Clean Eating – Page 29 – The Celiathlete

August 13, 2013

Product Review: Lexington Pasta Gluten-Free Fusilli

Product: Lexington Pasta Gluten-Free Fusilli – $3.00 for 6 ounces

There are moments of absolute amazement when I look at some of the things my roommate has done for me since my diagnosis two years ago. Seriously. She basically eats gluten-free and vegetarian at home, all the time, Not only that, she is always on the lookout for new gluten-free items for us, not just me, to try. She is honest to a fault when I cook or bake something new, changing up a recipe to now be gluten-free. Some are definitely more successful than others.

But my entire point here is…she’s full of surprises.

This past Saturday…she totally surprised me.

You see, every Saturday I meet up with a group of runners to do our long run. This past Saturday, I was heading out with a small group aiming to hit that magic 16 mile mark. This meant Cathy was going to be left to her own devices for 2 hours or more. But this never slows her down. She always finds something to occupy her time. And on this particularly raining Saturday morning, with a fresh local coffee in hand, she stopped by the local farmers market. You see, I was in need of a giant watermelon for a recipe I was going to make that night. She was going to get one from a local vendor instead of hitting up the grocery store. But, while she was there…she spotted something else.

The words GLUTEN-FREE on a sign for Lexington Pasta. She swung by the booth and inquired. And when I finally made it back to the meeting point, a local coffeehouse, after a very long run, we returned to the car and she told me to go look in the trunk. Aside from a 10 pound watermelon waiting for me, she also had picked up fresh basil. And buried in the ice of the cooler…she had picked up two small bags of Lexington Pasta’s Gluten-Free Fusilli.

While it’s true, this handmade pasta does look more like macaroni than fusilli, I could see the small twists in the fresh and handmade pasta…giving it that corkscrew affect that you would normally associate with fusilli pasta.

That being said…I was holding a bag of gluten-free handmade fusilli!!! This was huge! This was awesome. This was so awesome I deemed Sunday night to be pasta night. I’d cook up some of my gluten-free rosemary cheddar biscuits to accompany the pasta and it would be one epic Sunday meal. Because while some products can wait…fresh, handmade gluten-free pasta is not one of those things. I had to have it as soon as humanly possible.

We got home from our day of running errands and grocery shopping and I put one of the bags of pasta into the freezer. The other went into the fridge for use on Sunday night.

Lexington Pasta Gluten-Free Fusilli (cooked & drained)

What I love about handmade, fresh pasta is how easy it is to prepare. No boiling your pasta for 12-20 minutes to get it to that perfect al dente. Nope. I went ahead and got a pot of water on the stove to boil while I prepared a small salad with some heirloom tomatoes that Cathy also picked up from the farmers market. When the water began to boil, I simply emptied the little baggie of gluten-free fusilli pasta into the water and let it go for 2-3 minutes. The pasta does come with an instruction guide on how to cook it and does warn against overcooking. I then got the sauce heated while the noodles quickly finished up. After three minutes I drained the pasta and then put it back into the pan with the marinara I had warmed up. Giving it all a toss, I was ready to plate it up. Into the bowls it went. And dinner was served. Yes…that quickly.

First of all, handmade and fresh pasta will always win. Always. Pasta that is done locally will win even more. And what really caught my attention about the gluten-free fusilli from Lexington Pasta was that it didn’t stick together or dry up immediately. It cooked to the perfect al dente in the water. Quick. It was one of the quickest pasta meals I ever prepared. I almost didn’t have time to warm the marinara. I forgot what it was like to cook with fresh pasta.

Taste…taste was spot-on. I believe Cathy mentioned that it was a rice flour noodle. It didn’t get mushy. It didn’t stick. It didn’t fall apart. In fact, each noodle held the twisty shape through the entire cooking process, the draining, and the addition of the sauce. The serving size was just right. And the noodles…light. Delicious. They have spoiled me on gluten-free pasta, honestly. Not only is this local, but it tastes fantastic. There was no weird aftertaste. No chewiness. Nothing that would be off putting. In fact, if I were to serve this to people, they would never…EVER…guess that it was gluten-free.

I sort of want to go and get more. Like…now.

I was really that impressed.

Lexington Pasta is based out of Lexington, Kentucky…which is a short car drive for me. So, when the farmers market closes for the season, I can still go and purchase this gluten-free pasta of awesomesauce from their retail location. Because I was beyond impressed with this product and find it comforting to see a local business taking strides to work with those with special dietary needs…who love pasta. You know…people like me.

Lexington Pasta…you made this Celiac one very, very happy pasta-loving girl! Thank you!

Lexington Pasta Gluten-Free Fusilli (in marinara) with Gluten-Free Rosemary Cheddar Biscuits

August 12, 2013

Product Review: BOLD Organics Gluten-Free and Vegan Veggie Lovers Pizza

Product: BOLD Organics Gluten-Free and Vegan Veggie Lovers Pizza – $9.49+

Sometimes…if you look hard enough…you manage to find something amazing…despite it being a processed food in the freezer department. At least it was at a natural food store…so that’s saying something, right? Right!

That’s what I’ll keep telling myself.

Anyway…what I speak of is a brand of gluten-free and vegan pizza (this version anyway) made by BOLD Organics. In fact, BOLD Organics pizzas (the vegan and the meaty ones) are all gluten-free, milk-free, lactose-free, casein-free, whey-free, egg-free, peanut-free, and treenut-free. EPIC!! I mean…EPIC, right?! Right!

