Entree – Page 18 – The Celiathlete

August 11, 2014

Product Review: Schär Gluten Free Cinnamon Raisin Bagels

Product: Schär Gluten Free Cinnamon Raisin Babels – $6.99+

You can take the girl out of New York, but you can’t take the New York out of the girl. And by that I mean my extreme love of pizza, bagels, and the like. Especially bagels. They were a favorite breakfast item of mine growing up and continued to remain that way up until my Celiac diagnosis. When I had to go gluten-free, there were a few gluten-free bagels out on the market…but nothing that was so close to being a real bagel that I had to continue to buy them. I was mightily unimpressed by most of the ones I tried.

Until Udi’s. And then Katz Gluten Free.

And now…my third-in-line…

Schär.

I am no stranger to Schär’s products. In fact, I have pretty much enjoyed every product of theirs that I have gotten my hands onto and sank my teeth into. There are a few companies that I do not hesitate to purchase something from them, even if untested, because they have built up a trust. And I trust Schär. And that’s why, when I was out looking for something to have for breakfast…I jumped at the chance to try Schär’s new gluten-free bagels. Even better…they were something I had been craving for months now…

GLUTEN FREE CINNAMON RAISIN BAGELS!!

Sold! They were popped into my shopping basket (they were on the list…just not this brand specifically) and I made my way to the register before I was tempted by more gluten-free goodies while out on my tight grocery budget. And with that, I was heading home with my new find from the freezer section. I tossed them into my freezer (they specifically say to keep frozen…unlike most of Schär’s products, which are shelf-stable) and let them sit there for a week because I made homemade Gluten-Free Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls…and I was churning through those first. But I was craving a bagel and today felt like a good day for a bagel. After all…I had to go swimming this morning. If that doesn’t earn a bagel, I don’t know what does!

So, this morning before heading to the pool, I took out the Schär Gluten Free Cinnamon Raisin Bagels and removed two of them, placing them in a giant Ziploc bag and letting them sit on the counter to thaw while I was swimming some laps. When I came home, I turned on my oven and prepped a baking sheet so I could get a toast on these bagels. I did see where it said they were best enjoyed without toasting and just at room temperature…but who doesn’t toast a bagel?! Hmm? That’s just inhuman! So…I went to take my shower as the oven preheated and upon stepping back into the kitchen, the oven was ready and I tossed the tray into the oven to let the bagels toast.

I will point out that as I was preparing the bagels I made note of how they looked and felt. They are actually smaller than an average (New York-style) bagel, and more like the size of a doughnut. Instead of being bigger in diameter, however, they make up for it in height. Half of the bagel is nice and thin, the other half…is where you’ll find all the meatiness of the bagel…that chewy bread part that makes a bagel a bagel…toasted and crunchy on the outside with the chewy dense bread on the inside. And these bagels were definitely dense. They had a bit of heft to them, unlike Udi’s (still my favorite), where they feel quite light (which is a good thing!).

The Schär Gluten Free Cinnamon Raisin Bagels did smell amazing while they were cooking. You could get that sweet scent of cinnamon as the bagels were toasting in my oven. Mmmm…I was anticipating them finishing up…and actually kept pulling the door open to check on them, hoping for a little bit of golden doneness on the surface. It took about 10 minutes to get there…but when they did, out they came. Each half got a light coating of Tofutti Better Than Cream Cheese (vegan cream cheese FTW!) and breakfast was served!

I grabbed my coffee and my plate and tucked into the couch with my book (Heat by Bill Buford, if you were wondering) and settled in for my breakfast. First bite. Oh…yeah. There it was…that crispy outer crust with that chewy, soft inside. They were definitely denser than I like, but not bad. I rank them number three on my favorite gluten-free bagels (#1 – Udi’s; #2 – Katz Gluten Free). The cinnamon brought sweet heat that just elevated the flavor of the bagels. And the sweet raisins were a nice pairing. I had been craving cinnamon raisin…specifically in bagel form…and Schär delivered a solid, delicious version to me. I was impressed. I had a feeling it would be okay, as Schär has never let me down with one of their products, but you just never know. And being a bagel aficionado, I am rather particular about my bagels and how they feel, taste, and overall…how they cook. They have to live up to my high New Yorker standards. And these…basically did. Aside from being a little heavier than I like a bagel, they definitely delivered. And my craving has been satiated…finally.

Now, this is the part where I tell you what all goes into these bagels…and what they are free from…and then I hit you up with all that nutrition information, which no one really likes to see, but it’s important. So, stick with me here…

The Schär Gluten Free Cinnamon Raisin Bagels are made from water, corn starch, rice flour, buckwheat flour, sugar, yeast, psyllum seed husks (vegetable fiber), rice starch, canola oil, soy protein, cane sugar syrup, modified cellulose, salt, tartaric acid, calcium citrate, iron, thiamin, riboflavin and niacin. Yeah…those last few sound kind of chemically. I get that. But the Schär Gluten Free Cinnamon Raisin Bagels are gluten-free, wheat free, lactose free, egg free and diary free. They do, however, contain soy.

A serving of Schär Gluten Free Cinnamon Raisin Bagels is 1 bagel. No shock there, I know. This one delicious bagel will serve you 250 calories and 3 grams of fat. That is epically good for bagels. Trust me. One bagel will also provide you with 600 mg sodium and 11 grams of sugar. Both of those are a little higher than I like…but, again, not terrible for a bagel. These bagels are cholesterol free. And, finally, you will be getting 6 grams of filling fiber and 3 grams of protein. You will definitely feel full after a bagel. And I didn’t burn right through it either. I remained feeling full for quite a few hours after. Loved that.

I want to, once again, send out high praise, much deserved to Schär for their Gluten Free Cinnamon Raisin Bagels. Yet another amazing product to add to the lineup. I was beyond impressed with them. And, yes…the true test comes with whether I would shell out money to purchase them again. The answer is yes…oh, yes!

