Food – Page 62 – The Celiathlete

August 9, 2013

Product Review: Sol Cuisine Original Sliders

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i392/veggiefoodlover/Products/003_zpsef1636b4.jpg — Sol Cuisine Original Sliders

Product: Sol Cuisine Original Sliders – $5.49+

There is one thing that normally goes missing in my life. Being a gluten-free vegetarian…having sliders is usually not even an option…unless I make them myself. I’m okay with that…I’ve done it quite a few times, but sometimes it’s nice to just throw something into the oven or a pan and have it ready in no time flat.

And that was never the case until I spotted these amazing little slider patties at Whole Foods. What caught my eye? The box. It clearly is labeled…these slider patties are vegetarian/vegan, wheat-free, gluten-free, a good source of calcium and iron, and also made with heart healthy soy! You better believe I didn’t even blink when I grabbed a box of these and tossed them into my basket. Budget be damned this time. I wanted some sliders, dammit!

As fate would have it, I happened to have some gluten-free dinner rolls in my freezer, which would definitely make the perfect stand-in for slider buns…because you definitely can’t find those in gluten-free form. Not yet. But gluten-free dinner rolls…they work. I use them all the time for sliders…normally ones from my hometown allergen-free bakery…or Udi’s. But this time it was Katz Gluten Free. Which I toasted up in the oven to get that nice golden crust on the buns.

But…let’s get back to the star of this post…Sol Cuisine Original Sliders.

Frozen little disks of meatless goodness, that aren’t really that highly processed when you look at the ingredients. Which, I’ll do now, since I brought it up. These little patties are made from filtered water, soy protein concentrate, sunflower oil, dried onion, modified vegetable gum, dried tomato, sea salt, dried garlic, spices, organic lemon juice concentrate and caramel color. So, it’s not exactly clean eating…and yes…it is a processed food, but it isn’t too bad. Not when you compare it to other items out on the market. And the fact that these are vegetarian/vegan make me one happy girl.

The box supplies about 3 different ways to cook these up. Oven, stove top, microwave…however you choose. When I made the Sol Cuisine Breakfast Patties, I cooked them in the oven. But I already had dinner rolls and hand-cut sweet potato fries (yep…I made my own fries) working in the oven. So, I figured why not give the stove top a go. I warmed up a skillet and lightly coated it with some olive oil. Into the pan I placed four of the little patties. They immediately began to sizzle and cook. I gave each side about 4 minutes…and they got perfectly golden and had that great crust you associate with a good burger. I was already happy.

I plated each one up on one of the toasted dinner rolls and topped it with condiments and served it up with my oven-baked sweet potato fries. I handed my roommate her plate while I fixed up mine. She dug right in. And I could tell she was one happy girl when I saw her take her first bite. Now, as I have mentioned numerous times before, my roommate LOVES burgers. She is neither gluten-free nor a vegetarian…but she doesn’t mind eating like one. Lucky for her…as I am the cook in the apartment. And she was devouring these.

I settled in and was prepared to try for myself. Sol Cuisine has wowed me with their Breakfast Patties…and they totally disappointed me with their Tofu BBQ Ribs. So…I knew this could go either way. But…it was a total win!! The little patties are FANTASTIC. They have this great savory flavor to them. Pan searing them was definitely the right call. It gave them this moist texture. It was the perfect veggie burger, without tasting like a veggie burger. Honestly! I was in love with the texture. I thought the flavors were spot on. And I wanted to savor each bite. But…you know…burgers are best when they are warm. So, I polished it off and vowed to pick them up again sometime…as a treat.

Nutritionally speaking, a serving is 2 patties. This serving will dish up 100 calories and 3 grams of fat. That is SUPER!! These patties are cholesterol free and sugar free. WOOHOO!! And they are low on the scale for sodium, with only 240 mg per serving, which is awesome for something that is processed. In addition, 2 patties will also give you 3 grams of fiber and 13 grams of protein. No wonder this meal filled me up. I was full for the rest of the night.

DELICIOUS!!

Sol Cuisine…keep this up and I may be working my way through your entire line of gluten-free and vegan products. I’m one happy slider-eating girl!! And I can’t stop talking about them! Thank you!! THANK YOU!!