BOLD Organics was founded with a simple principle to strive for – creating the most delicious and healthy frozen pizza on the market. And that vision was reached and realized with the line of gluten-free and dairy-free pizzas that, as the Web site puts it, “are redefining just how good eating healthy can taste.”

It’s not too bold (see what I did there?) a statement either. Because what BOLD Organics did…was take their goal and do everything in their power to make it a reality. Seriously. Founder, Aaron Greenwald, often found that traditional gluten-free products on the market were bland and lacked taste. That was when Aaron embarked on his mission to not just help people eat better…but also feel better. And he sourced the best chefs he could find who not only understood gluten-free food, but could also provide bold (I did it again) flavors to the products his company would produce. And so…BOLD Organics was born.

BOLD Organics began producing high quality, allergen-free foods…so people could have a choice when it came to gluten-free pizzas. He strove to provide restaurant quality food with premium taste…without paying a premium price.

Well, when I spotted this in my natural food store’s freezer…I decided that having a frozen pizza on hand wasn’t a bad idea. I mean…when you need something easy one night, just pop it out of the freezer, onto a pizza stone…and viola…dinner! So, I had one stashed in my freezer. And, as I am trying very hard to work my way through the plethora of gluten-free goodness I have stocked up in my freezer and pantry, on Friday, as I had a 16 mile run on Saturday, I figured gluten-free pizza would be the way to go.

BOLD Organics Gluten-Free and Vegan Veggie Lovers Pizza (cooked)

Out of the two vegan options offered by BOLD Organics, I went with the Veggie Lovers version. Why? Because any pizza that is topped with seasonal vegetables (organic roasted red peppers, organic roasted yellow onions, and shiitake mushrooms) is okay in my book. The cheese they use is completely vegan. So, I pulled this out of the freezer directly after work and preheated the oven to 450° F, per the instructions on the box. I stuck my pizza stone in to warm while the oven preheated and set about opening up the box.

The box does make me think that the pizza would be a little bigger than it really is…but what it lacks for in size (it’s an 8-inch pizza), it makes up for in the fact that it is not a cracker-crust, very thin-crust pizza. Nope. Not at all. This pizza has depth to it. It has the most amazing crust…and I could tell that before it was even baked. With the oven heated and pizza stone warm, I tossed the pizza in to cook for 20-22 minutes. If the vegan cheese has not melted, it says to broil it for 1-2 more minutes. The cheese on my pizza melted beautifully and the crust became fluffy and golden and just…perfect looking.

I removed the pizza from the oven and sliced it in half. The box I have says the serving size was half the pizza. That seems to have changed now…but…I’ll go off what I had in my freezer. One half went to my roommate, the other half was mine…all mine. I can say this…it looked and smelled amazing. But, as always, the true test lies in the taste. That is the absolute heart of the matter.

I settled in for dinner, fork in hand, and sliced through the crispy, yet soft crust. Crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside. That is pizza crust perfection, my friends. PERFECTION! And, furthermore…this pizza was frozen pizza perfection. It looked like all the non-gluten-free counterparts you see on the market. It wasn’t this sad-looking thin crust slab of cheese and veggies. No. This was a bold looking, veggie laden (save for the mushrooms…I got a bit gypped on those), vegan cheese coated amazing thing. The flavors were melt-together perfect. It was sweet from the peppers and savory with the cheese. It had that perfect crust. I was in pizza heaven. I was. Because, with the exception of my local allergen-free bakery, I can’t find anything but cracker-crust when it comes to gluten-free pizza. That just changed. My whole frozen pizza world just expanded. I was…SO impressed. The cheese, even being a vegan mozzarella, was stretchy and melty and gooey. Pizza perfection. BOLD pizza perfection. I’m sold. For life.

Let’s talk ingredients and nutrition, shall we?

This pizza is made up of filtered water, vegan gourmet mozzarella cheese alternative, inulin, soy protein, agar agar, sea salt, plant-based natural flavor, carrageenan (BOO!), vegetable source of lactic acid, organic crushed tomatoes, organic potato starch, organic rice flour, organic corn meal, organic roasted red bell peppers, shiitake mushrooms, organic roasted yellow onions, fresh yeast, organic tomato paste, organic extra virgin olive oil, xanthan gum, organic evaporated cane juice, organic oregano, organic apple cider vinegar, sea salt, and organic spices (rosemary, black pepper, granulated garlic, red chili).

As far as nutritional value goes…for half of a pizza…this isn’t too bad. One serving (1/2 of the pizza) served up 340 calories and 13 grams of fat. That’s actually not bad! I was impressed. It has 670 mg sodium, which is a little high…but…not bad in the grand scheme of things. The serving has 6 grams of sugar as well, which is super good. And, 1/2 of the pizza dishes up 6 grams of fiber and 6 grams of protein.

It’s awesome. BOLD Organics produced a product they can totally be proud of and stand behind. I loved every bite I took of this one. And I will definitely try the Vegan Cheese version in the future too. With a fluffy and flaky crust like that…it’s hard to stop me from stuffing another one in my freezer.

This pizza BOLD-ly went where no gluten-free pizza went before…and they did it perfectly!

A serving of BOLD Organics Gluten-Free and Vegan Veggie Lovers Pizza

August 11, 2013May 11, 2015

Recipe: Gluten-Free Blueberry Maple Refrigerator Oats

As part of trying to do more of a Clean Eating diet, per the recommendation of my sports nutritionist…I have decided to attempt to make my usual oatmeal for lunch habit continue…but with me making the oatmeal. This way I have more control over the nutritional value. And, especially, the amount of sugar that goes into each helping.