Schär Gluten Free Cinnamon Raisin Bagel toasted with a schmear of Tofutti Better Than Cream Cheese

August 10, 2014May 11, 2015

Product Review: Southern Culture Artisan Foods Shortstacks Gluten Free Vanilla Pancake & Waffle Mix

Southern Culture Artisan Foods Shortstacks Gluten Free Vanilla Pancake and Waffle Mix

Product: Southern Culture Artisan Foods Shortstacks Gluten Free Vanilla Pancake & Waffle Mix – $7.99

Okay…I think this is a first. An absolute first since I started receiving my Cuisine Cube orders. If you’re just tuning in, Cuisine Cube is a brilliant service that sends a box of 5-6 lesser known company products in the gluten-free world to my door…for me to enjoy…each month. Yes. Each month. And for a really good fee as well. I always look forward to my cube and have been trying to get through the items that have been sent in May-July as my August cube is to arrive tomorrow and I still have quite a few untried and untested products in each box. But…I’m getting there for sure!

So…there is my plug for Cuisine Cube. And I encourage anyone in my gluten-free reading circle (or even if you’re not gluten-free!) to give Cuisine Cube a try. You can cancel at any time…but I’m loving it too much to even dream about canceling. Because, it seems, they have nailed these products and sent some of the most amazing products I, otherwise, never have discovered or heard about.

And usually…these products wow me and astound me and make me want to seek them out so I can keep them in my pantry. But…this time…for the first time in four months…I didn’t care for a product that was inside.

The product in question was in my June Cuisine Cube. It was the Southern Culture Artisan Foods Shortstacks Gluten Free Vanilla Pancake and Waffle Mix. Now…I absolutely love pancakes and waffles. I wouldn’t be a runner if I didn’t. Let’s face it. HA! Seriously, there is nothing quite as satisfying as a delicious soft pancake with hot maple syrup drizzled over it…or a crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside waffle fresh from my waffle (stick) iron. And yet…they are a breakfast item I so rarely make as the waffle maker sometimes drives me nuts and, well, I just haven’t done pancakes in awhile.

With my friend, Greg, in town…I figured I could test out the Southern Culture Artisan Foods Shortstacks Gluten Free Vanilla Pancake and Waffle Mix for breakfast on Sunday. I had already hit up the gym and done some laps in the pool (SIGH!), so after a shower…I grabbed the little container of the Southern Culture Artisan Foods Shortstacks Gluten Free Vanilla Pancake and Waffle Mix and headed into the kitchen. I dug out my waffle stick maker and got it heating up. I sprayed it with cooking spray and then got to making the batter for the waffles.

I realized I had no eggs…but thankfully there is a vegan version of the mix on the container. No eggs needed. I emptied the bag of mix into a large bowl and added 1 cup of unsweetened almond milk and 4 tablespoons of vegetable oil. Per the instructions. I gave it a mix…and it was just dry and clumpy and…not batter. So I added more almond milk, and it didn’t do much different…but at least it was a bit creamier.

I pulled out my 1/3 cup scoop (that’s the serving size) and poured the batter into the waffle iron. I spread it out with a knife, adding a little batter here and there where needed to fill in holes. Then, I closed the lid and let it steam and cook and get toasted and crispy. It took about 6 or 7 minutes total. I decided to take a chance and serve Greg first. He’s rather particular about his food…so I crossed my fingers, laid it out with some warm maple agave syrup, and went back to start on Cathy’s (the roomie!) waffles.

I repeated this process again, handing over her waffles and heading back to make mine. And as she dug in I had to ask…

“So, what do you think?”

And her response…was shocking. “Actually, I’m not a fan.”

“Really? Why? What’s wrong?”

“It’s…salty.”

So, this immediately sent me scrambling for the package to see what might be salty in the mix. And, near the end there is salt, but it was one of the last ingredients listed. However, I did note that there were two different bean flours that were used in the mix…and I thought, perhaps, the bean flours were giving it that flavor to her. I would have to wait for my waffles to finish so I could see for myself.

I pulled my waffle sticks from the waffle iron, gave them a drizzle of syrup, and settled in to tuck into my breakfast.

One bite…and I totally knew it was the bean flours. The flavor of the Southern Culture Artisan Foods Shortstacks Gluten Free Vanilla Pancake and Waffle Mix…is, supposedly, vanilla. I don’t get vanilla at all. I did see what Cathy meant about the “salty” aspect of the prepared waffles. I definitely could pinpoint it as to being a result of using both chickpea and fava bean flours. It sort of reminded me of why I disliked the flavor of some of the Dr. Lucky’s Gluten-Free Cookies, which also uses bean flours as a base…and you can tell. The texture of these waffles were perfection. It got that golden crust on the outside and nice and soft in the middle. A perfect cook indeed. It fluffed up in the waffle iron and was golden perfection. I was really excited about them. Until I took a bite. Because they didn’t have that vanilla flavor that was advertised. They had bean flavor. And I don’t want bean flavored waffles. Seriously. That’s…disgusting. When you bite into a waffle or pancake, you want the buttermilk or vanilla or whatever flavor you expect. This salty, bean flavor was not what I expected…or wanted. I was really turned off and it was a fight to actually get me to finish them off at breakfast. Drown anything with syrup and you can get through it, I guess.

So…yeah…

So, let’s talk about the ingredients in the Southern Culture Artisan Foods Shortstacks Gluten Free Vanilla Pancake and Waffle Mix. This mix is a blend of an organic gluten-free flour blend (garbanzo bean flour, potato starch, tapioca flour, whole grain sweet white sorghum flour, and fava bean flour), organic sugar, leavening (monocalcium phosphate and sodium bicarbonate, cornstarch), baking soda, salt, vanilla bean powder, and xanthan gum. The mix itself is gluten-free, vegan, dairy-free, and cholesterol free.

As for nutrition information, a serving of the Southern Culture Artisan Foods Shortstacks Gluten Free Vanilla Pancake and Waffle Mix is 1/3 cup. There are 4 servings per container. One serving will provide you with 170 calories and 0 grams of fat. This serving will give you 590 calories and 3 grams of sugar. And finally, you will be taking in 1 gram of fiber and 5 grams of protein.

