Food – Page 48 – The Celiathlete

April 3, 2014

Product Review: KIND Healthy Grains Dark Chocolate Chunk Bars

Product: KIND Healthy Grains Dark Chocolate Chunk Bars – $3.99+

Granola bars.

While there are gluten-free options out there for granola bars, it is something that I gave up when I had to go gluten-free. Why? I just didn’t find any that tasted…right…or good for that matter. Sure, there are plenty of fruit and nut bars out there, but when you think granola bar, you think of oats and that chewy-sticky goodness that you get with each bite. That was what I wanted. And that was not what I was finding.

Until…

KIND once again rose to the occasion.

I keep becoming so indebted to KIND because their products are superb. Honestly. I wouldn’t keep going back to KIND bars and KIND Healthy Grain Clusters time after time after time. Lord knows, these days there are plenty of delicious and gluten-free options when it comes to protein bars and granola. But there is something so spectacular about the products that KIND puts out. I trust them with my food budget. I really do.

So, imagine my glee the day I stepped into my local grocery store and went to scope out the Manager’s Special shelves and found the KIND Healthy Grains Bars on the shelf. They had the discounted price ticket on there. The only flavor being offered at the discounted price was the KIND Healthy Grains Dark Chocolate Chunk Bars…so that’s what came home with me. Two boxes of them. That meant, without any idea of how they tasted…I invested in 10 bars (they come 5 to a box). But I didn’t even flinch…because it was KIND.

Sadly, these just sort of sat in my drawer of protein bars and race day snackies up until the other day. I was working my way through the pantry that I totally forgot about those in that drawer. And, with my sprained ankle, I hadn’t been racing or running so there was no reason for me to open that drawer. It slipped my mind. Until…I started running again. I noticed the boxes in the drawer and knew it was time to bust them out for one of my work snacks. It would be just like the old days. A morning snack of a “granola” bar. But this…this is even better than a granola bar. It tastes better…has actual real ingredients…and it has more (and better) nutritional value. Trust me.

I couldn’t wait for snack time to roll around the other day. Honestly. I had the bar out on my desk…anticipating it. Wanting to see if it was any good. Needing to know if it lived up to the high standards that KIND set for its products with me in the past. And when it was time, I tore into that wrapper and broke off a corner of the Healthy Grains Bar. The first thing I noticed was this didn’t snap away. The bar itself is very light and soft. You definitely get that hint of sticky-soft goodness from the honey, which helps to also sweeten the oats and other grains that are used in the making of these bars. The dark chocolate chunks provide this amazing sweetness that doesn’t detract from the rest of the bar, but works with it…bringing out all the other flavors. And I love that hint of coconut flavor you get right at the end. Honestly…one of the best bars I have ever consumed. EVER! Even better…I don’t feel guilty about this little indulgence, because it’s not really an indulgence. The name of this product says it all – HEALTHY Grains Bars. Add in that sweet hint of heart-healthy dark chocolate and you have my new favorite snack in life.

So, what all goes into the KIND Healthy Grains Dark Chocolate Chunk Bars? Well, KIND never hides anything when it comes to their products. That’s why their packaging and wrappers have large open windows. They honestly have nothing to hide. At all. The KIND Healthy Grains Dark Chocolate Chunk Bars are a blend of whole grains (which include gluten-free oats, brown rice, millet, gluten-free oat flour, buckwheat, amaranth, and quinoa), tapioca syrup, evaporated cane juice, honey, non-GMO canola oil, coconut, chocolate liquor, sugar, brown rice syrup, molasses, gum acacia, sea salt, vanilla extract, cocoa butter, soy lecithin, and natural vitamin E.

How does it stack up nutritionally? Not too bad at all. A serving of the KIND Healthy Grains Dark Chocolate Chunk Bars is one bar. This bar will provide 150 calories and 4.5 grams of fat. One bar will also provide you with only 65 mg sodium and 9 grams of sugar. You will also be getting 3 grams of fiber and 3 grams of protein…so you actually do feel full after eating one. These are gluten-free and cholesterol-free.

If you’re looking for a healthy snack that you can easily pack and take with you…anywhere…I highly recommend KIND Healthy Grains Dark Chocolate Chunk Bars. They remind me, a lot, of the homemade granola bars I used to make. Flavor is SUPER fantastic. Texture and feel is spot on. And that chocolate…tames even the biggest sweet tooth. My snack time just got a lot sweeter….without the extra sugar and…additives. Thank you, KIND, for products that I’m proud to have right out on my desk.

March 31, 2014

Product Review: Sophie’s Kitchen Breaded Vegan Calamari

Product: Sophie’s Kitchen Breaded Vegan Calamari – $5.99+

This is it!

The final product from Sophie’s Kitchen for me to review. Well, there are a couple other products out there, just none that I have found in this area yet. All the ones that are available in the various natural food stores around here…have now been eaten, consumed, and reviewed. It all ends here…with Sophie’s Kitchen Breaded Vegan Calamari.

Yes…my freezer has now been cleared of my delicious vegan seafood. And the Vegan Breaded Calamari is another fine example of how Sophie’s Kitchen is doing vegan seafood well! I mean…I was blown away.

Back before I became a vegetarian, I began eating calamari after moving to Indiana. My roommate and her family were huge fans of splitting the appetizer calamari at any restaurant it was offered in…especially Red Lobster. That being said, I grew to have a taste for the little rubbery rings of…squid. But after making a conscious decision to go vegetarian…I gave up seafood and all other meats. And when going gluten-free was necessary, anything breaded went the way of the dodo in my diet.