Gluten-Free Sliders made with Sol Cuisine Original Sliders

August 9, 2013

Product Review: Katz Gluten Free Dinner Rolls (Small Challa)

Product: Katz Gluten Free Dinner Rolls (Small Challa) – $4.49

A long, long time ago…well…maybe not that long ago…but a good while back…Cathy (the roomie) placed an order for some goodies from Katz Gluten Free…which has quickly become one of my go-to places for amazing gluten-free products. Sure, I have to order online, but the prices are reasonable and they ship immediately. So I never have more than a 2 day wait to get my order. Everything goes into the freezer or pantry and I pull it out as I need it. And life is good.

Because Katz Gluten Free provides good products. Time after time I have been nothing but impressed by what I have ordered and eaten.

Whenever the last order was placed (which, as I said…was a long, long time ago), the roomie picked out a new product to try. These were Katz Gluten Free Dinner Rolls (Small Challa). When they came in the mail, I put them in the freezer at home and that was where they stayed…waiting…waiting for me to do something with them. They waited very patiently, being pushed further back into the freezer. I hadn’t forgotten about them, I just got distracted by my local bakery’s gluten-free dinner rolls. It happens.

But, after picking up some vegan and gluten-free sliders from Whole Foods a couple weeks ago…I needed dinner rolls for the buns. And without anywhere to pick up Udi’s Gluten-Free Dinner Rolls (they are really good) and not having picked up any from my local allergen-free bakery…I dug around in the freezer and…like a gift from the gluten-free freezer gods…there they were!! Katz Gluten Free Dinner Rolls (Small Challa). I let them thaw while I was at the office, which they did perfectly. I was afraid that, with how long they had been in there, they might become mushy or crumbly…but I should have known better.

While these rolls can go without being reheated, I love putting a bit of a crust on my buns when I make sliders. So, I sliced them in half (which was interesting as they do resemble muffins in shape), expecting them to crumble or fall apart. But they didn’t. They were soft and very fresh feeling. I smiled, feeling better about the situation already. So, I placed each half on a baking sheet and sprayed a light mist of olive oil over each cut side. I popped them into the oven for a couple of minutes while I finished up the sliders in the pan and the sweet potato fries finished up in the oven as well.

It only took a few minutes to get them perfectly golden. I plated them and placed a vegan and gluten-free slider on each bottom part. Then topped it with the top bun. Dinner was served.

My roommate actually bit into hers first. And she went, “KATZ RULES!” So this was a good sign. I love it when she raves about gluten-free foods…because she eats like this at home by choice…because I have to. And that’s a huge deal. Our kitchen is 100% gluten-free…which means she even gets gluten-free bread to eat instead of whole wheat, like she had previously been doing. Honestly…best roomie ever!! Aside from that, she said they tasted amazing. So, as I put my sliders together, I went and settled in to find out for myself.

First of all, even with the gentle toasting in the oven, the texture of the dinner rolls was incredibly soft and fluffy. I was so impressed. They had this very light texture to them and this very light sweetness in taste. I loved it. I was enamored with the taste of these. I just wanted to keep eating them. Forget the slider…these were fantastic. I loved being able to squish it down like a regular bun, watching as it would bounce back when I set it down. It wasn’t heavy or dense. The flavor was a little sweet, but definitely savory. I could have eaten all four of them in the package. But I was good…and I shared with my roommate. We both couldn’t stop raving about them. If my local bakery didn’t make such amazing ones, I’d be placing another order…STAT!

So, here we get to the science of the product itself…the ingredients and the nutritional information. Let’s start with the ingredients. These dinner rolls are free of gluten, dairy, and nuts. These rolls are made with real ingredients because a bakery makes them…from scratch. Honestly, that’s what I love about Katz. Anyway, the Dinner Rolls (Small Challa) are made from Katz Gluten Free flour mix (white rice, tapioca, arrowroot, corn, soy, potato) water, eggs, palm oil, brown sugar, honey, xanthan gum, dry yeast, salt, flaxseed, and apple cider vinegar.