While I love my Bakery On Main gluten-free oatmeal and the multitude of amazing flavors…it is super expensive. So, it also wracks up my grocery shopping budget. But thanks to Pinterest…I found a way around that. And…especially with the hot and humid summer days here…an even more refreshing way to enjoy my oatmeal in the afternoon. Of course, this would be good any time of day…but oatmeal for lunch is my thing.

Recipe: Gluten-Free Blueberry Maple Refrigerator Oatmeal

Gluten-Free Blueberry Maple Refrigerator Oatmeal (Overnight Oats)

Servings: 1
Time: Prep 10 minutes

Ingredients:

1/4 cup uncooked old fashioned rolled oats (I used Trader Joe’s Gluten-Free Rolled Oats)
1/3 cup skim milk (I used unsweetened almond milk
1/4 cup low-fat Greek yogurt (I used vanilla Greek yogurt)
1-1/2 teaspoons dried chia seeds (I didn’t have these…so I didn’t use them)
2 teaspoons maple syrup (more or less to taste)
1/4 cup blueberries (or enough to fill jar)

Directions:

In a half pint (1 cup) jar, add oats, milk, yogurt, chia seeds (if using), and maple syrup.

Put lid on jar and shake until well combined.

Remove lid, add blueberries and stir until mixed throughout.

Return lid to jar and refrigerate overnight or up to 2 days.

Eat chilled.

~*~*~

It’s simple. It’s easy. It’s SUPER delicious. I loved taking bite after bite of this. The chia seeds definitely would have made it less soupy…but I don’t have any on hand and I wasn’t going to go out and buy some specifically for this. Maybe next grocery trip if the budget allows. It worked out just fine without them, however. Lunch was very nutritious and I knew everything that went into my oats. And wow…was this every filling!

My little jar of goodness had only 185 calories and 2 grams of fat. It also had 3 grams of fiber and 8 grams of protein in it. How’s that for a powerhouse meal?! There are lots of other recipes available via Pinterest and especially from The Yummy Life blog, which is where the pin takes me when I click on it. I can’t wait to try other versions! Total win!

August 7, 2013

Rice Crunch puts a new bite into my Dark Chocolate Dream chocolate bar

Product: Dark Chocolate Dream Rice Crunch Chocolate Bar – $3.59+

Chocolate is my favorite sweet indulgence. Really.

And not just chocolate. Dark chocolate. I dislike milk chocolate. And white chocolate is…not really chocolate. Dark chocolate. That’s where it is for me. I love that bittersweet, rich, deep flavor that dark chocolate offers up. I love how it literally will coat my taste buds and I will just let anything dark chocolate melt slowly. It makes the indulgence last even longer.

A while back, my roommate picked up a few Dark Chocolate Dream chocolate bars from the local grocery store. They were on closeout, so in a panic we bought pretty much one of everything. I tucked these away in a drawer and forgot all about them…until recently. So, now I’ve been working my way through these chocolate treats…before they expire and all that good stuff.

I’ve been given a plan by sports nutritionist to move toward a clean eating diet. And while most would not consider chocolate to fit into that…I like to point out the health benefits of dark chocolate. It’s good for your heart because it has been shown it can help lower blood pressure. It helps improve cognitive function in your brain by increasing blood flow to your brain. In fact…it’s been shown to help reduce the risk of stroke. It’s a mood booster. It is full of antioxidants. Oh, and dark chocolate has high concentrations of potassium, copper, magnesium, and iron. NICE!

So this week, the drawer held a couple of choices, but I opted for the Dark Chocolate Dream Rice Crunch Chocolate Bar. Why? Well…while I did enjoy the Enjoy Life’s Boom CHOCO Boom Ricemilk Crunch was good and filled with the crunchy rice bits for that added oomph…it sort of had this chalkiness to it.

Dark Chocolate Dreams Rice Crunch Chocolate Bar does offer up a better alternative. Honestly. While the puffed rice isn’t as prevalent as it was in the Enjoy Life version, the crispiness is definitely throughout the entire bar. In other words, you take a bite…and it’s like biting into a Nestles Crunch bar all over again. But safe. And made with dark chocolate. Oh…and I should mention that this dark chocolate bar is vegan as well.

The Dark Chocolate Dream Rice Crunch chocolate bars are made with simple ingredients which include all of the following: evaporated cane juice, unsweetened chocolate, cocoa butter, roasted soy flour, puffed wild rice, soy lecithin, pure vanilla extract. No fake chemicals, no preservatives, nothing that you need to look up in order to figure out what it is you are eating exactly. Nothing like that. Everything is pure and real. Real food…real chocolate. I love it already.

As for nutrition…well…I remind you that this is a chocolate bar. So, do mind your servings. For me, I take one square with me to work, which equals out to 60 calories and 4 grams of fat. That’s not bad for one square of chocolate. But, the serving size for this treat is usually half of the chocolate bar. This serving will provide you with 240 calories and 14 grams of fat. The serving only kicks in 15 mg of sodium, which isn’t bad. However, remember…this is a treat and this is a sweet…and chocolate is still high in sugars. 1/2 of the bar will give you a huge dose of 23 grams of sugar. Aside from that, you will be provided with 1 gram of fiber and 3 grams of protein.

But…the flavor. The flavor is what does it. I love to savor my chocolate. A nibble here…another there. And that’s the way I eat this one. The dark chocolate has that bittersweet flavor to it…which is amazing and delicious. I love how it melts against my tongue, and that hit of dark chocolate just lingers…and then, as I bite into it…the crunch from the puffed rice. It’s one of the best things in the world, which is why I think Nestles Crunch bars sell so well. Crunchy, smooth, rich, dark…it’s the best of everything. And I for one love every tasty bite.

