Food – Page 67 – The Celiathlete

June 21, 2013

Loving the Gluten-Free Iced Lemon Cake from Truly Wize Bakery

Product: Truly Wize Bakery Gluten-Free Iced Lemon Cake – $6.95

Lemon.

Who doesn’t love lemon. There is just something so refreshing about a dish that is flavored with lemon. It’s crisp. It’s delicious. It’s my favorite flavor to use as a palate cleanser. And…one of my favorite flavors for a dessert. Like I said…it’s refreshing.

Remember that Cinnamon Coffee Cake I picked up at the gluten-free expo I attended in Carmel, Indiana? Well, my roommate got to pick a cake too, and as she is as much of a lemon freak as I am, she went with the Iced Lemon Cake from Truly Wize Bakery. So…here we were…two girls…two cakes…and a freezer. And a time span of a couple months. I knew they were in there…it was just a matter of getting the pantry down to managable levels before hitting up the freezer. My biggest concern was that these cakes would suffer for having spent so much time in the freezer.

They didn’t. Not at all.

As I mentioned previously in my blog on the Gluten-Free Cinnamon Coffee Cake, Truly Wize Bakery, a gluten-free and allergen-free bakery, is based out of Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Their Web site states that their mission is simple: they want to provide delicious, healthy, premium quality gluten-free and allergy-free cookies, cakes, brownies, and other confections without the use of wheat, gluten, dairy, butter, soy, peanuts, artificial colors and flavors. They carry this out by using the finest selection of premium natural and organic ingredients from growers and suppliers who are committed to the highest environmental standards. Everything they make is from scratch in a dedicated gluten-free facility and baked to order so that everything is also fresh. You gotta love that.

The bakery was brought to life by the Chef/Founder Caren Weaver, who was on a mission to create healthier desserts for her children. Her passion for baking kick-started this plan and she finally decided to really only incorporate organic and natural ingredients in her handcrafted, gluten-free products. With the evolution of the gluten-free market, and the fact that one of her friends was a diagnosed Celiac, Caren set out to make gluten-free products that her friend could enjoy. They had to taste great.

So…obviously if my roommate and I sampled the lemon cake…and then bought it…it actually must have tasted great.

The fact was, it had been so long since we had those samples…I couldn’t remember.

Since the cake was frozen, I set it out on the counter while I was at work that day to allow it to thaw. I wasn’t sure what this would do to the cake. It didn’t seem to harm the Cinnamon Coffee Cake I had a few days before…but this actually had icing on it. So, it was a little bit different. That night, after having leftovers for dinner, dessert was just as easy as slicing into the cake and serving it up. The icing survived the thawing process better than anticipated, though it was nowhere near the beauty it was when I originally purchased it. But…it’s one of those little sacrifices. Aside from that, flavor-wise, you’d never guess this cake was frozen…ever!

Luscious lemon flavor explodes across your taste buds with this fantastic cake. It’s that right balance too. Sometimes lemon can take over and just overwhelm your palate. Not in this case. The lemon cake with the lemon icing finds that perfect citrus balance so that it doesn’t cause your eyes to water and your lips to pucker. This cake is incredibly rich and incredibly moist. And I loved every bite of it. I tried not to hoover it and devour it without any thought, but took time to taste…get the full effect of the flavor and the texture.

And, nutritionally speaking, the nutrition facts attached to this cake aren’t so bad. Not for…a cake. The Iced Lemon Cake serves 4 people and one square of this cake will provide you with 95 calories and 5 grams of fat. That’s not bad for a slice of cake. I love having a dessert under 100 calories. It tastes like it should be laden with calories and fat…but thankfully, it’s not. This cake is rich and moist and tastes so refreshing, it’s hard to believe it’s only 95 calories per serving. Trust me…you won’t believe it either. But…a healthier option for a dessert is always welcome. And while you do only get a little square of cakey goodness…it’s just enough after a meal. A couple of bites and dessert is done.