Until…Sophie’s Kitchen brought breaded “seafood” back into my life.

The other night, the Breaded Vegan Calamari remained in my freezer. And as I had been out of town and had no fresh produce bin delivered…I was living out of my pantry, fridge, and freezer. This seemed like an easy enough thing to prepare for dinner. All I hoped for was that it would live up to the standards and quality of the other Sophie’s Kitchen products I had in the past.

I should have known it wouldn’t disappoint.

Sophie's Kitchen Breaded Vegan Calamari (frozen) — Sophie’s Kitchen Breaded Vegan Calamari (frozen)

Sophie’s Kitchen Breaded Vegan Calamari is so simple to prepare. You can do it in either the oven or a skillet, but I opted for the oven this time. I placed the Breaded Vegan Calamari rings on a pan and put them in the oven for about 15 minutes. When I retrieved them, they smelled amazing and were now a beautiful golden brown. I plated the rings and served it up with some marinara for dipping (because calamari should always be eaten with marinara…always!). My roommate and I tucked into our basic, simple dinner…and we were both once again WOWED! I mean…totally in awe at how accurate the texture and taste of these vegan seafood products are to the real thing. I loved how the Breaded Vegan Calamari rings had that bit of rubbery texture…just like actual calamari. I thought it had amazing flavor, and the breading was more than seasoned correctly and packed with amazing flavor. I might have devoured mine in record time. I told my roommate that this one was ranking up there in popularity as far as my favorites to eat. So delicious. Beyond impressed. And now I want to restock my freezer with all of the products again…and work my way through them once more. This just clinches the fact that Sophie’s Kitchen makes high quality products that gluten-free vegans can enjoy!

So…what exactly is vegan seafood made from? Well, the Sophie’s Kitchen Breaded Vegan Calamari is made from water, konjac powder, beta glucan, potato starch, organic agave nectar, sea salt, canola oil, rice flakes (from brown rice), potato starch, turmeric, white pepper, carrageenan, alginate, and calcium hydroxide. Is it clean eating…nope. Not even close. But…it’s not too bad as processed, frozen products go. Not at all. These are soy-free, vegan (100% plant based), non-GMO, gluten-free, contain no artificial preservatives, no artificial colors, no MSG, they are free of trans fats, and they are cholesterol free. These also contain no added sugar. Nothing about them is artificial. Nothing.

Nutritionally speaking, a serving size of Sophie’s Breaded Vegan Calamari is 4 pieces (or about 3 ounces). This serving size will dish you up 210 calories and 9 grams of fat. You will also be taking in 250 mg sodium and only 2 grams of sugar. Love that! In addition, you will be consuming 4 grams of fiber and 4 grams of protein. Trust me…you will feel full after eating these. But deliciously full!

I have become a huge fan of Sophie’s Kitchen Vegan Seafood items. The Breaded Vegan Calamari ranks right up there as one of the best products in the lineup. Try it. Even if you aren’t a vegan, you might appreciate a healthier, and environmentally-friendly seafood. You won’t be disappointed. Trust me!

Sophie's Kitchen Breaded Vegan Calamari (served with marinara sauce) — Sophie’s Kitchen Breaded Vegan Calamari (baked) (served with marinara sauce)

March 31, 2014

Product Review: Wild Friends Foods Vanilla Espresso Almond Butter

Product: Wild Friends Foods Vanilla Espresso Almond Butter – $1.99+

I am not very good about blogging about various spreads and nut butters that I try. I don’t know why…but mostly because it’s hard to wax rhapsodic about different varieties of nut butters…because…while they don’t all taste the same…it’s the same thing. Besides, I’m a Trader Joe’s Creamy Peanut Butter girl. That doesn’t change.

Except…when something leaps out at me and catches my eye.

That was the case this past visit to Birmingham, Alabama. I went to my mom’s favorite natural food store, Organic Harvest, and was shopping around for some products to try that I had never seen in my area. I was walking the aisles, doing my initial scouting when I spotted little sample packs of almond butters at the bottom of one of the shelves.

The brand: Wild Friends Foods.

The flavor: Vanilla Espresso Almond Butter.

HELLO!! How could I not buy this?! I had to. So, it was one of the items that I chose to bring home with me to try. And…that’s what happened. All I needed was the perfect opportunity to use it and to allow it to shine. I mean…vanilla…espresso…almond butter. That’s three of my favorite things all rolled into one product. I was elated. I was in heaven. I…needed to find something to use it with.

And so…it all came together one morning when I was toasting up some gluten-free cinnamon raising English muffins. I had pulled out some butter and honey to top the English muffins with, but then I recalled this spread. So I decided to do half of the English muffins with the butter and honey, and the other half with this amazing sounding almond butter.

I made a fantastic choice.

The Wild Friends Foods Vanilla Espresso Almond Butter is just as amazing as it sounds. It has all the texture and flavor of almond butter, but elevated with the bits of ground up espresso beans and the amazing aroma and flavor of vanilla. It’s almond butter taken to the nth degree. And there is nothing wrong with that at all. This packet, once kneaded as instructed, provided a creamy, flavorful topper for the cinnamon raising English muffin. The espresso bits don’t get in the way or overpower the natural flavor of the almond butter. In fact, they serve as a bit of a flavor enhancer. And it was AWESOME!! Trust me, even my roommate was raving about it. Seriously…I wish I could find this stuff here.