Not all chocolate bars are created equal. And not all chocolate bars are gluten-free. Thanks to Dark Chocolate Dream…I can still eat a Rice Crunch bar and savor it with the even more flavorful taste of dark chocolate. Well done!!

Dark Chocolate Dream Rice Crunch Chocolate Bar (unwrapped)

August 4, 2013

The jury is in…Louisville’s Sidebar pays special attention to dietary needs

Restaurant: Sidebar at Whiskey Row, Louisville, Kentucky

I love eating out with friends. I really, really do. Especially when it’s a fellow co-worker who is as much a foodie as my roommate and I. I mean, how can you say “NO” to trying out new spots right in your own backyard? I can’t. I love trying out new restaurants. But, with my food allergies, this sometimes means an extra level of difficulty, or sometimes…me bringing my own food to eat while they order and dine from the establishment itself. And…yes…I am okay with that. It has never bothered me at all. It bothers the people I dine with at times, but I’m perfectly fine eating one of my protein bars and then grabbing something that is safe for me to eat at home.

It’s my body…so it’s my choice, right? Right!

Anyway, one of our IT guys at work had gone to this local burger spot in Louisville, Kentucky that he was over the moon for their food. He’d gone there a couple of times and said that they never gave him something he didn’t like. Not only was their bourbon amazing, but their burgers were to die for.

It sounded like something Cathy needed to try out…because that girl loves her burgers. I did note that they made a vegetarian burger as well, so took it upon myself to post on their Facebook page as to what, if any, gluten-free options Sidebar at Whiskey Row had to offer. What happened next was one of the most amazing and wonderful things any restaurant establishment can do for someone who wishes to dine with them, but has certain dietary needs. I had a quick response from Jason Pierce, Sidebar’s Assistant General Manager and the Culinary Director providing his e-mail address so that I could contact him about my visit on Friday evening. I immediately sent him an e-mail to which he said that all salads are prepared in a manner that would be safe for me to eat, being that they are properly handled, washed, and plated so that there would be no cross-contamination. He also said that if I wanted to, I could bring in my own salad dressing that he could dress the salad with as well. I appreciated that suggestion immensely. And, finally, he said that they could prepare the Mushroom Edamame Burger (the vegetarian option) without the gluten ingredients. I told him I was fine with a salad, and that I really appreciated the burger option, but with it needing to be cooked on a separate, and clean, surface…the salad would probably be easiest.

A few back and forth messages via e-mail and Jason ensured me that he would make sure I had a fantastic dining experience on Friday.

Fast forward to Friday. The three of us left work and headed down to Sidebar at Whiskey Row immediately, not really knowing what the traffic situation in Louisville would be like. It wasn’t too bad and we were parked and heading into Sidebar by 5 p.m. We were greeted warmly and shown to a table in the corner. The three of us settled in and all ordered waters (I was sticking with water as I had a 12 mile run the next morning). Justin already knew he was getting an Old Fashioned ($10.00), which is sugar and bitters topped with whiskey and then touched off with a twist of citrus rind. He told Cathy that it was one of his favorite drinks there, especially since Sidebar is known for their barrel-aged cocktails. You see, Sidebar at Whiskey Row mixes all the shelf-stable components of a cocktail and ages the mixture in a charred barrel. How’s that for unique. And you won’t find these cocktails on any other menu in the area. Anyway…that was all Cathy had to hear, apparently…

Sidebar's Old Fashioned cocktail — Sidebar’s Old Fashioned cocktail

My two carnivorous friends put in their orders after our drinks arrived. Justin decided to go for the Ambulance Chaser ($12.00), which is a Certified Angus Beef burger topped with smoky BBQ sauce, cheddar cheese, smoked bacon, tomato jam and tobacco onions. He opted for the Truffle-Parm fries ($2.00) with his burger. Cathy decided on the Court Reporter ($12.00), which is a Certified Angus Beef burger topped with lettuce, tomato, onion, avocado, honey-chipotle aioli, and roasted red pepper relish. She opted for the sweet potato fries with her burger($2.00). And…she went ahead and decided to try an Old Fashioned without sampling Justin’s…so that was put in as well.

I mentioned to our waitress before ordering that I had been talking to Jason Pierce about my meal. She said she would go to the kitchen and talk to him, so when she returned she said that Jason recommended the Kale Salad ($8.00), without the Parmesan cheese and without the toasted almonds. I said that sounded great. After all…I love, love, LOVE kale. I was super excited.

With the orders in, Cathy and Justin decided to enjoy their cocktails while we sat around, took in the ambiance of the restaurant itself, and had good conversation. First of all, you might notice a courtroom theme for Sidebar. You are very observant. That was entirely the point. Not to mention, the restaurant itself is located in a grand 19th-Century building next to the Second Street Bridge, and boasts lofty ceilings, towering windows, a beautiful bar, and comfortable seating. It’s simply a stunning place to dine. Another thing that Sidebar is quite proud of is that they created their own unique hamburger blend, which is a mix of certified Angus beef, chuck, brisket, and short rib, creating a burger that uses no trimmings, added fats, fillers, or binders. So, for you carnivores or people with friends who love a good burger…this might be a great place to take them.

