they were.  That was exciting.  Needless to say, I chose my bun for this afternoon and ripped off a small bit to try right then and there.

That was all it took for me to fall absolutely in love with Better Way’s Gluten Free Hamburger Buns.  If you have ever been able to eat those hamburger buns you had at picnics and at home as a kid (and perhaps an adult)…this is exactly what this bread tastes like.  It is very, very reminiscent of those classic white hamburger buns, which is definitely to be applauded when talking about gluten free bread.  Happiness with just one bite.  The test would be to see how it held up with the Pizza Joe’s filling heaped all over it.

Pizza Joes topping off the Better Way Gluten Free Hamburger Buns
Pizza Joes topping off the Better Way Gluten Free Hamburger Buns

The great thing about these buns is while they taste and feel like those classic hamburger buns of my pre-Celiac diagnosis state…they have a somewhat stiffer crumb to them.  But this is a good thing.  This meant that the buns themselves did not fall apart nor become mush under whatever (in this case saucy lentils that taste like pizza) you top it off with or sandwich between.  That’s a rare thing with gluten-free buns.  Most often I have to toast them and they still fall apart.  Not these.  Nope.  These held up without toasting or warming…it was pure perfection.  And I became smitten.  Enough that I have already picked up another package of the Better Way Bread and Hamburger Buns when I made my Star Wars run.  HA!

Let’s talk about what goes into Better Way’s Gluten Free Hamburger Buns, shall we?  These buns are made from water, brown rice flour, tapioca starch, tapioca syrup, corn starch, xanthan gum, potato starch, cultured rice flour, and contains 2% or less of each of the following: whole eggs, extra virgin olive oil, salt, yeast, and enzymes.  These amazing gluten-free hamburger buns are made in a gluten-free facility, are dairy-free, soy-free, nut-free, contain no high fructose corn syrup (YAY!), and use non-GMO ingredients.

As far as nutritional information goes, these really look good, especially when compared to other gluten-free store-bought brands on the market.  A serving size of the Better Way Gluten Free Hamburger Buns is 1 roll (85 grams), and there are 4 servings per package.  One roll will deliver you 180 calories, 2.5 grams fat, 0 grams saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 10 mg cholesterol, 270 mg sodium, 36 grams carbohydrates, 3 grams fiber, 4 grams sugars, and 2 grams protein.  That’s relatively close to the same nutrition data on regular white hamburger buns.  Totally winning.

I am so glad that I was told (numerous times) and reminded (numerous times) to pick up and try Better Way Gluten Free Bread.  I’m addicted.  It’s the closest thing I have had to regular bread outside of a gluten free bakery.  Having this bread and these hamburger buns on hand is a definite must these days.  Totally surprised…totally wowed.  Totally in love.  If you’ve been searching for the best gluten-free bread in grocery stores…seek out and find Better Way.  Check with your grocery stores and see if they can order it if you can’t seem to find it.

Veggie burgers are a must in the very near future…now that I have a bun that will hold up to all the fillings!!