So, let’s talk about the ingredients. One very important thing about Wild Friends Foods is that the creators wanted to make fun flavors of nut butters without the white sugars, preservatives, additives, or oil. So, instead of using slick oils and processed sweeteners, they use natural ingredients that are awesome…and…yes…healthy! The Vanilla Espresso Almond Butter contains almonds, organic agave, natural vanilla flavor, espresso, and sea salt. That’s it. It is non-GMO, dairy-free, gluten-free, and kosher.

Nutritionally speaking, you can’t beat these statistics when it comes to almond butter. The Wild Friends Foods Vanilla Espresso Almond Butter has a serving size of 2 tablespoons. This serving will provide you with 190 calories and 17 grams of fat (but it’s the healthy fat you get from nuts…so don’t freak out, okay?). You will also be getting 95 mg sodium and 2 grams of sugar. And finally, you will be taking in 3 grams of fiber and 6 grams of protein.

And it really does taste amazing. Possibly my favorite almond butter I have had to date. I wish I had more than just the sample pack. From a quick check on the Wild Friends Foods Web site, it looks like a regular jar of this flavor is a whopping $11.99. One jar. But…I would say it was worth it. For now, I guess I’ll just supplement with the amazing little sample packs whenever I go to Birmingham.

If you can order it online to try it…or if you can find it locally…don’t hesitate…just do it!

Wild Friends Foods Vanilla Espresso Almond Butter (on a gluten-free cinnamon raisin English muffin)

March 29, 2014

Product Review: Katz Gluten Free Cinnamon Raisin English Muffins

Product: Katz Gluten Free Cinnamon Raisin English Muffins – $4.99

When it comes to gluten-free goodies…it doesn’t get much better than Katz Gluten Free. Honestly. I have never, ever, ever, ever, ever…etc. been disappointed by anything that I have ordered from Katz Gluten Free on their Web site. In fact, I strongly encourage others to take the plunge and try some of Katz Gluten Free products. If you are lucky, you won’t have to always order online. Perhaps one of your local natural food stores carries some of their products. Which is great…if that is the case.

For me…I can find the pies and the breads…but for the most part…my luck stops there. So when something else catches my eye…that’s when I hit the Web site to place an order.

Trust me…you won’t ever regret hitting that check out button.

This time, after ordering the Gluten-Free Large Braided Challah Loaf, I figured I’d order a few extra items in order to round out the amount I was spending to get free shipping. I was over halfway there with just the challah…so I felt it was worth it. After perusing the items available, I made a decision to try the Katz Gluten Free Cinnamon Raisin English Muffins.

Now, I’ve tried their Gluten Free Original English Muffins before and absolutely loved them. They taste like real English muffins. Perhaps even better. So, since I love cinnamon raisin things, I figured this would be right up my alley to try. Since I was out of town and don’t have a CSA bin to prepare meals from this week, my gym mornings were spent noshing down on things in my freezer. One such item…the Katz Gluten Free Cinnamon Raisin English Muffins.

I pulled two of the English muffins (one for me and one for my roomie) out the night before to thaw in a plastic bag. I sliced them in half before packing them up while I went to the gym. I got into office after my sweat session and put these on a dedicated plate, put them in the toaster oven, and let them get all toasty and golden and warm. It took about 8 minutes from the time I put them in the toaster oven.

When they came out, they were golden and gorgeous…and smelling like cinnamon rolls. No…seriously. And we all know I love my cinnamon rolls. I put a little butter and honey on one half…and on the other half I tried out a new kind of almond butter (Wild Friends Vanilla Espresso Almond Butter). I served up a plate to my roommate and went to tuck into my hard-earned brekkies.

First bite and I was hooked. I started with the side with the butter and honey, knowing the flavor would shine through more. I was totally right about that. I loved the hint of spice from the cinnamon and the sweetness from the raisins. The texture was light…airy…perfect. These are in no way dense at all. They have the right amount of heft to them. And…that cinnamon raisin flavor is outstanding. When I tried it with the super-special almond butter, I might have fallen deeper in love. These English muffins are fantastic. Katz did amazing things with the original flavor. They are doing even better things with the Gluten Free Cinnamon Raisin English Muffins. I am hooked. And now I wish I had ordered more. Dang it.

Let’s talk ingredients. Katz Gluten Free puts the following into their Gluten Free Cinnamon Raisin English Muffins: gluten free flour (mix of potato flour and rice flour), water, potato starch, quinoa, tapioca starch, canola oil, sugar, dry yeast, baking powder, guar gum, salt, corn flour, cinnamon, and raisins. They are completely cholesterol free, gluten-free, nut-free, soy-free, dairy-free, and egg-free.

Nutrition-wise, these are actually really good on the dietary scale. For English muffins that is. One serving of Katz Gluten Free Cinnamon Raisin English Muffins is one English muffin. This will provide you with 170 calories and 3.5 grams of fat. You will also be taking in 260 mg sodium and 7 grams of sugar. Not bad for a gluten-free baked item. Honestly. In addition, you will be consuming 2 grams of fiber and 2 grams of protein.