Nutritionally speaking, a serving is one dinner roll. Each roll contains 150 calories and 6 grams of fat. One dinner roll also provides you with 20 mg sugar and 2 grams of sugar. Not bad. Not at all. And you also are provided with 1 gram of fiber and 3 grams of protein.

Okay…so as with a lot of gluten-free baked items, they contain more calories and fat than what regular ones would, but they make it up in the amount of sodium used for sure. And…these were fantastic. And sometimes…that’s enough!!

These…will definitely make their way back into my freezer in the future. They just won’t be kept waiting for so long.

Katz…again…your gluten-free goodness is a wonderful thing. I am so thankful for your products.

Sliders made with Katz Gluten Free Dinner Rolls (Small Challa)

August 9, 2013

Product Review: Glutino Gluten-Free Pretzel Sticks

Product: Glutino Gluten-Free Pretzel Sticks – $5.59+

Glutino, Glutino, Glutino.

How I love you. How I love you and your clever name. How I love you and your delicious products. I don’t think I’ve met a product of yours that I haven’t liked as of yet, and that’s in the 2 year span that I’ve had to go gluten-free.

Back when this whole journey began, one of the first products that really stood out to me was the Glutino Gluten-Free Pretzel Twists. I remember having picked them up at the grocery store to take to work with me for an afternoon snack. One bite, and I knew that I’d be okay being gluten-free. The pretzel twists were even better than regular pretzels. And I was forever hooked on the Glutino brand.

Somehow, however, through all of this, I never got back to purchasing other Glutino pretzels. Because at the time…they also had pretzel sticks out on the market. Why I never bothered to get them, despite being totally over-the-moon for the pretzel twists…I will never know. But thanks to a Manager’s Special at my local grocery store…two years later…that changed.

And yesterday…yesterday was my first taste of Glutino Gluten-Free Pretzel Sticks.

Glutino spells L-O-V-E when it comes to their products. Because these products definitely love me and I totally love these products back. Case in point are these pretzel sticks.

So, I’m sitting at my desk…and the 3 p.m. munchies are striking. With a stomach rumbling, I reach into my drawer and pull out my portioned serving of Glutino Gluten-Free Pretzel Sticks. I remove one, and take one crunchy bite. SMOOTH. It has this great buttery taste to it. It’s salty, but not overdone. And they are so light. Sometimes regular pretzels could feel a bit heavy, and the consistency of them more doughy (as in crunchy doughy not soft pretzel doughy…just thought I’d clear that up!) than anything else. Not these. Nope…Glutino definitely hit the nail on the head when it came to designing and making their amazing Gluten-Free Pretzel Sticks. I couldn’t stop myself. I wanted to savor my snack, but my fingers kept reaching for another one and another one. I shared one with not only my roommate, but also my co-worker (who loves to hate on gluten-free products). Cathy loved the flavor and said we’d have to make sure we kept Glutino pretzels in the pantry. My co-worker…who I know wanted to hate it…she did…couldn’t. She looked at me, nodding her head, and said, “I like these better than regular pretzels.” YES!! When I can win over this person with gluten-free stuff, I always feel like the company was successful with the product. I’d call this a major WIN for Glutino.

And yes…the Pretzel Sticks really are that delicious.

Let’s talk ingredients and nutrition, shall we? Pretzels are definitely a snack, but one of the healthier choices, I believe, when it comes to products on the market. As far as what goes into these sticks of delicious salty wonder…corn starch, potato starch, palm oil, sugar, sea salt, cellulose gum, soy lecithin, baking soda, yeast extract, sodium acid pyrophosphate, citric acid, and sodium hydroxide. So…some normal sounding ingredients and some that make you go…”What am I eating?” Clean eating this isn’t…but it’s one of the treats I allowed myself this week.

As for nutrition facts, a serving is around 33 sticks or about 30 grams (because we all know I weigh my food to be more accurate). This serving will provide you with 140 calories and 6 grams of fat. I hate that the fat count is so high, but again, this is a treat and a snack I don’t have all the time. And, a lot of gluten-free products tend to be higher in fat than regular. Most regular pretzels are…fat free. I feel a little gypped here on the nutrition scale. UGH! Anyway…pushing beyond that, these have 420 mg sodium per serving and less than 1 gram of sugar. That’s standard when compared to brands of regular pretzels. You get no fiber or protein from these pretzels either…so while they are delicious, do not expect them to quell your hunger for long.