All-in-all…I was just really disappointed with the Southern Culture Artisan Foods Shortstacks Gluten Free Vanilla Pancake and Waffle Mix. I had gone into it with an open mind and a lot of confidence because it was from Cuisine Cube…and I’ve never disliked something (until now) that was in my Cuisine Cube. This just was strange…the flavor was way off. I wish it had been delicious because I liked everything else about the waffles. Just not the taste.

Too bad.

Well, we can’t win them all. I can’t wait to move forward and try something else from my next cube. But I don’t think I’ll be ordering any more of the Southern Culture Artisan Foods Shortstacks Gluten Free Vanilla Pancake and Waffle Mix.

July 28, 2014

Recipe: Gluten Free Lemon Bread Pudding

It’s become a sort of tradition whenever Weekend at Jenn’s happens…Sunday morning means creating one of our, now legendary, breakfast treats to feast on. No more eating out…no more eating day old goodies from the local gluten-free bakery (although, I’m okay with that…just sayin’.) We usually plan it out the week of the visit…and I sprung this one on her sort of as an afterthought a day or two before my drive up that way. She, thankfully, had everything but the bread…which I had in my freezer, leftover from our last bread pudding adventure. Seriously, if you ever want a sturdy bread…order the Katz Gluten Free Braided Challah loaf…the big one…and you will have at least 6 uses out of it. I know I got my money’s worth, that’s for sure.

Anyway…I don’t know why…but I was feeling lemon this week. And it just so happens that my two partners in crime, Jenn and Cathy, are both lovers of lemon and lemon flavored things as well. This recipe was going to be a match made in heaven. Jenn and I took a recipe, originally posted by Bijouxs, and put our own little touches on it to make it easier as well as change it to gluten free. We also made ours dairy free…because I’m sort of lactose intolerant and every little bit helps!

This bread pudding smelled SO amazing as it was baking up on Saturday morning. It does take an hour to do. And Jenn and I prepped the dish the night before and let everything soak up and sit in the fridge until we were getting ready for breakfast. I recommend doing this. The original recipe called for homemade lemon curd. We weren’t feeling that. Jenn had a 12 ounce jar…so we just used every bit of that jar in our version of this dish. Just make sure that the lemon curd is gluten-free (not all of them are!).

And now…you can make it yourself and see what I mean!

Recipe: Lemon Bread Pudding

Servings: 6-8

Ingredients:

1 French bread baguette, cut into 1 inch slices (I used Katz Gluten Free Braided Challah (of [delicious] DOOM!))
1 12 ounce jar of lemon curd
2 cups cold whole milk (I used coconut milk)
1/2 cup granulated sugar
4 eggs, cold
3-4 lemons, juiced (around 1/3 cup juice)
zest of 2 lemons (about 2 tablespoons)
pinch of kosher salt

Directions:

Place the bread slices cut sides down in a lightly buttered 10 x 8 inch oval ovenproof baking dish. Fit the bread slices together in a single layer to completely cover the bottom of the pan.

Spread the top of the bread slices with all of the lemon curd.

Whisk together the milk, sugar, eggs, lemon juice, lemon zest and pinch of salt, mixing well and pour over the bread.

Cover and refrigerate for at least 3 hours (or overnight like we did!), to allow the bread to absorb the milk mixture. Remove from the refrigerator at least 30 minutes prior to baking.

Preheat the over to 325° F.

Cover the bread pudding with foil and bake on top of a sheet pan for 30 minutes.

Remove cover and bake for an additional 30 minutes until puffy and golden brown.

Dust with confectioner’s sugar and serve warm with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream if desired.

~*~*~

OMG…amazing. Bright, zesty, tangy…it was a citrus flavored treat all rolled into one amazing little bread pudding. This makes a day brightening breakfast or a light, palate cleansing dessert. No matter how you slice it, all of us were digging into this delicious treat. I brought some home and reheated it for breakfast this morning. This reheats beautifully. Seriously. Nothing got soggy or gross in the fridge and it didn’t get destroyed when nuked in the microwave for about 2 and a half minutes. Still amazing. Still tangy. Still…OH so good!

July 21, 2014

Product Review: Feel Good Foods Gluten Free Vegetable Dumplings

Product: Feel Good Foods Gluten Free Vegetable Dumplings – $5.99+

There are quite a few things I really miss in my life at times. Like…makes me sad and really wanting to cry kind of miss. Maybe not the way I miss my family (and I really miss my family)…but people and food have relationships too. And one of my favorite cuisines growing up was none other than Chinese food or Asian-style cuisine.

It was tradition in my family to visit my great grandmother in Winona, Minnesota, every year that we went to visit both sets of grandparents. And one thing that I always looked forward to when visiting my great grandma was…Chinese food. She always ordered in the most amazing Chinese food in town. It was always egg rolls and chow mein and rice and there was more of it than the group of us could eat…but we always gave it our best shot. It was tradition. It was one of the many highlights I experienced growing up and something I came to look forward to every time we headed over to great grandma’s house.

I haven’t had true Chinese food since I went gluten-free…three years ago. The sauces…the way things are cooked…it’s risky. And it’s a risk I no longer am willing to take. It’s sad, because Asian food is one of my favorite types of cuisine. Sure, there are places like P.F. Chang’s that offers a gluten-free menu…but the vegetarian choices are very limited…and that’s not true Chinese.

Then…along came a little miracle in my Whole Foods (and other natural food stores) freezer section. A company, known as Feel Good Foods, introduced the first (and I believe the only) gluten-free Asian dumplings and egg rolls to the market. The hardest part was choosing if I wanted egg rolls or dumplings. It was a tough decision, but I finally chose the dumplings. One of the interesting things about this company is that it was created by husband and wife duo, Chef Tryg and Vanessa Phillips. They created Feel Good Foods gluten-free frozen foods after they opened a gluten-free restaurant and were told that they needed to put their food out on the market. Their foods are non-GMO, all-natural and completely gluten-free. You see…Vanessa is a Celiac…so they take food allergies really seriously.