Seriously…if you love English muffins…you will definitely fall in love with these. Katz Gluten Free really knows how to put a quality item out on the market. And if you can’t find these in your local natural foods store…go to their Web site and place an order. I promise, you won’t ever regret doing that! I never do. And all I get out of it is tasty gluten-free goodies.

Nothing wrong with that.

March 28, 2014

Product Review: Tastefully Simple Gluten-Free Vanilla Bean Pound Cake Mix

Product: Tastefully Simple Gluten-Free Vanilla Bean Pound Cake Mix – $10.99

It’s no secret by now…I have a sweet tooth. I also, fortunately, love to bake! But sometimes, the art of gluten-free baking is more trouble than it’s worth. Like…a simple pound cake can mean, in order to get the right texture and density…a whole lot of different flours being mixed together with the hope that it just…tastes…good.

Well, thanks to Tastefully Simple…a pound cake no longer has to be a daunting task. In fact…it isn’t daunting at all. The mixing part is done for you. All you need to do is add one stick of melted butter and 2/3 cup water. Mix it together until it is smooth…put it in a loaf pan and put it in an oven at 350°F for around 50 minutes.

Word to the wise…pay attention to your oven heat and the time it’s in there. I’m just sayin’…

Product Review: Conte’s Gluten-Free Potato and Onion Pierogi

Product: Conte’s Gluten-Free Potato and Onion Pierogi – $6.99+

Dear Gluten-Free Gods of Food and Consumables:

THANK YOU!

Seriously…from the bottom of my gluten-free, vegetarian, foodie heart…THANK YOU!!

Thank you for bringing a company like Conte’s to the gluten-free world. Because, my dear Gods of Awesomesauce…Conte’s hasn’t failed me yet on foods that I used to be able to eat and thought were off limits…until they turned up in a freezer section somewhere. The world just seems right again. And I couldn’t imagine my gluten-free life without Conte’s in it. For real.

So…again…THANK YOU!!

Love,
Me

Honestly…my love letter about Conte’s could go on and on and on and on and on and on and on…

But I’ll stop there because there is a reason I am falling all over myself to praise this company and their foods. Because they made me able to eat pierogies again. Yes…pierogies. Those little pockets of potato…delicious. I ate the hell out of them growing up. They were one of my favorite side dishes to eat with my dinner. And when I went gluten-free…I attempted to make them once. It wasn’t an epic fail…but it wasn’t a complete success either.

Conte’s did the hard part for me. I just didn’t know these even existed until I was taken to this great little natural food store in Columbus, Ohio…called The Raisin Rack…by my friend Jenn. Oh…the trouble and budget-busting I got into there. I might have broken my roommate’s wallet. But she did, in all fairness, hand me a basket and tell me to fill it up. Jenn said we could “Tetris the shit out of that” and so we did. And with it…frozen foods. This meant getting a cooler too…but that was no biggie.

In the frozen section I spotted this teal bag…and it was Conte’s (who makes the awesome cheese ravioli I use all the time). But these weren’t ravioli. No, no, my dear readers. This was so much better than ravioli. This was GLUTEN-FREE PIEROGIES!!! You better believe that bag went into the basket. Along with other things. And I might have carried a few items too…and cheated a little. But…I got away with it in the end. HA!

Well…fast forward to returning home from a weekend away. No CSA bin this week because we were out of town. BOOO! Also, making up hours at work meant long work days and staying late. So, the other night, the roomie and I got home and I went to find something easy to make from either the pantry, fridge, or freezer. My roommate originally said she wanted pasta…but she came back out to the kitchen and said…

“I want the pierogies.”

I was hoping she would say that. Secretly.

So…out came a big pan, which I filled with water and seasoned with salt. I brought it up to a boil and soon added the Conte’s Gluten-Free Potato and Onion Pierogies. I gave them a stir and let them cook away, stirring occasionally, for about 8 minutes. As they boiled away, I got out my sautée pan and melted a tablespoon of butter. I drained the pierogies and then carefully placed them into the pan to let them get a bit of a crunch on them. I always remember my mom cooking ours in a skillet as well. I love that rich, buttery crust that adds a bit of flavor to the little pillows of potato. Mmmm…

They smelled amazing as they cooked away. I flipped them over after a couple of minutes, not wanting to burn them, and cooked the other side. Then…I dished them up and dinner was served.

My roommate actually beat me to the first bite. And she was a huge fan. This definitely bode well in my eyes. I settled into my plate and took a bite too.

Fantastic. Great texture. Amazing flavor. I loved how the dough was soft, but had that nice crust on it from the pan fry that I gave it. The potato and onion filling was seasoned perfectly. It was everything I remember pierogies being…which was so good. So very good. I devoured these…in record time, I do believe. And I kept reminiscing about my mom preparing pierogies for us…and how much I loved them. And now, thanks to Conte’s…I can once again. And I am beyond impressed with how these turned out. They are a bit delicate…so be prepared for them to start to fall apart. But…that’s not unusual for gluten-free products such as this. The main thing was…they were awesome. And I am one happy girl…hoping to be able to find these…somewhere…locally.

Let’s talk ingredients, shall we? Conte’s Gluten-Free Potato and Onion Pierogies are made from a gluten-free flour mix (rice flour, corn starch, tapioca dextrin, xanthan gum), eggs, water, salt, vegetable oil, potatoes, onions, water, salt, and black pepper. That’s it. Seriously. Clean eating in a package! These are gluten-free, wheat free and casein free. They are also made in a dedicated gluten-free facility.