Bummer.

So…Glutino wins for sure on taste, texture, flavor…and overall awesomeness of their Gluten-Free Pretzel Sticks. However, as far as the nutrition value goes…they feel like a bit of a letdown. But…when it comes to gluten-free snacks, this is definitely one of the better choices. Not only are they packed with amazing flavor, but they are light, they are delicious…and as long as you don’t sit down with the entire bag and devour them all in one sitting…not horrible on the nutrition aspect. I will give them that.

Glutino…keep on giving me and others in the gluten-free community so many amazing products and I can guarantee we will continue to come back to you. I’m a repeat offender when it comes to buying products with the Glutino brand name on it. And I’m not ashamed to admit it.

I can’t wait to dive into another serving of the Glutino Gluten-Free Pretzel Sticks this afternoon. Maybe I’ll take time to savor them this afternoon. Or maybe I won’t be able to contain myself again.

Either way…I’ll definitely enjoy!

August 7, 2013

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

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

Chocolate is my favorite sweet indulgence. Really.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Dark Chocolate Dream Rice Crunch Chocolate Bar (unwrapped)

August 4, 2013August 5, 2013

Annie May’s Sweet Café packs up delicious take-home treats for every sweet tooth

Annie May's Sweet Cafe Allergen-Free Cinnamon Rolls and Allergen-Free Blueberry Muffin — Annie May’s Sweet Cafe Allergen-Free Cinnamon Rolls and Allergen-Free Blueberry Muffin

Products: Annie May’s Sweet Café Allergen-Free Cinnamon Rolls – $3.00; Annie May’s Sweet Café Allergen-Free Blueberry Muffin – $2.00; Annie May’s Sweet Café Gluten-Free Cinnamon Caramel Swirl Cheesecake Bar – $2.00

I can’t stop myself. It’s an addiction. It’s a routine. But every time I am in town on Saturday…I head over to Frankfort Avenue to Annie May’s Sweet Café, where, depending on what time I hit there (which is often dictated by how long my Saturday run ends up being), I indulge in amazing gluten-free and allergen-free breakfast offerings, or the most amazing gluten-free pizza in the area. Hands down. Either way, I’m a happy girl on Saturday mornings because I know it means a trip to Annie May’s!

There was only one difference this past weekend when I went to get my gluten-free doughnut and gluten-free vegan sausage and “cheese” breakfast sandwich. I was going straight home afterwards. And, Cathy…the best roomie ever…told me to pick a couple of items from the case to take home to have for breakfast and dessert on the following day.

I was thrilled!! THRILLED!

The hard part was choosing.

As I am a cinnamon roll lover, I did opt to get two of their allergen-free cinnamon rolls that were on display. They looked fantastic, with their cinnamon and sugar goodness and even given a drizzle of icing. I was trying hard not to drool, because…cinnamon rolls are one of my favorite things to eat for breakfast. And I don’t get them very often. Now, I’ve gotten the Take-And-Bake variety from Annie May’s Sweet Café before, but these were already made and ready for consumption. The fantastic looking blueberry muffins were calling my name. Blueberry muffins are my absolute favorite muffin to make and devour. And hers looked golden and moist and had this amazing sugary crust on the top. Oh yeah…that was a must. We got one that we decided we would split between us. And then my roommate spotted the Cinnamon Caramel Swirl Cheesecake bars in the case…and we decided to get one of those to split as well. Done. Kenna was delightful and boxed everything up for us and we left with some delicious looking baked goodies from our favorite little eatery/bakery in town.

Fast forward to a late morning wake-up. I rocked out a second 13 miles this morning for my Sunday run, and returned home. After showering, I went to wake up Cathy, knocking on her door. She was sleeping later than usual because we had been up in Indianapolis rocking out with Maroon 5…and didn’t get in until around 2 a.m. My run took place later…her wake-up call came later. It all worked.