Cathy had some leftover rice from our treat on Friday at the local Indian restaurant. So, after work and a trip to the gym, I wanted something that was easy to prepare and wouldn’t require me to read off a recipe or attempt something new. With the rice in the fridge, I figured I could steam up some of the last of the jasmine rice in my pantry for myself and then pull the Feel Good Foods Gluten Free Vegetable Dumplings out of the freezer to prepare while my rice was cooking on the stove.

These are super easy to prepare. In a non-stick pan, add a cup of water and 1 tablespoon of oil. Bring it to a boil and add the dumplings to the pan, flat side down. Cover and reduce the heat to medium-high, leaving the dumplings in the pan until the water completely evaporates. It takes around 10-11 minutes. They are fine to eat on their own, but I served mine with rice. These even come with a fantastic dipping sauce, which I ended up just pouring over the top so that the rice could absorb it too.

I settled in for dinner and dug into my little bowl of Asian gluten-free food. I wasn’t sure what to expect…but I was very happy with what I started to eat. The dumplings were soft and tender, with a nice crust on the flat side that was on the pan. The rest of it was that doughy stickiness you associate with potstickers. Amazing. The stuffing inside the wrapper was flavorful and very much like a delicious egg roll. So it was like a dumpling with an egg roll flavor. Happy girl right here. And the dipping sauce helped add a bit of seasoning and flavor to the entire dish. I am already wanting to restock my freezer with more of these. And the egg rolls for that matter. Delicious!

The Feel Good Foods Gluten Free Vegetable Dumplings are a simple blend of ingredients. The wrapper is made from water, sweet rice flour, rice flour, potato starch, canola oil, salt, xanthan gum, and corn starch. The filling is a combination of cabbage, yellow onion, bean vermicelli, carrots, green onion, corn starch, sesame oil, and less than 2% of evaporated cany syrup, ginger, salt, black pepper, yeast extract, and shiitake mushrooms. The dipping sauce is made from water, organic tamari soy sauce, sugar, ginger juice, garlic juice, and natural flavors of garlic and black pepper. These dumplings are gluten-free and cholesterol free.

Real and recognizable ingredients. LOVE it.

As far as nutrition goes, a serving size of the Feel Good Foods Vegetable Dumplings is 4 dumplings. There are two servings per box. One serving provides you with 290 calories and 9 grams of fat. They contain 430 mg sodium and 3 grams of sugar. These contain 2 grams of fiber and 3 grams of protein. The sauce packet contains 45 calories, is completely fat free, has 10 grams of sugar, and 2 gram of protein. Not bad for a frozen package of gluten-free foods.

If I could hug both Chef Tryg and Vanessa, I totally would. Because of them, I am once again able to revisit one of my favorite cuisines…Asian. And I can’t wait to try the Vegetable Egg Rolls and replenish my freezer with the Vegetable Dumplings. These are one of my favorite frozen dishes I have had to date. It might be the nostalgia, but I definitely think it has more to do with the product itself. Taste, texture, flavor and just all around goodness.

It doesn’t get much better than this!

Chinese food is BACK in my life!

Feel Good Foods Gluten Free Vegetable Dumplings and Dipping Sauce

July 21, 2014

Recipe: Broccoli Masala

Ever since I started going to my favorite (and Louisville’s most popular) Indian restaurant, one of the best dishes I have ever eaten has been their Broccoli Masala. No joke. It is amazing. It has so much depth of flavor. I always get mine done up spicy…because I love some heat with my food.

I’ve done a baked version of a Broccoli Masala before and even blogged on it…but I wanted to see if I could find a better recipe to use. And, lo and behold, I found one that would incorporate items that I already had in my apartment. I had broccoli from my last CSA bin, before having to take a couple weeks off as I was out of town. I had onion. I had cherry tomatoes. And so…this recipe from Spicy Treats just seemed ideal. I made up my mind to make it…so after I got home from work, I got busy chopping up veggies and seaming some rice on the stove top.

The rest…was just a matter of cooking. It was so easy and Cathy even preferred it to the baked one I made previously. It’s still not Shalimar’s (that would be my favorite Indian restaurant)…but it is, so far, the next best thing!

Recipe: Broccoli Masala

Servings: 2
Time: Prep 20 minutes; Cook 15 minutes

Ingredients:

1 medium sized crown of broccoli, chopped into small florets
1 big onion, sliced
1 tomato, chopped (I just sliced grape tomatoes in half)
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder
1/2-1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon curry powder
salt to taste
cilantro, finely chopped (optional)
2-3 teaspoons coconut oil
1/4 teaspoon fennel seeds

Directions:

Wash Broccoli crown, drain and chop into small florets. Chop the onion , tomato, and crush the garlic and keep ready.

Heat oil in a pan.

Add fennel seeds and when they splutter, add garlic and saute it.

Add onions and saute for 1-2 minutes or until it turn light golden brown.

Add tomato and saute until soft and mushy.

Add turmeric powder, chilli powder, cumin powder, and curry powder. Stir fry well.

Add broccoli florets. Season with enough salt and then add a dash of water. Stir fry for a minute.

Cover and cook for 2-3 minutes, or until the florets turn soft and tender. Do not over cook. The broccoli should retain that bright green color.

If you are using it, add the cilantro and stir fry for a moment.

Serve over steamed jasmine rice.

~*~*~

My roomate really dove into this dish, loving the further depth of flavor that the addition of the tomatoes and the onions made. In addition, the coconut oil made the perfect oil in which to cook the vegetables. They cooked up to perfection, and I hit the seasoning just right for my roommate (she is not one who likes spicy foods…I do). So, that was a win. If you prefer a spicier meal, add more chili powder. This delicious and nutritious meal is a great and fun way to enjoy Indian food in the comfort of your home. Simple to make…and delicious too.