As for the nutrition facts…a serving size is 4 ounces, or 4 pierogies. This serving will give you 180 calories and 1.5 grams of fat. These gluten-free pierogies also serve up 45 mg cholesterol, 110 mg sodium, and 1 gram of sugar. Seriously…not bad. You also are provided with 3 grams of fiber and 3 grams of protein. Trust me…you will feel full. My roommate and I split the bag and it made for a perfect size dinner. Perfectly delicious!!

I hope that I can find these in a local store, because I’m already craving them again. If not…I know where to get them in Columbus…but I don’t get up there often enough to satisfy my want of gluten-free pierogies. Believe me…now that I’ve had them…it’s all I want.

Conte’s wins me over once again with their amazing product. If you can find Conte’s Gluten-Free Potato and Onion Pierogies…buy them. Make them. Devour them. But do enjoy them. Because…trust me…you will!!

March 27, 2014

Restaurant Review: Alma Cocina, Atlanta, Georgia

Restaurant: Alma Cocina, Atlanta, Georgia

So, here I was in Atlanta, Georgia…having completed a marathon earlier that morning. I spent the afternoon doing the tourist thing…scoping out the CNN Studios and just walking around and enjoying the city. Trust me…after a marathon, it’s best to keep moving. That being said…another important thing to do after running is to begin proper recovery. And part of that is nutrition.

A big part of that is nutrition, actually.

Prior to the race, my roomie and I had thought that we’d simply return to Max’s Coal Oven Pizzeria for dinner. Then we ate there…and were not impressed. At all. So, this meant new plans had to be made. And, after watching some Food Network and seeing guacamole…I was craving. Mexican. Mmmm…guacamole. Yum yum! So, I got onto my Find Me Gluten Free app and discovered that not far from the hotel was a nice Mexican joint called Alma Cocina. I pulled up the Web site, glanced at the gluten-free menu and thought…this might be a great place to try. I passed the laptop to my roommate so she could take a gander, and she agreed that Mexican sounded good. So, we made 6 p.m. reservations…and called it a night.

I marathoned. I did the tourist thing. I walked…a lot. I discovered that I was hungry…and still had an hour to go before dinner reservations. Cathy decided that we should start ambling that way because she wouldn’t feel bad walking in at 5:30 p.m. I liked her logic, so that’s what we did…killing off a bit of spare time by wandering around the block and checking out the Dragon*Con hotels. Because…why not? Around 5:30 p.m., we strolled into Alma Cocina for dinner.

We were greeted immediately upon entering. I told them that we had reservations at 6, but we were here early. They said it wasn’t a problem, and took us right to the table. We were seated and they went to check off our reservation, returning a moment later with some menus, including the gluten-free menu for me. AH! They read the reservation. YAY! I was feeling good about this already.

Alma Cocina's Gluten-Free Menu — Alma Cocina’s Gluten-Free Menu

As we looked over the menu, our server came over to get our drink orders. I was recovering…so water for me. Cathy did the same…because she’s a copy-cat. Just kidding. But…she did also get water. When he returned, I inquired as to how big the sides were. He said they were relatively big…so I pondered for a moment, but we went ahead and ordered the Gluten-Free Guacamole ($6.00) as a starter.

After leaving to put in the order, our server returned and asked me if the gluten-free was a food allergy or just a dietary choice. I told him I was a Celiac and he nodded and said, “Okay…so cross-contamination is not okay.” He hurried off. I might have arched an eyebrow at Cathy. They really do pay attention.

Alma Cocina's Gluten-Free Guacamole (served with chayote...not chips) — Alma Cocina’s Gluten-Free Guacamole (served with chayote…not chips)

Our appetizer of gluten-free guacamole came out a few minutes later. It was this little bowl of gorgeous, creamy…yet chunky, mashed avocado with all the right seasonings and additions. But…no chips. The server said that to prevent cross-contamination, the tortilla chips were replaced with chayote. I was intrigued! He then asked if we were ready to order…and at this point we were.

Cathy went ahead and ordered the Fried Avocado Tacos ($14.00), which consisted of crispy queso cotija, poblano pesto (which she says I need to make!), roasted tomato…and yes…fried avocado.

I went for the sides…because the only other option on the gluten-free menu for me would have been the Vegetarian Platter and that just sounded like too much. So, I opted for ordering the Mexican Chopped Salad ($4.00), which was a mix of jicama, chayote, red onion, ancho chile powder, and cilantro. I also ordered the Black Beans and Poblano Chili Rice ($4.00) which came with pico de gallo. Orders in…we were left to our appetizer.

The guacamole was amazing!! Seriously. It had red onion, serrano pepper, red onion, lime, cilantro…everything that I make mine with at home. And it tasted fantastic. Cathy told the waiter when he came back to see how it was that was amazing…almost as good as mine. Hee! But…what really made this a standout, believe it or not, was the chayote. No lie! The sweetness of the chayote (which, in case you haven’t googled it yet…is an edible plant that is pear shaped with a thin, green, wrinkly skin and white flesh. It is sort of like a squash…but sweet. And it can be eaten raw, cooked, mashed, baked, boiled, fried, etc.) was just what the guacamole was needing. Now, at home I eat my guacamole with tortilla chips. If I can find chayote in one of the numerous stores I shop in…that won’t happen ever again. This is above and beyond tortilla chips. This plant was made for guacamole! Between the two of us, Cathy and I made short work of the guacamole. In fact, we were just polishing it off when our entrees arrived.