It wasn’t too long before our food arrived at the table. Everything looked amazing. My salad was a work of art. Honestly. A bed of finely shredded kale, piled high with carrots, greens, carrots, and served with a citrus vinaigrette. Rimming the edge of it was gorgeous heirloom tomatoes and fresh cucumber. It was not the described kale salad from the menu, but something that Jason did up special for me. No sooner had the waitress left but Jason comes to the table to introduce himself and tell me a little bit about what he put together for me. I shook his hand and thanked him for his help and for everything. This salad was going to be epic…I could already tell. Jason returned to the kitchen and I dug in.

HOLY COW! This is definitely one of the best salads I have ever had the honor of eating. And I’m not just saying that. First of all, it’s not your typical green salad that most restaurants would give you. I loved the way the kale was shredded, making it the bed of the salad, and not difficult to eat, nor clunky. The green onion, carrots, and cucumber made fantastic green vegetables to serve with it. And those heirloom tomatoes…they were juicy, fresh, and just melted in my mouth. The citrus vinaigrette was out-of-this-world and made for the perfect pairing with every component of this salad. It was a nice hit of sweetness that matched the earthy flavors of the vegetables to perfection. I almost didn’t want to dive into it, because it just looked gorgeous, but I was hungry and I definitely wanted to see what Jason’s salad creation tasted like. If heaven was a salad bar, then this would be the salad it would serve every day. I would never get tired of eating this. It worked. It worked well. And I couldn’t stop eating it even if I tried.

Cathy and Justin devoured their burgers and fries and polished off their cocktails. Everyone was satisfied and happy with their meals. Cathy and I already decided this is definitely a place we need to take our friend Greg, who LOVES a good burger. I think he would love what this place served up.

I really wanted to once again express my appreciation to Sidebar and to Jason Pierce, specifically, for not only addressing my dietary needs, but for exceeding all expectations when it came to my dinner choice that evening. I was blown away and can’t wait to return again for another round of that amazing Kale Salad. I have been bragging to everyone, my running group included (because we ran by the restaurant on Saturday morning) about the food, the service, and the attention that is given to every aspect of customer service and customer satisfaction at Sidebar. I was beyond impressed.

Louisville is certainly lucky to have such a great gourmet burger establishment. Not just because of the value of the food produced, but also the attention to detail and the personal touches that are given…without even being asked. I will forever recommend Sidebar to people, simply because they took good care of me, someone with special dietary needs, and they did it very well. Going above and beyond…that’s what they do.

Congratulations, Sidebar…you definitely passed the bar!! In fact, you just set the bar higher for every other local restaurant!

Sidebar's Kale Salad (done gluten-free) — Sidebar’s Kale Salad (done gluten-free)

July 30, 2013July 30, 2013

Recipe: Gluten-Free Rainbow Chard Lemon Pasta

Tonight felt like a pasta night. Why? Because…I love pasta. Gluten-free pasta, that is. And it had honestly been ages since I had made pasta for my roomie and I. With Friday fast approaching, I have bin ingredients that are screaming to be used. So…I went on the hunt for some ideas.

Friends, I say this to you honestly…DO NOT FEAR PASTA! It can be made healthy as long as you don’t drown it in creamy sauces, oils, or have portion distortion. It’s all about moderation and preparation. And, thanks to a recipe from one of my favorite Clean Eating sites, I had just the recipe to modify tonight. The original recipe was already gluten-free…but I changed out ingredients for what I had in my crisper drawer from my CSA bin. It worked out beautifully.

The original recipe was taken from The Healthy Apple, who put up a great sounding dish called Swiss Chard Lemon Pasta. Well, I had rainbow chard. I hate olives, but I had grape tomatoes. I always have lemon and lemon zest on hand…it seemed ideal. And tonight…this healthy pasta dish was dinner. And, wow…did the flavors ever sing.

Recipe: Gluten-Free Rainbow Chard Lemon Pasta

Servings: 4
Time: Prep 5 minutes; Cook 10 minutes

Ingredients:

1 cup Gluten-Free Penne Pasta (I used La Veneziane Gluten-Free Corn Meal Farfalle)
1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1 head Swiss chard, cut into ½ inch pieces
½ cup kalamata olives (I hate olives, so I substituted grape tomatoes in their place)
¼ cup fresh cilantro (I omitted this)
2 scallions, thinly sliced
1 tsp. apple cider vinegar
1 Tbsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 tsp. fresh lemon zest
¼ tsp. smoked paprika
¼ tsp. sea salt
¼ tsp. freshly ground pepper

Directions:

Cook the gluten-free pasta according to package directions. Remove from heat; drain and set aside.

Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook rainbow chard in olive oil over medium heat until wilted, approximately 4 minutes.

Remove from heat and transfer to a large serving bowl.

Add cooked pasta, tomatoes (or olives), cilantro (if using), scallions, vinegar, lemon juice, lemon zest, smoked paprika, sea salt and pepper; gently toss to combine.

Serve warm.

~*~*~

Don’t be fooled into thinking that this pasta will be lacking without a sauce. With the lemon and the apple cider vinegar, it’s flavortown! Honestly. Just lots of flavor, and it all plays well with the pasta and the vegetables. I was delightfully happy when I sat down with my bowl of veggies with a little pasta. I love it when a dish is more vegetables than anything else.

Not only was this dish delicious…it was easy to prepare and simple to make. Just a little chopping, some action on the stove…and then…viola! Dinner is served. A healthy pasta dish…you better believe it’s possible.

Don’t just take my word for it, though. Try it for yourself. You know you’re dying to. Pasta night…starts…now!