And now I’m craving…

July 21, 2014

Recipe: Gluten-Free Charred Corn Tacos (with Homemade Taco Seasoning)

So…I was back from some time away and without my CSA bin for yet another week. I still had a couple of produce items from the week prior in my fridge. Nothing that would have gone bad while I was out of town for the weekend…but…you know…just some things I hadn’t gotten to just yet. One of these items were 2 ears of corn. I had previously grilled up the other 2 ears of corn that were in the bin…and I really, really wanted to try something different this time around.

So, I went on a little bit of a hunt…and somehow discovered the amazing recipe for Charred Corn Tacos (as well as homemade (so it can be gluten-free) taco seasoning) from Joy the Baker. I was elated. Because I love tacos and because it was definitely a different and unique way to consume said corn…and do something different with your average tacos. The best part? This recipe was super easy and I just needed to swing by the grocery store for a couple of items that I didn’t have due to not getting my produce bin.

If you love tacos…I highly recommend these. If you are a carnivore…I swear, you won’t even miss the meat!

Recipe: Gluten-Free Charred Corn Tacos (with Homemade Taco Seasoning)

Servings: 2
Time: Prep 25 minutes; Cook 15 minutes

Ingredients for Taco Seasoning:

2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon coriander
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

Directions for Taco Seasoning:

Toss together. Store in a jar. Apply liberally to most everything.

Ingredients for Gluten-Free Charred Corn Tacos:

2 ears of fresh corn, kernels cut from the cob
a handful of chopped scallions
a handful of sliced cherry tomatoes
a seeded fresh Serrano pepper, chopped
a liberal amount of homemade taco seasoning
4 corn tortillas
1 ripe sliced avocado
1 tablespoon olive oil

Directions for Gluten-Free Charred Corn Tacos:

Heat a few tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.

Add the corn and allow to char for several minutes. Stir infrequently to allow the corn to really char.

Remove from the heat and stir in scallions, cherry tomatoes, jalapeno, and taco seasoning to taste.

Warm up the tortillas.

Spoon the charred corn into the tortillas. Top with avocado.

DEVOUR!

~*~*~

My roommate declared this one of her favorite taco dishes that I have ever prepared. And, a couple years back we did what we called a “Tour de Taco” where I did different flavors and versions of tacos throughout the entire week. To hear that sort of exclamation really made my day. The char on the corn really does make all the difference, so be sure you start to get that blackened color on the kernels. These aren’t too spicy…and the seasoning is perfect. Honestly, it just brought this wash of flavor to the entire dish. Top off however you like. I added kale to mine for a bit of a leafy green. It was awesome. My roomie had me whip up some vegan Sriracha sour cream and I topped mine with hot sauce. However you like it…it’s yours for the making.

July 21, 2014

Product Review: Gardein Gluten-Free Garden Veggie Burger

Product: Gardein Gluten-Free Garden Veggie Burger – $5.49+

I remember, back in the days before I was diagnosed as a Celiac, I was simply a vegetarian. And as a vegetarian, I often would pick up different meat alternatives to try out for dinner. One of my favorite brands I would return to was Gardein. Gardein was a company that began with a simple dream – to use the power of vegetables to create healthy fast food. It was something the CEO and the company did very well. In fact, Gardein products are now served in various restaurants, including numerous restaurants at the Wynn in Las Vegas.

I do, however, remember and even recall someone asking…and did so myself…after I had to go gluten-free…for Gardein to consider making gluten-free products. The original response those three years ago was that taking the vital wheat gluten out of the products would jeopardize the integrity of said product. Therefore…no go. In fact, so many of the vegetarian/vegan meat companies took that stance. And for a long while, a vegetarian meat product didn’t cross my lips. Sure, there were a few options I tried and some that I liked. But none were like the ones I used to devour every week.

Until…

Gardein announced that it had some gluten-free products coming out to the market. And lo and behold, my newest local grocery store in the Louisville area happened to have some of these products. I have a CSA bin that gave me TONS of leafy greens this week. So, I figured it would be a good time to perhaps make up some veggie burgers. I was pretty set on one of my standards…Hillary’s Eat Well or Qrunch or something along those lines. But as I was passing by the freezer section in Lucky’s…there they were…a beacon of refrigerator light shining down upon them as if they were a gift from the gluten-free gods themselves.

Gardein’s Gluten-Free Veggie Burgers. In fact, there were a couple of different varieties to choose from: Garden Veggie Burger and a Chipotle Black Bean Burger. My roomie and I actually swear there was a gluten-free beefless burger there as well. Honestly! Not just the Beefless Ground. But I can’t find anything on that on their Web site. But…trust me…we saw it because it was in the running to come home with us.

Gardein Gluten-Free Garden Veggie Burgers (cooking)

Anyway…dinner time tonight meant…veggie burger time. Gluten-free veggie burger time. So, I started up the oven to cook the remaining sweet potato fries to go with the burgers and then pulled out my skillet to get it heated up. The Gardein Garden Veggie Burgers were taken out of the freezer and I carefully (NOT!) pried them apart with a sharp knife so I could have two of the four in the package. Then, I placed a bit of coconut oil in my skillet, let it melt, then put the patties down to cook. The bag said it would take around 4 minutes on each side. This was perfect. I got my gluten-free hamburger buns (Rudi’s Gluten Free Multigrain Hamburger Rolls, in case you were wondering!) out, sliced, and put in the oven to toast. Then, I flipped the veggie burgers over to get the other side cooking as well. As things were finishing up, I sliced a tomato, rinsed some of the lettuce I had in my crisper drawer, and got out some vegan cheese to melt over the top of the patty. As the fries finished up and the buns finished toasting, I placed a cheese slice on each patty, tossed a bit of water into the skillet, and then covered it so that the steam would perfectly melt the cheese.

As that was happening, I placed some condiments on each bun, then got the lettuce placed onto the bun itself. I removed the Gardein Garden Veggie Patties from the skillet and let them sit (per instructions) for one minute. Then I placed them patty over the lettuce, topped it off with the tomato and the top of the bun and VIOLA…dinner was served…with a side of sweet potato fries!