Now, the chef got a little creative with my Mexican Chopped Salad. Seemed they were out of it, so he went ahead and pretty much sliced up all the components and made a version of the salad for me. It looked delicious and fresh as it was settled down in front of me. And I was beyond intrigued by my green rice and super-delicious looking black beans. Oh yeah…I was one happy marathoner.

We were left to enjoy our dinner and Cathy dove into her tacos…declaring them one of the best things she has ever eaten. And praised that poblano pesto to the roof.

I started with the Mexican Chopped Salad. It was an amazing array of textures and flavors. I loved the jicama and how it tasted when mixed with the chayote. The red onion brought a bit of bite to what, otherwise, would have been way too sweet. As it was…I got about 3/4 of the way through before calling it quits. It was delicious…but with the chayote with the guacamole…I needed some spice and some heat.

I turned my attention to the Black Beans and Pobalno Chili Rice. Oh my gluten-free gods…this was delicious. It is so simple. So basic. And yet…the flavors were awesome. I loved to scoop up some of the beans and rice together. I loved the little bit of heat that the beans had with them. I loved the sweet, with a hint of heat, rice…and how it was green. Pablano chili rice…for the total win. I was enamored with this side. I sort of wished I had ordered two of them. But, I was getting full fast. Rice and beans will definitely get that tummy full. Carbs, fiber, and protein, baby! But it was what I needed. And I polished that plate clean.

And I was full. The waiter came to take away the dishes and asked if we were interested in dessert. We passed because both of us were now quite full.

Wow…what an amazing restaurant. The atmosphere. The service. The overall experience…I would go back in a heartbeat to Alma Cocina. I felt like they were very mindful of my food allergies and took great care when it came to preparing and serving my food. LOVED every moment of our time there.

Alma Cocina's Side Orders of Mexican Chopped Salad (left) and Black Beans and Poblano Chili Rice (right) — Alma Cocina’s Side Orders of Mexican Chopped Salad (left) and Black Beans and Poblano Chili Rice (right)

March 26, 2014

Restaurant Review: Max’s Coal Oven Pizzeria, Atlanta, Georgia

Restaurant: Max’s Coal Oven Pizzeria, Atlanta, Georgia

Twas the night before the Publix Georgia Marathon
And all through the town
Runners were carb loading
Wherever pizza or pasta could be found…

I wish it were that simple for me when it came to where and what I can eat before a big race (half marathon or more). Honestly, it would make travel a little less stressful if I didn’t have to totally research every convenient (and sometimes not-so-convenient) restaurant in or around a city I was visiting. But those are not the cards I was dealt in life.

So, as stated above, it was the night before a marathon in Atlanta, Georgia. There were a slew of runners swarming through the city. And we were all hungry. And needing to fuel up for the race the following morning. I had dome some research for some places to grab some gluten-free pizza in Atlanta that wouldn’t require hopping in the car and driving somewhere. I narrowed it down to two places: Mellow Mushroom and a local place known as Max’s Coal Oven Pizzeria.

Since I can get Mellow Mushroom here…Cathy and I chose to try out Max’s Coal Oven Pizzeria.

Around 5 p.m. that evening, we stepped into the dimly lit, but rustic little pizzeria. I loved the ambiance. And we were greeted immediately and seated at a table. There was a bar on the wall to the left, the kitchen against the back wall, with…yes…a coal oven that would toast up the pizzas. Tables filled the floor and there were a few runners taking up some of the seats and booths. It smelled fantastic inside so I was feeling good about this decision.

Our waiter came over and asked if we wanted something to drink. As I was prepping for a race…water…and lots of it. While he went to retrieve our water, Cathy and I tried to figure out which pizza we wanted to try. I told her to go ahead and pick…so she made her choice and when our waiter returned…we were ready to order.

So, we ordered the Gluten-Free Fontina & Funghi Pizza ($17.00), which was a white pizza that was topped off with Fontina cheese, wild mushrooms, caramelized onions, and fresh oregano. Sounded amazing, yes? I thought so and was already hungry just thinking about getting a slice of this coal oven pizza.

So…you can imagine my great disappointment when the pizza arrived at the table.

Traditional. Gluten-Free. Cracker. Crust.

UGH! Okay…okay…it doesn’t mean it’s bad. I mean, Mellow Mushroom does cracker crust…but they manage to do it well…so maybe…

We dug in, each taking a slice. As I am lactose intolerant, I took a lactace pill to help with the digestion of the cheese and Cathy took the slices that had more cheese on them. I took one bite…and thought about how fantastic the toppings were. The cheese, the mushrooms, the sweetness of the onions…it all worked. It worked well. The lack of sauce meant that none of those earthy flavors were missed. Yes…the toppings were fantastic.

But the crust…the crust…*WHIMPER*.

I don’t know what I was thinking. I have said it once…and I’ll say it again…I have been spoiled by my local gluten-free bakery because their pizza crust is NOT a cracker crust. It’s chewy and delicious and crusty and amazing. And this…this pizza crust at Max’s Coal Oven Pizzeria…was NOT any of that. This crust was…bland. It was cooked all the way through, unlike my previous gluten-free pizza outing (in Birmingham, Alabama). But it had no real flavor. No buttery flavor. Nothing that really elevated the pizza. And then…the more I ate…the less ecstatic I was even about the toppings. Because…I can get those toppings anywhere. The base really needs to help elevate the dish. And this crust didn’t achieve that. AT ALL!