July 30, 2013July 30, 2013

The Good Bean provides a naughty but nice crunchy chickpea snack with Smoky Chili and Lime

Product: The Good Bean Smoky Chili and Lime Chickpea Snack – $2.99+

Forget chips. Honestly. Forget the over processed, unhealthy, and sometimes laden with chemicals and ingredients that you don’t recognize and probably shouldn’t be consuming after all. There are other options out there that are not only healthier, but taste better?

Ever have kale chips? They are easy to make…or, for a price, you can buy them already made in a variety of flavors. But, healthier crunchy options don’t end there.

Ever have crunchy chickpeas? You know…chickpeas that have been roasted in the oven so now they are hard and have this amazing crunch to them? If not…you should. And if you don’t trust yourself to make them right…no worries. The Good Bean has taken the guess-work out of the preparation and is putting the amazing tastes of all-natural, roasted chickpeas on the shelves of grocery stores. I found mine at Whole Foods, but have spotted them at other natural food stores.

Prior to today, I had already tried the Sea Salt and the Sweet Cinnamon versions of this snack. This left two flavors still needing my attention. Black Pepper (which I can’t find anywhere!) and Smoky Chili and Lime. I love me some spice, so I saved the Smoky Chili and Lime version for the end of my roasted chickpea journey (or at least until I can find the Black Pepper variety around here). It would be my afternoon snack, the one that would see me through the tail-end of my day at work. And with the success of the previous two flavors…I was quite happy to try this particular one. I mean…come on…it’s spicy, right?

The Good Bean’s Smoky Chili and Lime flavor was apparently inspired by the fantastic flavors that are found in Spanish and Mexican snacks. They chose to use Spanish Paprika, which provides a great smokey flavor without a lot of heat, to pair with the smoky chili flavor in their spice mix. The Good Bean states that this specific chili…is the “naughtily assertive Mexican Chipotle.” But…don’t worry. To tame the chilies and keep the heat under control, The Good bean blended in lime…just to give an extra zing to the chickpeas and to take away just a smidge of the heat. After all…you want to be able to taste the snack…not your tastebuds burning.

Which now brings me to how they taste. I’m…on the fence. While I have raved about the other flavors I have tried…this one is just…different. And that’s saying something coming from me. Here’s why. I love spicy foods. I love the burn and the heat. And, yes, The Good Bean’s Smoky Chili and Lime Chickpea Snacks definitely has a generous spice coating on each roasted chickpea…but the lime…the lime seems to overpower everything. In fact, I commented that I felt like I was eating a fruity cereal more than a spicy snack. Considering this was the flavor I was looking forward to the most, it’s a huge let down. If I wanted to eat Fruity Pebbles, I would have bought them. The fact is…I bought a snack that promised heat with their usual rich chickpea flavor. And all I really get is a hint of the spice…and then a whole lot of lime. Talk about a let down!

So…with that in mind, let’s discuss ingredients and nutrition. One serving of The Good Bean Smoky Chili and Lime Chickpea Snacks is 1/4 cup (or 35 ounces). This serving provides you with 150 calories and 3.5 grams of fat. Like the other flavors, this one is also cholesterol free and has only 260 mg sodium. You also get 6 grams of filling fiber and a great 6 gram hit of protein with each serving. And with only 5 grams of sugar per serving, you can feel good about your choice. These snacks are all low in carbohydrates, contain nothing over-engineered, nothing artificial, are low in fat, gluten-free and also nut free. The Smoky Chili and Lime variety contains roasted chickpeas, brown rice syrup, spices, coarse salt, lime juice concentrate, gum arabic, non-GMO and expeller-pressed canola oil. These particular snacks are also considered clean eating. WIN for my new diet.

Don’t get me wrong…the Smoky Chili and Lime variety is good enough…it just wasn’t what I had expected it to taste like. Way too much lime for my tastes and not enough of that smokey chile flavor that is promised on the package. Still…a healthy and nutritious choice for a snack. Same satisfying crunch as a chip…but giving you so many more healthy benefits without the added fat, cholesterol, and unnecessary ingredients. The Good Bean puts out very good products that they should be proud of. I am happy to have this sort of snack in my life. And maybe…maybe they have inspired me to give roasting chickpeas at home on my own a try.

Just maybe…

A serving of The Good Bean Smoky Chili and Lime Chickpea Snacks — A serving of The Good Bean Smoky Chili and Lime Chickpea Snack

July 30, 2013

A quick Tasty Bite of Spinach Channa in one little package

Product: Tasty Bite Spinach Channa – $3.29+

Tasty Bite keeps winning me over. Honestly. If there is one thing that this company knows…it is flavor. And even more importantly…flavor profiles. Because what Tasty Bite continues to manage, time and time again, is to get the perfect blend of spices and ingredients to work together…in this little microwavable pouch. Most naysayers would say it couldn’t be done. But, as they have proven over and over again…it can.

I remember first spotting Tasty Bite products on the shelf of my local grocery store. Then…I started seeing more (and other varieties) at the other grocery stores I go to each week (which is between 4-6, honestly). When they went on sale at my grocery store, my roommate and I decided to stock up on the varieties they had…and just hope that they were good.

This was, quite honestly, the best decision we ever made.

You see…we are very busy, very active, very on-the-go people. And there are certain days of the week where cooking a full meal just doesn’t work. When we have places to go and appointments to make, there is just no way I can spend that sort of time in the kitchen. It just isn’t possible. Take Monday’s for example. Yesterday…after running in the morning…then working 8 hours…then with my group fun run that evening at 6 p.m…and travel over into Louisville being figured in, I basically had time to either cook up a Tasty Bite meal…or make a grilled cheese sandwich.