Settling in for dinner, I was really looking forward to trying a new brand of veggie burger. Especially since it was from a brand I used to trust as a vegetarian. They definitely didn’t disappoint. Whatever integrity Gardein thought it would lose by making gluten-free products…didn’t happen. Honestly. The Gardein Garden Veggie Burger was amazing. It was perfectly crusted on the outside, but the inside was soft and bound together with real vegetables, brown rice, and oats. I loved that I could not only take a bite of the burger and have it taste like a real burger…but I also got a bit of a serving of vegetables (corn, peas, peppers). I could see the brown rice cooked throughout and giving the patty some depth of flavor and a bit of volume and density. This burger was a very good size too…no skimping by Gardein. I loved seeing that. And it had a great, almost nutty and fresh taste to it. It was love at first bite with me. And I am happily assigning this the top spot on my gluten-free veggie burger list. Yes…it really is that amazing and that good. And…it will actually fill you up!

Now that I’ve mentioned that…I might as well get down to the ingredients and nutrition, yes? Yes!

Gardein Gluten-Free Garden Veggie Burgers are made from water, cooked brown rice, roasted vegetables (non-GMO corn, red and green bell peppers), carrots, onions, gluten-free rolled oats, peas, non-GMO expeller pressed canola oil, non-GMO soy protein concentrate, modified vegetable gum, dehydrated garlic, organic cane sugar, onion powder, sea salt, spices, yeast extract, natural flavors (contains gluten-free soy sauce), paprika, citric acid. Simple ingredients…but huge flavor. These burger patties are gluten-free, vegan, kosher, and non-GMO.

Nutritionally speaking, I am so in love with these stats, you just can’t imagine. So often, the gluten-free veggie burgers are laden in calories and fat. I guess it’s just how the companies try to make up for it being (GASP!) gluten-free. But Gardein turned out one fantastic product and managed to do it and keep both calories and fat in check. A serving of the Gardein Gluten-Free Garden Veggie Burgers is one burger. This serving will dish up 110 calories and 4 grams of fat. Yep…you read that right! LOVE IT! One burger will also give you 280 mg sodium and 2 grams of sugar. These burgers are cholesterol free. One burger patty will also give you 3 grams of fiber and 4 grams of protein.

Did I mention how delicious these are? Delicious and nutritious! Gardein was a little gun-shy to take on gluten-free. It tookk them a couple of years, but after listening to the numerous requests by consumers, they have entered the gluten-free market. And they did so with a bang. If you are looking for an amazing gluten-free veggie burger, run to your store and find the Gardein Gluten-Free Garden Veggie Burger. Trust me…it will be the best you’ve ever had.

Amazing.

Gardein Gluten-Free Garden Veggie Burger (with lettuce, tomato, vegan cheese on a Rudi's Gluten-Free Multigrain Hamburger Roll) — Gardein Gluten-Free Garden Veggie Burger (with lettuce, tomato, vegan cheese on a Rudi’s Gluten-Free Multigrain Hamburger Roll)

July 20, 2014

Product Review: Biaglut Pasta Senza Glutine Bucatini

Product: Biaglut Pasta Senza Glutine Bucatini – $5.50+

That’s a mouthful, isn’t it? Wow. But…it is one that is worth attempting to say (preferably with an Italian accent). Because what we honestly and truly have here is the finest, best, and closest-you’ll-ever-get-to-the-real-thing gluten-free pasta. I raved about Biaglut a long while back…a couple years ago, when I reviewed the Biaglut Maccheroncini (Elbows). I even had another one of their pasta offerings, but didn’t blog on it. I think I was overwhelmed with blogging and thought, “gluten-free pasta is pasta…what more can I say about it?”

I’m actually really sad that my thought process went that way. And here’s why…

Biaglut honestly is the best gluten-free pasta out on the market. It’s not easy to find. But if you do find it…or if you can order it online, I honestly encourage you do to so. It is amazing. It has the texture and taste of “real” pasta. Nobody would even suspect that it was gluten-free. That goes for all three varieties that I have now tried.

This latest round of gluten-free pasta a lá Biaglut was brought to me by the amazing Cuisine Cube. My June box contained this sack of amazing pasta. And since I’ve been out of town, I haven’t gotten to play around with my bin ingredients lately. But that changed. That changed last night when I decided to do up some pasta…but in a different way. I still have a pantry of various pastas to use…but the Biaglut was right there and I really wanted to attempt this one with a “spaghetti” type noodle. And since Cuisine Cube sent me some Bucatini in my box…I was ready to rock and roll!

My recipe involved very little. A Gluten-Free and Vegan Caprese Spaghetti, as it were. So, what I did was slice up two tomatoes and lay them on a baking sheet. I covered each slice with a slice of Teese vegan mozzarella cheese. Then, I put it in the oven for about 20 minutes, allowing the cheese to get melty and good. While that was baking…I got some water into a big pot and set it on the stove to bring to a boil. Once it was there, I put 4 ounces of the Biaglut Pasta Senza Glutine Bucatini into the water (a serving for both my roomie and myself) and let it begin to cook. The bag said it would take around 7-8 minutes to get to that perfect al dente. I gave it a stir every now and again, but just let the boiling water work it’s magic. And, wouldn’t you know it? Seven minutes later…the Bucatini was cooked perfectly. I drained it and began to assemble my pasta…

A serving of Biaglut Pasta Senza Glutine Bucatini (cooked)

Bucatini…a drizzle of olive oil, topped off with the slices of tomato with the melted vegan mozzarella, a sprinkle of fresh basil, and then a drizzle of a red wine reduction. Dinner was served.

So, bucatini gets their name from the Italian word, “buco,” or “hole.” It is similar in shape to spaghetti, but the hole allows water to enter as it boils, speeding up the cooking time and also making it ideal for slurping up your favorite sauce. Naturally, then, I make a pasta dish without a sauce. HA!