So, another gluten-free pizza fails to impress.

We polished off the pizza though…even though neither of us were thrilled with it. And we payed the bill and left. I was feeling so disappointed. You know, the meal before a marathon should be filling and hearty and just really satisfying…and this was none of those things. We walked back to the hotel and I lamented another gluten-free pizza that could have been great…but wasn’t.

So, next time…we’ll just go to Mellow Mushroom.

Live and learn.

As for Max’s Coal Oven Pizza…perhaps their regular pizzas are amazing…but the gluten-free versions fall short of anything worth raving about.

Too bad. I was hopeful about this one. So hopeful that Cathy and I had every intention of returning the following night. But we quickly made other plans after we both didn’t enjoy our food that night.

Max's Coal Oven Pizzeria's Gluten-Free Fontina & Funghi Pizza — Max’s Coal Oven Pizzeria’s Gluten-Free Fontina & Funghi Pizza

March 18, 2014

Recipe: Gluten-Free Morning Bread Pudding with Salted Caramel

There is one thing that I love to do over at my friend Jenn’s house…and that’s cook. Especially a breakfast on Sunday. Saturday we sometimes cook in…sometimes we out. But Sunday…we normally always make something. And that was the case this past weekend after we discovered a drool-worthy recipe on Pinterest…hosted on Smitten Kitchen’s blog. What drew my attention to it was the salted caramel portion of the bread pudding recipe. It sounded divine.

So…I planned it out with Jenn. I’d order the gluten-free challah bread if she could get the rest of the necessary ingredients.

The plan to bake this on Sunday morning was totally on. And that morning, with my ginormous gluten-free braided challah loaf from Katz Gluten-Free ready to slice…we set to work. While this recipe does take some time to prep…it’s worth it. I’d make this again in a heartbeat. And I will. I have plenty of extra bread to use up. So…go ahead…try it. Don’t be intimidated. My modifications were made to make it gluten-free. It didn’t take away from any part of this dish. The texture and flavors were to DIE for.

One word of warning…that caramel can get pretty hard…so make sure you don’t do what we did and throw it in the freezer. LOL!! Lesson learned.

Recipe: Gluten-Free Morning Bread Pudding with Salted Caramel

Servings: 8
Time: Prep 30 minutes; Bake 45 minutes

Ingredients:

3/4 cup plus (optional) 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/4 teaspoon flaky sea salt or just 2 or 3 pinches of a coarse one
10 to 12-ounce loaf brioche or challah bread (cut into slices about 1/2-inch thick and about 3 inches square or round, which sounds really persnickety, but they really do fit better in the pan this way) (I used Katz Gluten Free Large Braided Challah Loaf)
6 large eggs
1 cup mascarpone cheese, divided (1/4 cup for custard; 3/4 cup for serving)
1 cup milk
1/4 teaspoon almond extract

Directions:

First, choose your baking dish. We opted to use a 9-inch round cake pan, which was a squeeze, but we made it work. Other options would be 2-quart oval gratin/roasting dish, a 9- to 10-inch cast iron skillet, a 2-quart casserole dish or 1 deep-dish pie pan.

If your dish is safe for the stove top, use this to make the caramel. If not, use a small, heavy saucepan and place 3/4 cup sugar, butter and sea salt and heat over medium heat. The butter will melt and, after 7 to 10 minutes, the sugar will dissolve and begin to brown. Reduce heat to medium-low and stir with a spoon or spatula so that it browns evenly. The butter does separate from the sugar, but that’s okay. Just continue to stir them together. It will all work out in the end even if it splits. I know…because ours did!

If you’re using a saucepan, your caramel is done when it reaches a copper color. Pour it over the base of your baking dish.

If you’re making the caramel in your dish (like a cast iron skillet), your caramel should be taken off the stove a step sooner, a shade more pale than copper, something of a medium brown; this is because it will continue cooking and darkening for a minute off the stove.

Regardless of what you choose to bake it in, place the dish in refrigerator and chill until caramel is cold and solid, about 30 minutes. Once chilled, arrange the bread slices. Place the heel of the bread in the center and do what you can to fan the slices around it, overlapping each slightly and knowing with complete confidence that even if your dish doesn’t resemble a blooming rose, nobody will care at all. Mine looked nothing like a blooming rose…and, honestly, no one cared.

In a large bowl whisk together eggs, remaining 2 tablespoons sugar (if using; I skipped this) and 1/4 mascarpone cheese (save rest for serving), until very smooth. Add milk and almond extract. Pour this over the bread, making sure to saturate all of it. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and chill for about 30 minutes to an hour. You can let it soak overnight if you have that sort of time or plan that far in advance. If you bread seems too high in the vessel to get a good soak, you can weight it with a plate in the fridge.

After the allotted time (or in the morning), take your dish from the fridge. Heat oven to 375°F. Remove plastic from dish and bake 30 to 35 minutes, until moist but not wet in center. Remove from oven and run a knife around edge of dish, loosening bread from sides. Place a serving plate over top of dish (bottom side up), and, using potholders, hold pudding over sink and flip pudding onto the plate. Lift baking dish off plate; scrape any extra caramel from pie dish over pudding.

Serve, cutting it into wedges at the table and spooning a healthy dollop of mascarpone onto each plate.