I decided to do the Indian food. Spinach Channa was the next one on the list. What is Spinach Channa?

I cooked up some jasmine rice the evening before, so you can tell which won out in the end. It’s basically chickpeas that are simmered with savory spinach, some herbs, some spices, and given a little kick with the addition of chilies. It sounded great because I absolutely love chickpeas and spinach. And…chilies in everything makes me a happy girl. Give me something with a bit of a kick and what you have is one very, very happy gluten-free vegetarian.

One thing that I love about these Tasty Bite packages is how simple they are. They are good to eat on their own, but if you want to boost the staying power, you can pair it with a protein, pour it over rice, or however else you choose to eat it. Putting it over rice is always my method. Anyway, once you decide how you are going to enjoy your Tasty Bite meal…the rest is simple. Tear a 2 inch slit into the top of the package and pop it into the microwave for 90 seconds. When done…serve however you choose. For me…I pour the now steamy warm contents over my jasmine rice and settle in to eat.

So, how exactly does the pairing of various herbs and spices with spinach and chickpeas taste? Just as amazing as it sounds. The spinach is cooked down into this green, thick, soup-like sauce. The chickpeas are scattered throughout that. And the flavors…they are to die for. Just the right amount of heat from the chilies. The rest…it just all blends together. It makes for one tasty, tasty meal. I really loved the flavors of this one. Not as much as the Vegetable Korma…but this one is good in its own right. Savory…with a small mild heat. And I mean…mild. My roommate is a spice wimp and she didn’t say anything about heat level on this one. So…it’s just enough to give it this added something. That’s all.

Now comes the science part…the ingredients and the nutritional information. Ready?

First of all, one thing that Tasty Bite does pride itself on is their ingredients. They use no preservatives and many of their options are gluten-free. Take Spinach Channa for example…since that’s what I am reviewing. The Spinach Channa is gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian and kosher. Everything that goes into the package is an actual food. No chemicals. No artificial additives. Just pure ingredients. The ingredient list on this one is simple and small: water, spinach, chickpeas, tomatoes, onions, sunflower oil, garlic, ginger, salt, cumin, chilies, turmeric, and spices. Recognize all of those? I sure do. And that is a comfort.

Now…for the nutritional part. One serving of Tasty Bite Spinach Channa (5 ounces…or half the pouch) will serve you up 130 calories and 6 grams of fat. For being a shelf-stable option, the 490 mg of sodium isn’t too bad. It’s on the lower end of most processed foods. And much lower than some soups out on the market. Each serving also provides a filling 6 grams of fiber and 6 grams of protein. LOVE that.

And, honestly, I loved every bite of Tasty Bite’s Spinach Channa. It was filling. It provided great energy for my evening run, with nothing that upset my stomach. Indian food before a run isn’t everyone’s choice, but with the mild flavors and pairing it with rice, it’s ideal. Honestly. Oh…let’s not forget that it tastes AMAZING. Great flavors, great food, great company. And a great variety to choose from!

But…when in doubt…go for something simple. Spinach Channa is a great place to start.

What more could you want? Except, perhaps, another Tasty Bite…

Tasty Bite Spinach Channa over jasmine rice

July 28, 2013

Recipe: Vegan Taco Salad (With a Twist)

Every week, I receive this amazing little green bin on my doorstep that is stocked with fresh, organic, local vegetables. Depending on the week, I can churn through these fresh goodies quickly…or I struggle to use them up before the next week when another great bin arrives. This week, it was one of the slower-through-the-produce weeks as my roommate had her last wisdom tooth removed and was on soft food. But she humored me the other night…and let me use up quite a few of our veggies to create this amazing dish.

I spotted this recipe on Pinterest…and it seemed easy enough…and very, very delicious!! So, with my roomie’s permission and blessing, this is what I fixed for dinner. Of course, I tweaked it a little to use up some of the ingredients I had from my bin…but those will be noted in the recipe.

The recipe itself is taken from the blog Healthful Pursuit. As I said…I added my own fresh veggie twist on it to polish off some of the items from my bin.

Recipe: Vegan Taco Salad (With a Twist)

Servings: 1
Time: Prep 10 minutes; Cook 10 minutes

Ingredients:

Taco seasoning:

1 tablespoon chili powder
Homemade Taco Seasoning
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon black pepper

Taco “meat”:

1/2 white onion, sliced
3 tablespoons water
1 cup cooked chickpeas
1 teaspoon taco seasoning

Guacamole:

1/2 avocado flesh, mashed
1 tablespoon finely diced white onion
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tbsp finely chopped fresh cilantro
Juice from 1/2 lime
Sea salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

Cilantro-Lime Dressing:

1 bunch cilantro leaves, rinsed well
1/2 cup fresh lime juice
1/2 cup olive oil
2-3 tablespoons honey, to your taste
salt and pepper to taste

Salad Ingredients:

2 cups chopped romaine lettuce (I used cabbage)
1 tomato, chopped (I roasted and chopped organic beets)
Salsa (optional, I didn’t use)
Corn Tortillas (optional, I didn’t use)

Directions:

Make the taco seasoning. In a small bowl, mix together chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, red pepper flakes, oregano, paprika, cumin, salt and pepper. Store in an airtight container.

Add sliced onion and water to a medium-sized saucepan. Heat on medium-high heat for 2-3 minutes, until onions are softened.

Add chickpeas and taco seasoning and reduce heat to medium. Cook uncovered for another 2-3 minutes, until heated through.