Let me tell you though, Biaglut knows what it’s doing. Honestly. This pasta had a great texture and amazing flavor. It worked so well with the slices of tomato, the vegan cheese, the fresh basil, and the red wine reduction. It just…came together in perfect harmony. The pasta was actually ideal, despite there not being a true sauce on this dish. It actually made me realize how much I missed eating spaghetti. Especially one that actually felt like I was eating spaghetti and not bits of spaghetti brown rice noodles that turned to mush despite not being overcooked. It was a very nice change and made for one of my favorite meals. Sometimes getting creative in the kitchen and having it come out perfectly means…having the right base for said dish. Biaglut was just that. And I am, once again, forever going to sing high praises for this product.

Biaglut products are made from the finest gluten-free ingredients with authentic Italian recipes. This company isn’t playing around. The Biaglut team has worked for years to perfect the recipes for their gluten-free products to have them taste like, if not better than, that of the comparable gluten containing products. They believe that gluten-free products shouldn’t mean sacrificing taste and flavor.

So, while on this subject…let’s take a look at what goes into the Giaglut Pasta Senza Glutine Bucatini, shall we? The ingredients include: cornstarch, potato flour, lupin flour, lupin proteins, and mono and diglycerides (emulsifier). Very few ingredients. And all of them, when put together, create the ideal gluten-free pasta. Just take my word on this one.

As for nutrition, a serving of Biaglut Pasta Senza Glutine Bucatini is 2 ounces. This serving provides 190 calories and 1 gram of fat. In addition, this serving gives you 15 mg sodium and less than 1 gram of sugar. This pasta is cholesterol free. You also get 2 grams of fiber and 3 grams of protein.

Biaglut, honestly, is top of the line when it comes to gluten-free pastas. If you can find these and/or order this brand, I highly encourage it. You’ll never find this pasta to turn to mush or fall apart. Biaglut’s quality is worth the price it takes to have this pasta in your pantry. You’ll never go back to other brands. I promise you that much.

Gluten-Free Caprese Spaghetti made with Biaglut Pasta Senza Glutine Bucatini

July 17, 2014

Product Review: Katz Gluten Free Lemon Poppy Loaf

Product: Katz Gluten Free Lemon Poppy Loaf – $5.79

I have to hand it to Katz Gluten Free…because they are upholding an amazing record as far as their products go. Honestly. Every time I have ordered and consumed one of their products, they have not only wowed me, but completely set the bar for other similar products that I try. And whenever they introduce something new to their lineup…I tend to order it to try it. I only do that with brands I trust. And Katz Gluten Free has more than proved itself worthy of my trust and my money.

How’s that for an endorsement?

But trust me, said endorsements aren’t just given. They must be earned.

And one thing that Katz Gluten Free does…is earn my endorsement. Whenever I am asked about gluten-free foods, I always direct the person to the Katz Gluten Free Web site…because they can get a sampler for free (just the cost of shipping) and try out some of the great items that Katz has to offer. But Katz Gluten Free is smart…and they don’t give their best away. The donuts, the bagels, the English muffins…those aren’t included in the sampler…but are definitely some of my favorite things I’ve ordered.

And now…you can add their new Lemon Poppy Loaf to that list.

Welcome to the gym morning crush and rush. This means…early morning to get up and head over to the gym…get in some cardio and weights and then get to the office. Every gym morning requires me to bring something to feast on for breakfast at the office while I begin working. This normally is something easy…something I can slap into the microwave and have it done. Always served with fruit, of course…because I like to balance things out. With the Cinnamon and Chocolate Buns now gone (oh, Katz Gluten Free…I will be ordering those again!) I looked peered into my pantry and freezer for something I could easily serve up to my roomie and I at the office.

I could have made scones…but really thought about it too late. So, baking was not happening. Not this week.

But then…there in my freezer, under some frozen fruits…I spotted the Katz Gluten Free Lemon Poppy Loaf that I ordered when I put in the order for the Cinnamon and Chocolate Buns. I mean…come on…it’s lemon. And lemon things are delicious. I removed the loaf from the freezer and set it out on the counter to thaw overnight. I got up early that following morning to do my training run, then came home and unwrapped the loaf, opened it up, and sliced it up…two slices for each of us…because it is breakfast after all. I placed these slices into a container, placed it in a cooler with our recovery drinks (chocolate milk for the roomie, and chocolate coconut water for me!) and anything else I was bringing for snacks and lunch. And my tea. Because that is important!

First of all, upon slicing the loaf I was very happy to see just how light and moist and fluffy it was. The knife slid right through it, cutting it perfectly without me hacking it to death and giving it this odd slanting slices. These were uniform and perfect. Second of all, because of the nature of the loaf being so moist, nothing like butter was needed to add to it. Could it be done, sure. But why butter up something so lemony fresh?

So, after hitting the gym and heading to the office, I set to work in the kitchen and placed two slices on each of our plates, giving them a little warming in the microwave. About 20 seconds. I served these with clementines, because citrus and citrus is always a safe bet, yes? YES! It was quick, easy, and really could have been served minus the nuking in the microwave…but I love a hot slice of bread. It’s almost like it’s fresh from the oven that way.

Brekkies…served.

I had no sooner settled into my desk after delivering Cathy her plate when my messenger blinked up with her exclamation of love and affection for the Gluten Free Lemon Poppy Loaf. I had to find out for myself. So, I picked up my fork, sliced off the corner, and took a bite.

OH…HELL YES! While Katz Gltuen Free does advertise this more as a cake…it is most certainly a sweet bread. And I couldn’t have been happier with it. The moist and fluffy lightness I described while cutting it was not an illusion. The Katz Gluten Free Lemon Poppy Loaf was not dense, heavy, or hard. It had this great brown and moist crust where it baked and inside…this gorgeous speckled loaf that just begged to be devoured. The lemon flavor was there…but it wasn’t overpowering. It was not an afterthought either. Rather, it was that perfect balance…no tartness…but definitely sweet and delicious. Happiness in breakfast form.

So, what does Katz bake into their Gluten Free Lemon Poppy Loaf? According to the package, this bread of lemon-poppy-awesomesaucy is a blend of a gluten-free flour mix (which includes brown rice flour, tapioca flour, and millet flour), eggs, sugar, brown sugar, canola oil, water, poppy seeds, baking powder, lemon extract, vanilla extract, xanthan gum, and salt. This bread is gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, and soy-free, corn-free and cholesterol free.