I know that we don’t all have gluten-free expos that crop up near where we live. I also realize that Truly Wize is based out of Pennsylvania. But, never fear. The Web site is set up to take orders that will be shipped to you. So, yes, now even you can give these fantastic products a try. I highly recommend their fantastic cakes. But now I’m seriously thinking about heading over to their Web site and trying out their cookies, brownies, and OMG…they have cinnamon rolls!!! Go and browse through the goodness (with pictures) at the Truly Wize Bakery Web site and, trust me, order something. If the two cakes I purchased are any indication of how the rest of their products are, then everything is a real treat. A healthier version of a real treat!

I was truly surprised by the products that Truly Wize Bakery offers. The cakes were both fantastic. One was refreshing, the other was sinful. And both were fantastic. I love this lemon cake…because the lemon isn’t too much, nor is it too subtle. It makes that last bite after a meal a truly memorable one. And with it being gluten-free and allergen free as well…even better.

Find their products…or order online. But trust me…this bakery is not to be missed.

A slice of Truly Wize Gluten-Free Iced Lemon Cake

June 21, 2013May 11, 2015

Recipe: Curried Sweet Potatoes with Kale and Chickpeas

I admit…I’m a sucker for interesting and different cookbooks. Really, I am. I just can’t help myself when I see them. Thankfully, for the most part, I don’t always purchase said cookbooks. I just simply borrow them from my library and page through them until something catches my eye.

Of course, being a gluten-free vegetarian, this sometimes means I am only hitting up the sides or vegetable sections of said cookbooks…but at least it’s fun to look at some recipes and imagine how I could redo them without the use of meat. I rarely actually put these re-imaginings into action…but it’s the thought that counts.

But then…sometimes I run across a cookbook that was just meant for me. That was the case on my last visit to the local library, where on the shelf of new books to the library, I spotted one called Wild About Greens: 125 Delectable Vegan Recipes for Kale, Collards, Arugula, Bok Choy. and Other Leafy Veggies Everyone Loves by Nava Atlas. I get a lot of fresh greens in my CSA bin and a cookbook dedicated specifically to utilizing them in a variety of vegan recipes just totally made my day. There were few pictures in this book…which makes it difficult to judge a recipe, but one of them that did have a picture was for Curried Sweet Potatoes with Chard and Chickpeas. And, wow, did it ever look fantastic?!

I just had to make it…and since I had fresh kale in my CSA bin, I changed out the chard for that…and we were golden. I had everything else on hand except the sweet potatoes, but as my roommate had been craving baked sweet potatoes, we picked up a bunch of them while out grocery shopping earlier that week.

Recipe: Curried Sweet Potatoes with Kale and Chickpeas

Servings: 4-6
Time: Prep 15 minutes; Cook 40 minutes

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon olive oil
2 to 3 cloves garlic, minced
2 large sweet potatoes or 4 medium garnet yams, peeled and cut into large dice
One 16- to 20-ounce can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
One 16-ounce can diced tomatoes (try a flavorful variety such as fire-roasted)
2 scallions, thinly sliced
2 teaspoons good-quality curry powder, or more, to taste
2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger, more or less to taste
1 teaspoon ground cumin, or more, to taste
8 to 12 ounces kale (or chard, or any other leafy green on hand)
1/4 cup chopped cilantro or parsley, or more or less to taste
1/4 cup raisins, optional (but highly recommended)
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Directions:

Heat the oil in a large skillet or a stir-fry pan. Add the garlic and sauté over low heat until golden.

Add the sweet potato dice and cup and a half or so of water; bring to a simmer and cook until just tender, adding just enough additional water if needed, as they cook, to keep the mixture moist.

Stir in the chickpeas, tomatoes, scallions, curry powder, ginger, and cumin and bring the mixture to a simmer again; cook over low heat for 10 minutes or so, until the sweet potatoes are tender.

Meanwhile, strip or cut the kale leaves away from the stems. Slice the stems thinly, and cut the leaves into strips.

Add the kale to the skillet, in batches if necessary, and cover. Cook briefly, just until the kale wilts, then stir in. Cook over low heat for 5 minutes, or until the kale is tender but not overdone. Stir in the cilantro and optional raisins. Season with salt and pepper, then serve.

~*~*~

Oh…yes!! This was really, really, really good. The flavors just worked well together. I loved how the sweet potatoes and the kale meshed with the variety of spices and seasonings that went into this dish. It was fantastic. And it made enough for a couple days between my roommate and I. I agree with the book…add the raisins. I did…and it just added a nice bit of texture and burst of sweetness. I would make this again in a heartbeat.