But breakfast was going to be a cinch! And it was. I simply opened up the signature pink box with the Annie May’s Sweet Café sticker on it and pulled out the spoils of our shopping on Saturday. Two allergen-free cinnamon rolls and one ginormous blueberry muffin. I simply decided to slice the muffin in half and then warmed that half up in the microwave with the cinnamon roll, individually.

Let’s start with the Allergen-Free Cinnamon Roll ($3.00). These were fantastic. Even having sat on my counter all day and night, it was still cinnamon-sugar perfection. The roll stayed together so well. It had that heft of a cinnamon roll without being super dense and hard to eat. It was crusty and flaky and sweetened to ultimate perfection. I also liked how the icing was simply drizzled across the top, ensuring that the icing didn’t overtake the awesomeness of the cinnamon roll itself. These cinnamon rolls contained no dairy and no gluten (of course) and they were awesome. I hope they keep these in the case more often because I will make a habit of eating them whenever possible.

Now…one of Annie May’s muffins was a new choice for me. Where I had the cinnamon rolls in a take-and-bake format before (but never from the case already done), I had never purchased a muffin. So, this was a first for me. The Allergen-Free Blueberry Muffin ($2.00) was huge. And hugely moist too. Yes…even after it had an entire day to sit in a box, it was still super moist. I mean, I sliced into it and it was just…awesome. I could tell it wasn’t dry at all, and this made me happy. One of the little joys of these muffins was the sugar coating on the top. It gave the muffin this nice bit of texture and sweetness…and I loved the crispness that it gave and the sound it made when my knife glided through the baked goodie to half it between my roommate and I. And the taste…melt-in-your-mouth blueberry muffin perfection. Moist. Light. Not at all dense or overdone. The sugar struessel on top was the perfect touch to keep each bite sweet and interesting. I am in love with these blueberry muffins. And blueberry muffins are my most favorite thing when it comes to muffins. So, I hope to see more of these in the very near future.

This leads us to dessert tonight…and the ever-epic sounding Cinnamon Caramel Swirl Cheesecake Bar ($2.00). Completely gluten-free. It was described by Annie May’s Sweet Café as some crazy cinnamon roll brainchild. Okay…I was definitely intrigued! Because, as we all know…CINNAMON ROLL FREAK HERE!! So, dessert tonight had to be epic and awesome. It just had to be. After dinner, I went and retrieved this morsel of gluten-free goodness from my fridge and sliced it in half…ready to see if it lived up to its epic sounding description.

It was creamy, smooth, and it honestly did taste like some sort of cheesecake-cinnamon roll hybrid. You can only imagine my joy upon first taste. The crust was crunchy and delicious…held up perfectly overnight in the refrigerator. As for the cheesecake portion…I loved that it wasn’t overly sweet. Cheesecake can run too sweet, but this one was perfect. The caramel and cinnamon that were swirled into it gave it the right amount of flavor without taking away from the cream cheese and the crust. Perfectly balanced. And not heavy at all. Sometimes cheesecake can just be too much. Here, it was just perfect. Especially when the bar was cut in half to split with my roomie. She enjoyed it too, especially the swirled caramel and cinnamon topping on the cheesecake itself. We were both overly delighted with our dessert tonight.

And I think anything that tastes like a cinnamon roll should applauded. This was well done!!

Continuing on the trend of her amazing products, Annie May’s Sweet Café provided the perfect way to start my day…and the perfect way to end it as well. The cinnamon rolls and the muffin were both perfect and not too filling…just filling enough to get me through to lunch, when ended up being later in the day from the norm. And dessert…that cheesecake bar was the perfect ending to a day filled with perfect food.

Compliments of Annie May’s Sweet Café. Whether you need to eat gluten-free or have food allergies or not…Annie May’s is the perfect place to pick up a baked item, grab a bite to eat, or even place a special order for one of her breads, cakes, cookies, whatever it is you desire. Her standards are high and her food reflects it.

Always.