As far as nutrition goes…a serving of the Katz Gluten Free Lemon Poppy Loaf is one slice. There are 10 servings per loaf. One slice of the loaf will give you 140 calories and 5 grams of fat. You will be taking in 130 mg sodium and 10 grams of sugar. And you will be consuming 1 gram of fiber and 2 grams of protein. Another good reason to serve it up with something…you won’t be left feeling full after eating this. But…it’s so good you probably won’t care either.

Oh…yeah. If you like lemon things…lemon flavors…and just gluten-free food that tastes better than the “real” thing…you need to treat yourself to this delicious indulgence. Katz Gluten Free Lemon Poppy Loaf is a delicious slice of gluten-free heaven…and you’ll want to go back for more.

A slice of Katz Gluten Free Lemon Poppy Loaf

July 17, 2014

Product Review: Mrs. Leeper’s Gluten Free Cheeseburger Mac

Product: Mrs. Leeper’s Gluten Free Cheeseburger Mac – $5.29+

Okay…I know what you are thinking. How can a vegetarian possibly consume a product that is called “Cheeseburger Mac?” Well…there are a couple of different ways to go about it. Gluten-Free Soy Crumbles. Gluten-Free TVP. Or…the way I handled it…adding Trader Joe’s Gluten-Free Soy Chorizo.

Because when you have to make a vegetarian version of a Cheeseburger Mac…you might as well do it up with something spicy and different. Right? RIGHT!

So…here’s the story. Recently, a bunch of items went on closeout at a local grocery store. I’d been meaning to try some of the Mrs. Leeper’s products, but just never found a reason to pay for them. While not overly priced as far as gluten-free products go…all need to have some sort of meat added to them. Originally, I imagined I could just cook up some tofu and substitute it for the lean beef in this recipe.

But…being that I’m on a tight and strict food budget these days…I had to go with something in house. Something I already had. And in my refrigerator, calling to me from my shelf…was Trader Joe’s Gluten-Free Soy Chorizo (IT’S BACK!). BINGO! Not that I needed to use this product up just yet…but two weeks in a row without my CSA bin has left me sifting and sorting through things in my pantry and freezer. And I figured there was no time like the present to make this one up. Especially since I had a substitute for the meat already in my apartment.

After another long, stressful, and busy day at the office, I was quite happy with coming home to cook this up. Why? Because it literally takes 15 minutes to make. That’s it. Super easy…and not finicky. You don’t need to stand over it the entire time it’s cooking. So, I was able to get a few other things accomplished while it worked away on the stove. Brilliant.

Making Mrs. Leeper’s Gluten Free Cheeseburger (or Soy Chorizo, in my case) Mac is super easy. First…add your protein. Whether it’s a lean meat, tofu, tvp, soy crumbles, or soy chorizo (if you like a little spice!)…get that working in a pan. I got out a skillet and heated up the soy chorizo for a couple of minutes, then poured in 1-1/2 cups of hot water and 1-3/4 cup unsweetened almond milk. The sauce packet was then poured in and all I had to do was stir it all together and let it come back up to a boil. Once that happened, I poured in the pasta and gave it another stir. I reduced the heat, covered it and let it simmer for 13 minutes, stirring occasionally. The pasta actually did tenderize really quickly, so I was actually very impressed. Once the pasta reached that perfect al dente…I removed the skillet from the heat, uncovered it, and let it sit for around 2 minutes to allow the sauce to thicken.

Dinner was ready.

I dished this meal up into 4 portions, two for tonight for my roomie and myself and two for tomorrow (hey…dinner’s already prepared…just needs to be reheated!). And we settled in for our meal while watching Chopped. Because…that’s how we roll.

One bite…and I was blown away. What great flavors. It’s like the best, warming, delicious comfort food. The rice pasta cooked up beautifully, not getting mushy and falling apart, but standing up to, not only the chorizo, but also the sauce. I loved the heat that the soy chorizo brought to the dish. The textures were perfect. And the flavors just all worked together. I loved that I was able to lighten it up using unsweetened almond milk. This does have some dairy in it…but I cut it where I could. I found this dish to be a throwback to a German dish a babysitter made for me when I was younger. It was fantastic. And I found myself savoring each forkful. I’m excited I get to eat it again tomorrow.

Let’s talk ingredients, shall we? Mrs. Leeper’s Gluten Free Cheeseburger Mac is made from brown rice pasta. The sauce is made with whey, modified corn starch, tomato powder, nonfat dry milk, onion powder, sugar, salt, rice flour, autolyzed yeast, natural butter flavor, natural flavor, garlic powder, citric acid, extractives of turmeric and annatto, paprika, caramel color, and not more than 2% silicon dioxide added to prevent caking. So…not great…but not bad either.

Let’s talk nutrition. A serving of Mrs. Leeper’s Gluten Free Cheeseburger Mac is 1 cup prepared. As packaged, without adding your protein, and your milk of choice, this serving provides you with 170 calories and 0.5 grams of fat. A serving will also give you 480 mg sodium and 7 grams of sugar. It is cholesterol free. And, in addition, you will be getting 2 grams of fiber and 4 grams of protein. It’s filling without being overly filling. And once you add in all your milk and proteins of choice…that all changes.

Oh…I was really surprised and quite impressed with Mrs. Leeper’s Gluten Free Cheeseburger Mac. I modified it as much as I could to fit my diet and really loved how it turned out in the end. Really delicious…a hint of spice…great texture. And a happy belly when all was said and done. Now, I can’t wait to try more of the Mrs. Leeper’s boxed meals for something quick and easy to prepare. And it’s so adaptable. This would be good even without the protein. And I may have to try one of them like that. Or return to this one and see how it compares. As it is…the Trader Joe’s Gluten-Free Soy Chorizo was a great fit for the protein. The zesty cheese sauce played beautifully with it. I was so happy with my dinner tonight, which, after my rough day at the office…was just what I needed. Beyond impressed.