Delicious. Nutritious. Packed with flavor and all things good for you. Yep…can’t ask for a better supper than that. YUM!

June 21, 2013

Gluten-Free Cinnamon Coffee Cake a Truly Wize splurge

Product: Truly Wize Bakery Gluten-Free Cinnamon Coffee Cake – $12.95

Oh, great Gluten-Free Expo that I attended back in October…I returned with so many fond memories…and some great items that I either was given to sample or purchased to try. That was a good time. And I came across vendors, brands, and foods that I didn’t even know existed. And that’s saying something being that I have been a member of the Celiac club for over two years now.

But, these tasting fairs and expos are great experiences and a good way to learn about other brands, other companies, local businesses, restaurants, and the like who do cater to the gluten-free community. This particular expo was taking place up in Carmel, Indiana. It was the Gluten-Free Living Now Expo…and unlike the last expo I attended in Indianapolis, this one was HUGE. It filled a banquet hall from end-to-end, rows and rows of vendors, grocery stores, local bakeries, not-so-local bakeries, restaurants, etc. filled the space. I was happily overwhelmed.

My roommate and I took our time, walking the aisles, taking samples, talking to the people at the tables. We wanted to really soak in the experience and not feel rushed like we normally do at these events. We even made some splurge purchases. There are so many great deals at these expos…prices on products you can find in stores that you’ll never get anywhere else. Like I said…we splurged a little.

One such splurge came from a bakery that was giving out samples of some of their cakes. I love cake. And two of these weren’t frosted. Even better…since I don’t like frosting. My roommate and I stepped up and spoke to the nice woman at the table. She offered samples of either the Chocolate Decadence Cake, the Cinnamon Coffee Cake, or the Iced Lemon Cake. Cathy immediately jumped on the sample of the lemon cake. Me…I went with the cinnamon one, as cinnamon is one of my favorite things in the wold.

Moist. Delicious. OMGSOGOOD!

Splurge purchase. We bought two of the three cakes…the two we sampled. SOLD…with one little bite. That’s how you know you’re doing something right.

The bakery is actually based out of Greensburg, Pennsylvania. And it is Truly Wize Gluten-Free Bakery…which is a gluten-free and allergen-free bakery. Their Web site states that their mission is simple: they want to provide delicious, healthy, premium quality gluten-free and allergy-free cookies, cakes, brownies, and other confections without the use of wheat, gluten, dairy, butter, soy, peanuts, artificial colors and flavors. They carry this out by using the finest selection of premium natural and organic ingredients from growers and suppliers who are committed to the highest environmental standards. Everything they make is from scratch in a dedicated gluten-free facility and baked to order so that everything is also fresh. You gotta love that.

Well, that mission was definitely a success.

Like I said…this expo took place back in October, so the cakes that we purchased have been taking up space and residence in my freezer. But, with this past week being so crazy and I needed a break from the pre-packaged cookies I’ve been going through in my pantry of gluten-free doom…I reached into the freezer and grabbed the Truly Wize Bakery Gluten-Free Cinnamon Coffee Cake. I put it on the counter while I was at work to allow it to thaw out. I wasn’t sure how this would affect the cake…but I went with it. Hoping for the best.

Returning home, I had a busy night, including a circuit workout and a dinner to make. I’ve been very pressed for time lately as my schedule is getting kind of crazy and hectic. But…I do get by. With an already hectic day behind me and a super-busy evening, the fact that dessert was ready and waiting for me on my counter made my night. Honestly. I’m a dessert girl…it’s something I always treat myself to. Nothing big. Just a little palate cleanser after a meal. I have to have it.