I’m already looking forward to breakfast on Saturday this coming week…

Annie May's Sweet Café Gluten-Free Cinnamon Caramel Swirl Cheesecake Bar — Annie May’s Sweet Café Gluten-Free Cinnamon Caramel Swirl Cheesecake Bar

August 4, 2013

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

Restaurant: Sidebar at Whiskey Row, Louisville, Kentucky

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

August 2, 2013August 2, 2013

Sol Cuisine Veggie Breakfast Patties bring vegetarian sausage back to my favorite meal of the day

Product: Sol Cuisine Veggie Breakfast Patties – $3.49+

Breakfast.

I have said it once…I’ve said it a million times. Breakfast is my favorite…absolute favorite meal of the day. I can eat breakfast foods all day and be completely content to do so. And, sometimes, this is exactly what I do. And why not? It should be the most nutritious meal of the day. And often, that’s very true for me.

Then there are mornings where my roommate and I decide to revisit classics and make them so that I can eat them. For awhile, I would bake up cheddar biscuits and slap some Morningstar Vegetarian Sausage Patty between them and have a vegetarian sausage biscuit. It worked. It was delicious. And I loved it. But Morningstar products, as delicious as they are, are not gluten-free. So, when I had to cut gluten out of my diet…the breakfast sausage sandwiches went with it.

Until one day when Cathy and I were wandering around Whole Foods. We never go into the freezer section, but we had time to kill, so we were browsing. And that was when I spotted them. A beacon in the frozen food aisle. Sol Cuisine Veggie Breakfast Patties. Right there on the front of the box it listed that they are vegetarian/vegan, gluten-free, wheat-free, free from saturated fat, low fat, and made with hearth healthy soy. GLUTEN-FREE VEGAN SAUSAGE PATTIES!! (*DANCE OF JOY*) I had tried other Sol Cuisine products…and it’s hit or miss. So, I made note that they were there and then for weeks kept talking myself out of purchasing them. Then, on drunken grocery shopping night with the roomie, I took advantage of her tipsy state and managed to snag a box of these to try. FINALLY!!

They made the journey home to the apartment and into the freezer. And that was where they remained for a couple of weeks. Until one night I made a batch of gluten-free rosemary cheddar biscuits for my running group. I had leftovers…so I promised to do up Sausage Biscuits for my roommate on Friday.

Well, this morning brought about the morning she had been waiting for. And so…I got the box of Sol Cuisine Veggie Breakfast Patties out of the freezer, preheated the oven to 350 degrees, and opened up the box.

The patties come in two clear packages, each containing three patties. The first thing I noticed was that these were not all golden brown like the box showed. Nope. They were gray. And in my past experience, I know for a fact that food…should…NOT…be gray! So, needless to say, I was a little concerned. I removed four patties from their sealed packages and laid them out on a lightly oiled cookie sheet, preparing them to bake for 20 minutes. I was hoping that this might put some brown color into them…so they didn’t look gray still. Into the oven they went for 10 minutes. Then, I flipped them over and polished off their baking time with another 10 minutes.

They never did get to be that gorgeous golden brown that you think sausages should be. Even vegan sausages. So…these biscuits were just going to have to hold a gray vegan sausage. I’d just attempt to overlook the color. I plated my roomie’s biscuits first and delivered them to her while I compiled my own gluten-free and vegetarian sausage biscuits. As it takes me a moment due to having to photograph things for this blog, I saw her nibbling away…so I naturally inquired as to what she thought of the sausages. I always get nervous when I ask her that. She is honest to a fault. Her response…”They taste like sausage!” Considering my roommate is neither a vegetarian nor necessitating a gluten-free diet (she eats that way at home because I cook and I am a gluten-free vegetarian), this is one of the best statements that can be made about a vegan product. Honestly.

I settled in with my own sandwich, opting not to throw hot sauce on it this time because I really wanted to taste the sausage itself. Cathy was right. These vegan sausage patties are hearty and meaty and have an amazing texture to them. They may be gray in color, but that can be overlooked. The flavor is astounding. By baking them, the outside got this nice crispiness to it, but the inside was soft and chewy. It honestly tasted like sausage. It had no strange aftertaste, nor did it taste off. It was vegan breakfast patty perfection. I don’t think my freezer will ever not have these in it from here on out.