A slice of Gluten-Free Morning Bread Pudding with Salted Caramel

~*~*~

While the original recipe called for this to soak overnight, we were busy watching Thor 2…so that didn’t happen. The fact that we only let it soak for about 30 minutes in the fridge did not, at all, make the dish any less of a delicious treat. It worked perfectly. So, don’t feel like you have to make it the night before…unless you have that sort of time. Do plan ahead though, because this does take some time. Jenn and I took out 2 of the eggs from the original recipe as we thought 8 eggs was a bit much. I think we made a good call. This cooked up to a beautiful perfect meal. And we all sat and enjoyed it…and kept the leftovers for the next couple of mornings. SO amazing and delicious!!

Yeah…totally making this one again!

March 18, 2014

Product Review: Katz Gluten Free Large Braided Challah Loaf

Product: Katz Gluten Free Large Braided Challah Loaf – $35.00

Let me tell you…I adore products from Katz Gluten Free. I have been pimping the quality, taste, and everything about their variety of products since I have tried so many of them. However…in order to make a gluten-free breakfast bread pudding with a friend of mine…I needed some gluten-free challah. And I knew the only place to get it was from Katz Gluten Free.

I debated for a long moment over whether to go ahead and order the very, very, very pricey Large Braided Challah Loaf…or just skimp on that line of thinking and get either the sliced challah loaf or the rice challah. I debated. Price had a lot to do with it. I mean…holy gluten-free gods…$35 was a lot to spend on a loaf of bread. But…I figured I wanted to go for quality of what we were making and opted to go ahead and place an order for Katz Gluten Free Large Braided Challah Loaf. I just hoped it was worth the $35 I was spending on it. Oy!

A few days later, the loaf arrived via UPS…and I was really excited to take a look at what a $35 loaf of bread looked like.

Little did I know that when the loaf is called a large braided loaf…it really is LARGE!! Seriously…the size of two of my heads put together. That is not an exaggeration!

I only hoped the Large Braided Challah Loaf was worth the investment in the end. I’d find out on Sunday morning…after a short run…when my friend, Jenn, and I raided her kitchen and began working on a recipe for Gluten Free Morning Bread Pudding with Salted Caramel. We had the recipe picked out prior to the get-together weekend…and I told her if she got the rest of the ingredients, I would get the bread. And with both of us following through on the deal…it was time to open up this monster loaf and see if I made a wise investment.

The bread smelled fantastic the moment I got that plastic wrap off of it. I mean…almost like it was fresh out of the bakery. So amazing. I sniffed the air quite a few times, ignoring the slight hunger rumbles in my belly. There was a lot of time between this moment and breakfast time…so I had to focus on getting it made if I wanted to get myself fed. I sliced off the end piece and, instead of using it as the center of the bread pattern as suggested by the recipe…we cut it up to sample.

Gluten-Free Morning Bread Pudding with Salted Caramel made with Katz Gluten Free Large Braided Challah Loaf

OMG…it was good. It was really, really good. I loved the taste of the crust and the actual challah bread itself. The sesame seeds that are scattered on the top of the loaf are a brilliant touch and a very tasty addition. I wouldn’t have though that those little seeds could be so important, but the taste and texture was only elevated with their presence. I was impressed. And, let me tell you…this is one very soft and fluffy loaf of bread. You’d never guess it because it feels so heavy…but you slice into it and it is just super airy and light. It’s so weird, I know…but that’s the truth. It didn’t crumble or fall apart as I sliced into it, as so many loaves of gluten-free bread can do. And the taste was out-of-this-world delicious. It tasted like it had just been made and pulled out of the oven. It didn’t even need a reheat to make it taste edible. It can go straight from the freezer to the counter top with only a quick defrost. Amazing. Totally worth all $35 I paid for it.

I don’t know how this ranks nutrition-wise as no nutrition information is available on the site. Just know this bread loaf is HUGE!! HUGE!! The recipe we were making called for about 12 ounces and I used less than 1/3 of the loaf. Honestly. The rest is sitting in my freezer until my next culinary adventure arises.

I can, however, list off the ingredients that Katz Gluten Free uses to make its legendary Large Braided Challah Loaf. This gigantic loaf is made from a mix of gluten-free flour (white rice, tapioca, arrowroot, corn, soy, and potato), fresh eggs, palm oil, brown sugar, honey, xanthan gum, yeast, salt, flaxseed, and apple cider vinegar. Mine came topped with sesame seeds, however you can choose to purchase the loaf without the seeds on top. However, if you don’t have an allergy…I highly recommend keeping them on there.

This bread was amazing in the bread pudding that we baked up for breakfast. It’s amazing on its own. It’s amazing with a little butter schmeared on it. It’s amazing with pizza toppings cooked on it. It’s awesome as a grilled cheese sandwich. It holds up to anything and everything. It won’t fall apart on you. The flavor is amazing. The texture is more than superb. And the versatility this loaf offers is unmatched. And you’ll want to use it in a variety of ways…since there is so damn much of it. Not a complaint anymore. One of my favorite gluten free breads I have ever eaten. I will definitely spend another $35 in the future without a second thought.

Thanks Katz Gluten Free…for this amazing addition to my gluten-free menu!!

A slice of Gluten-Free Morning Bread Pudding with Salted Caramel made with Katz Gluten Free Large Braided Challah Loaf