So, after devouring dinner…it was time to give Truly Wize Bakery’s Gluten-Free/Casein-Free Cinnamon Coffee Cake a try. The expo where I first sampled the cake was so long ago, the flavor memory had left me. I pulled off the top of the eco-friendly packaging and sliced into it. I expected it to be dry from the months it sat in the freezer. Quite the opposite. This cake was moist and soft. I was already elated. I scooped out a slice for my roomie and then one for me. We settled in for dessert…

…and…there it was. The reason I purchased this cake in the first place. Amazing. Moist. Flavorful. Not heavy or dense. This coffee cake is light. Airy. Perfection. The reason I was blown away by it at the expo was just how fantastic it tasted. Texture was better than any coffee cake I had ever had. The balance of cinnamon and coffee…perfection. The crumble on the top…pure decadent heaven. I mean, who doesn’t like a good cinnamon-sugar crumble?! It really just added to the already awesomeness of the cake. This cake was moist. If you pressed your fork to it, it would spring back without any crumbling. Cake perfection. Truly one of the best gluten-free cakes I have ever tasted. That’s saying something. You can tell that only the best ingredients go into this product because it is so damn good!

And…nutritionally speaking…they do provide a healthier option as far as baked goods go. According to the attached nutrition info on the Cinnamon Coffee Cake, the cake serves 4 people and one square of this cake will provide you with 95 calories and 5 grams of fat. That’s not bad for a slice of cake. I love having a dessert under 100 calories. Especially when it tastes like it should have at least 300 calories in it. Not kidding, peeps. This cake is rich and moist and tastes so sinful, it’s hard to believe it’s only 95 calories per serving. LOVING IT!!

I know that we don’t all have gluten-free expos that crop up near where we live. I also realize that Truly Wize is based out of Pennsylvania. But, never fear. The Web site is set up to take orders that will be shipped to you. So, yes, now even you can give these fantastic products a try. I highly recommend their fantastic cakes. But now I’m seriously thinking about heading over to their Web site and trying out their cookies, brownies, and OMG…they have cinnamon rolls!!! Go and browse through the goodness (with pictures) at the Truly Wize Bakery Web site and, trust me, order something. If the Gluten-Free Cinnamon Coffee Cake is that foodgasmic…then the rest of their stuff has to be just as good, if not more amazing.

Truly Wize Bakery definitely surprised me…wowed me…and won me over. Proof, once again, that allergen-free and gluten-free doesn’t mean taste-free. My local bakery proves that time and time again…and here is another bakery doing the exact same thing.

This is a trend I would love to see continue.

So, if you haven’t tried anything from Truly Wize Bakery…either visit Pennsylvania and stop in…or…trust me when I say their products, especially their cakes, are worth ordering online. So hop over to their site and place an order. You’ll thank me for it. Trust me!

And…I highly recommend the Cinnamon Coffee Cake. Seriously. To. Die. For. (In a good way!)

A slice of Truly Wize Bakery Gluten-Free Cinnamon Coffee Cake

June 21, 2013

Glutino’s Gluten-Free Blueberry Breakfast Bar a good on-the-go option

Product: Glutino Gluten-Free Blueberry Breakfast Bars – $5.99+

Breakfast bars.

They are tricky. They really are. I have eaten them since I was little…and the one thing is always the same. The fruit tastes fake (because it mostly is), the actual bar is usually dry and rather tasteless, and they just make me thirsty when I eat them.

All of that holds true for Glutino’s Gluten-Free Blueberry Breakfast Bar, the second flavor I have ever tried from their line up of gluten-free bars, which include apple, cherry, and strawberry. Prior to this, I have only had the strawberry variety. And that was a year and a half ago. Honestly. It was also my first ever taste of a gluten-free breakfast bar.

You know…when you first bite into something that you haven’t had for ages…you tend to get lost in that moment. For me, when I had that first breakfast bar back then, I remembered growing up and eating those Nutri-Grain bars for snack at school.

That’s what these taste like. Exactly.

Glutino Gluten-Free Blueberry Breakfast Bar (wrapped)

Glutino’s Gluten-Free Blueberry Breakfast Bar is actually really good. It was the first sample of a bar I ever had, at a Gluten-Free Tasting Fair at a local natural food store. One bite and I was in heaven. I had to buy my own box, and that was when I went with the strawberry variety. I ended up with the Glutino Blueberry Breakfast Bars, however, because my mom had purchased a box of them for me while I was in town last time, running a race and visiting the family. I never was home enough to eat them…so, she told me to take them with me. I’m not one to turn down free food.

I’ve had a lot to work through in my pantry, but these were now getting their time as my afternoon snack.