So…let’s break this all down as usual. First of all Sol Cuisine is a non-GMO company, which I appreciate and love. The Veggie Breakfast Patties, in particular, have 80% less fat than pork sausage. For real. And with how amazing they taste, you could probably fool any carnivore thinking it was real meat. Seriously. They are that good. As mentioned before, these products by Sol Cuisine are gluten-free, wheat-free, saturated fat free, as well as kosher.

Nutritionally speaking, yes…I do realize how highly processed these are. But…when you’re a gluten-free vegetarian…you roll with it. The serving size for Sol Cuisine Veggie Breakfast Patties is one patty. This will serve you up only 60 calories and 2 grams of fat. These patties are also low carb, only providing 3 grams per patty. In addition, the sodium for a processed frozen food is not so bad, standing at 260 mg. One patty will also provide your body with 2 grams of fiber and 7 grams of protein. They are filling…and delicious…and quite healthy when you break it all down.

I absolutely rave over these. RAVE. Honestly, if you have a Whole Foods store near you (I seem to only be able to find these at Whole Foods) go and purchase some. You’ll see why these have won me over completely. They are just the epitome of vegan (and gluten-free) breakfast sausage patties. They are so versatile and I can’t wait to utilize them in other recipes and with other components in the near future. For now, however, at least I know whenever I bake up some gluten-free biscuits, I can certainly treat myself to an epic breakfast sandwich.

Sol Cuisine…you brought sunshine back to this gluten-free vegetarian’s life. Thank you for redefining breakfast for me!

Gluten-Free Vegetarian Sausage Biscuits made with Sol Cuisine Veggie Breakfast Patties

August 2, 2013

Pepperidge Farm swims into gluten-free market with Mega Cheese Goldfish Puffs

Product: Pepperidge Farm Mega Cheese Goldfish Puffs – $1.99+

It has been over 2 years since I last had Goldfish crackers. Yes…those crunchy little baked cheese crackers. The snack the smiles back…until you bite it’s head off. Those Goldfish. They are the epitome of snack crackers, hailed as a healthier snack cracker due to having to added preservatives and the fact that they are baked. So, there is at least that much. But regular Goldfish crackers are made with wheat flour…which meant when I had to go gluten-free…I had to say good-bye to these little bite-size crackers of goodness.

Okay…that might not have been a bad thing. I mean…while one of the better choices for crackers for both kids and adults, a quick glance at what goes into Pepperidge Farm’s Goldfish Crackers…is definitely not falling into the new Clean Eating habits I am working toward with my sports nutritionist. I mean…aside from the gluten-containing ingredients, Goldfish crackers often contain food dyes and other such ingredients. But, they are certainly the lesser of the evils when it comes to snack choices.

The same can be said for the new line of Pepperidge Farm Goldfish Puffs, which come in three flavors: Buffalo Wing, Mega Cheese, and Cheddar Bacon.

I’m not a huge fan of Buffalo Wing things…and I’m a vegetarian so the Cheddar Bacon wasn’t happening. Therefore…my only choice was Pepperidge Farm Mega Cheese Goldfish Puffs. I was okay with that. Besides, when I could eat Goldfish, the cheese were always my favorite anyway.

So, let’s talk about these, shall we?

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I stopped into my local Target and spotted these on the shelf. I knew they existed. I had heard all about them from the various networks of the gluten-free community that I deal with via the internet. However, I failed to do much reading up on them. When I spotted them at Target in this big bag…I pulled it down and flipped it over. Sure enough…clear as day on the back of the package it was labeled: GLUTEN FREE. I love it when things are actually labeled. I wasn’t going to purchase them. I didn’t need them. But my roomie said she’d get them for me. And…what the heck? Everyone in life needs to treat themselves to something every now and again.

So, after taking them home…they had to sit for a week, which is shorter than usual for snacks, but I’ve been clearing them out. I’ve been good. But yesterday marked the day I broke these bad-boy fishies out for my afternoon snack at work. I always dole out a serving so I don’t sit there and mindlessly eat out of the bag. I would do it too, which is why I am so adamant on portion sizes. The first thing I noticed is why these are called Puffs. They are puffed crackers. Think…Cheetos…but in the shape of really big Goldfish crackers. Yes…they even still have that signature smile. They also have that infamous aftificial cheesy smell, you know…like that sweet smelling powdered cheese smell that accompanies those powdered cheese packets boxes of macaroni and cheese. These crackers are called “Mega Cheese” because they include three different kinds of cheese flavors: cheddar, Asiago, and Romano. Three cheeses that I actually like. So, that was promising.