Meanwhile, add guacamole ingredients to a small bowl and mash with a fork to combine. Set aside.

Make the cilantro lime dressing. Feed cilantro leaves through food processor tube and process until finely minced. Add lime juice and process a few seconds. Slowly pour olive oil through food processor tube and process until dressing emulsifies. Add honey, season with salt and pepper, and process a few seconds to combine.

Pile all of the salad ingredients in a bowl. Top with guacamole and taco “meat”.

~*~*~

This made a lot of salad. I doubled the recipe when I made it the other night. It was filling and very, very delicious. I was very impressed with the way the flavors came together. Instead of salsa, I made a cilantro lime dressing, which really topped off all the ingredients nicely. And instead of tomatoes, I roasted up some organic beets by wrapping them in foil and putting them in a 425 degree for an hour and a half. After letting them cool, I peeled off the skins and put them in the fridge until dinner time the following day. Then I chopped them up for the salad. It added a nice earthy flavor. The lettuce was replaced with the cabbage I had in my fridge as well. It was a nice substitution that really, really worked well.

Substitute, dress it up as you like. This vegan taco salad is amazing whether you make it your own or follow the original recipe. Filling, full of great proteins, healthy fats, and great flavor.

I also made my own taco seasoning…and it was awesome!

Go ahead…give this a try!

July 23, 2013July 26, 2013

A healthy, sweet and savory snack made possible by The Good Bean’s Sweet Cinnamon chickpea snacks

Product: The Good Bean Sweet Cinnamon Chickpea Snacks – $2.99+

I love snacking. No really…I do. And, it can be done in a healthy manner too. Oh yes. Snacks don’t have to mean chocolate and chips…not all the time. In fact, one of my favorite snacks these days come in these little 2-serving pouches. They are nothing more than roasted chickpeas. Yep. Roasted chickpeas. You read that right. Made by The Good Bean, these snacks have a lot going for them. And I was not the least bit hesitant to snatch up a couple of different flavors this last time…because the Sea Salt variety I tried a month or so again rocked my world. I was prepared to once again be wowed.

You see, I’m moving into a Clean Eating diet, prescribed by my sports nutritionist. Less processed food, more natural food. It’s an easy balance to strike for me, as I much prefer fresh produce and and fresh ingredients. I don’t even mind making my own snacks. In the past I have baked up my own granola bars and the like. Currently, however, the problem is I don’t have a lot of extra time…between working full time, training, and everything else I’m already trying to squeeze into the time I am awake to the time I go to sleep…well…I’m out of hours before even I know it.

Sometimes…you just have to find the cleanest, healthiest choice out on the market.

When it comes to following a Clean Eating lifestyle, I have discovered that The Good Bean’s products fit the bill. In fact, on their Web site, The Good Bean points out the fact that they use clean ingredients, meaning their products contain ingredients that are non-GMO, Hexane-free, fair trade, and follow good manufacturing practices…so that cross-contamination is not an issue with their products. It’s a snack food I can trust from a company that has high standards and actually cares about the quality of the product they are putting out on the shelves.

With the success I had with The Good Bean Sea Salt chickpea snacks, I was very excited to be giving their Sweet Cinnamon vareity a taste on Friday. After all, everyone benefits not just from the healthy aspect of the chickpeas, but the added health qualities of cinnamon. Nutritionally speaking, this snack is a powerhouse of awesome ingredients that are beneficial to everyone. A serving size is 1/4 cup (or 35 grams if you weigh your food like I do), which is exactly half of the contents of the pouch. In this serving you will be getting 140 calories and 3.5 grams of fat. Not bad for a snack, right? It gets better. This serving also only sets you back 160 mg of sodium and 6 grams of sugar. But, because these are made from actual chickpeas, you get a healthy 6 grams of fiber and a protein punch of 6 grams in each serving.

As for ingredients…it’s so easy and basic…no wonder these are clean eating. All that go into The Good Bean Sweet Cinnamon chickpea snacks are roasted chickpeas, brown rice syrup, Sumatra cinnamon, vanilla, coarse salt, gum arabic, and non-GMO expeller-pressed canola oil. Seven ingredients definitely falls into the clean eating profile. All of which are ingredients I recognize and don’t question. Nothing fake. Nothing processed. Just a whole lot of flavor and good ingredients in one small package.

So…how about taste?

Crunchy. Sweet. Savory. It’s everything packed in one very healthy 1/4 cup. Tons of flavor. And it hits every note on the flavor palate. It’s what the ultimate snack should be. Great crunch, fantastic texture, sweet but not too sweet, with the savory note of the chickpeas themselves. It’s like eating cinnamon toast without having to toast, butter, and dust the bread. This snack basically captures the very essence of cinnamon toast, but leaves out the fat, the white flour, the unnecessary carbs, the calories, the gluten, the sugar, and yes…the butter. This low-fat, gluten-free, high in filling fiber, and have less fat than nuts. How can you not like that? Every crunchy bite leaves me reaching for more. As much as I’d love to savor them…they just beg you to keep popping them. Better than popcorn and chips…The Good Bean totally wins with their chickpea snacks. Even more…the sweet cinnamon is a tasty, sweet, but sinless treat that will leaving you returning to your serving and devouring until the very last one is gone.

I am so impressed so far with the two flavors of The Good Bean chickpea snacks. I absolutely fell in love with the Sweet Cinnamon. The spice of the cinnamon and allspice with the sweetness of the vanilla makes this snack everything your taste buds could ask for. Trust me. I’m ready to rush out to the store and buy more.