I had to let my roommate try one. Cathy is basically my “Mikey”…in that she samples these foods first. She’s better than she used to be, but she can still be rather picky about her food. So, I figure if she likes it…we’re on to something. She popped a big fishy into her mouth and chewed. Then…her eyes got a little bigger and she said, “They’re good! Like…like…Cheetos!” A-HA! I knew that’s what they were going for. I was now eager to try them myself. When I popped my first Goldfish Puff…immediately, the taste and texture was very much like Cheetos. I loved Cheetos as a child. So, this was like combining two of my favorite treats from my childhood into one. They really were pretty good.

The first flavor that hits you is sweet…which means the asiago cheese is what you get. It’s very sharp and definitely wakes up those tastebuds. But it then mixes in those cheddar and romano flavors and suddenly…they taste like…nacho cheese. And maybe that’s what they were going for. Maybe they are supposed to taste like boxed macaroni and cheese products. I mean…kids love Kraft mac and cheese, right? Therefore, they would love these.

I loved how crunchy these were, despite being “puffs.” That was a nice surprise. The secret to that is that these are made from corn meal instead of a wheat flour. It really gets that cheesy-poof texture just right. And I loved how fun it was to munch away at my desk on puffed Goldfish. I mean…I felt like a kid again. And it only made me smile.

So, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty. Ingredient-wise…not the cleanest of snack foods, but not the worst I have encountered either. I allow this one to fall in the 20% of non-clean eating that I am allotting myself. I mean, you can’t go through life without treats. You have to have something every now and again. And this was a surprisingly delicious and fun treat for me. There is no use of high fructose corn syrup or any food colors, so at least there is that.

As for nutrition, a serving size is 41 pieces, or about 30 grams. I always weigh my servings. In this serving, you will be served up 140 calories and 6 grams of fat. Holding true with other Goldfish products, these do not contain any trans fats. YAY! The Mega Cheese Goldfish Puffs are also cholesterol free in addition to being gluten-free. They have only 280 mg of sodium, which isn’t bad for a snack cracker, right? It’s better than Cheetos sodium count, so there is something to think about. These puffy crackers also will provide 2 grams of protein and less than 1 gram of fiber.

So, like everything…moderation is key. Would I buy these again? YES! They are good and they make a fantastic, tasty, nice treat. They aren’t horrible when it comes to nutrition. And the Mega Cheese promise is truly delivered with each bite. I love the whimsical and classic Goldfish shape is continued even in the puffed up corn snacks. They taste amazing. They are fun. So, my roomie’s treat to me definitely worked out favorably. I’m hooked. Pun intended…

The thing about these New Pepperidge Farm Mega Cheese Goldfish Puffs, which have 140 CALORIES PER 41 PIECES (who the heck is counting to 41??), is that they are clearly meant to be a competitor to Cheetos. And I think that’s tough, because I have a real soft spot for Cheetos. Soft as in the pockets of my stomach where Cheetos have burned away my stomach lining. But also because I think Cheetos are some of the greatest snacks ever. Herr’s and other companies have tried and failed to tear me away from the original Chester Cheetah Cheetos and Cheese Puffs. You have an uphill climb, here, Pepperidge Farm. – See more at: http://www.sogoodblog.com/2013/07/15/review-pepperidge-farm-mega-cheese-goldfish-puffs/#sthash.t9OXMSMw.dpuf

July 30, 2013July 30, 2013

Recipe: Gluten-Free Rainbow Chard Lemon Pasta

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

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

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

Recipe: Gluten-Free Rainbow Chard Lemon Pasta

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

Ingredients:

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

Directions:

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

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

Remove from heat and transfer to a large serving bowl.

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

Serve warm.

~*~*~

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

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

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

July 30, 2013July 30, 2013

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Just maybe…

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