Glutino doesn’t disappoint when it comes to hitting tastes and textures for their snack foods and their products. Honestly, they are a name I trust. When it comes to gluten-free foods, Glutino really focuses a lot on the taste, flavor, texture and how people perceive their product. That is a big deal because if it isn’t good…if it tastes bad or is tasteless, no one will purchase it, right?

Well, the Glutino Gluten-Free Blueberry Breakfast Bar…is good. I mean…when you need something fast or on-the-go, it’s handy to have around. They slip right into a bag or purse without any problems…and that’s important. You want ease when you’re an on-the-go sort like me. The bar itself does have that dry breakfast bar flavor…the one that every breakfast bar has. But, the fruit puree in the middle is packed with flavor. These bars are soft, easy to chew, and yes…they are good. Tasty. Not perfect. Not wonderful. But…good.

Amazing how the more products you eat, the more gluten-free foods you work through, the more you change the way you eat, the less fantastic something seems when you return to it. Like I said…these bars are good.

I’ve always been a label reader when I go shopping, but never really payed too close of attention to the ingredient lists on certified gluten-free foods. With the way I am shifting my diet, per my sports nutritionist, I am actually really saddened by the amount of unnatural ingredients that go into these. It’s a bit of a turn-off. While it does contain actual blueberries, they aren’t listed until 5th on the list. The first ingredient is, sadly, sugar. And the blueberry portion of this bar is a mix of that sugar, with some chemical ingredients I can’t pronounce, a blend of fruit and vegetable juices (white grape, carrot, blueberry, and pear) as well as a raisin paste, more sugar (fructose), and the pastry-like casing seems to be a mix of chickpea flour, white rice flour, tapioca starch, and potato starch. While I admire that they do, in fact, use real blueberries and blueberry juice, I just wish there were more of that and less of the chemicals in these bars.

That being said…in a pinch…these would be a good option to grab.

Nutritionally speaking, these bars provide you with 140 calories per bar and 2 grams of fat. So, they are a healthier choice than some things out on the market. These contain only 60 mg of sodium and are cholesterol free. In addition, you are provided with 3 grams of fiber and 2 grams of protein. A little low, but leaving you feeling satisfied after eating it. You won’t be starving in the next couple of hours after consuming this bar. So, as far as the numbers go…not bad.

As far as the flavor goes…very reminiscent of the breakfast bars I ate growing up, before I had to go gluten-free as an adult. If you’re in a pinch, these are a good option to have on hand to take with you, in case hunger strikes.

Nicely done, Glutino.

Glutino Gluten-Free Blueberry Breakfast Bar (unwrapped)

June 20, 2013

Purely Elizabeth keeps it simple but tasty with Original Ancient Grains Granola Cereal

Product: Purely Elizabeth Original Ancient Grains Granola Cereal – $6.99+

Pure. Simple. Original. Natural. Organic. Gluten-Free.

That is a love letter of goodness if you ask me. Because this only proves that you don’t need to dress up something to make it taste good. You can let the pure, simple, clean ingredients speak for themselves. And that is exactly what Purely Elizabeth brand Original Ancient Grains Granola Cereal does. Let me tell you, I could eat this stuff by the handful, without anything to top it off or add flavor. Honestly…it’s amazing on its own.

But I tend to use granola in my infamous breakfast parfaits, teaming it with Greek yogurt and fresh fruit of some variety (whatever may have been in the CSA bin that week). So, if it works well on its own, chances are it will be brilliant when paired with something else of equal deliciousness. And Greek yogurt and fresh fruit…is definitely winning!

So…let’s start with the basics of this very basic (but highly impressive) granola. The Original Ancient Grains Granola Cereal is a blend of organic certified gluten-free oats, organic coconut palm sugar (for sweetness), organic raw virgin coconut oil, organic puffed amaranth, organic quinoa flakes, organic sunflower seeds, organic chia sees, organic cinnamon, and sea salt. I think I spy some organic, all-natural ingredients. Not one chemical or preservative is listed. This is the real deal and it’s packaged to be as clean and as healthy as possible. This granola is non-GMO project certified, free of refined sugar, soy-free, loaded with good-for-you fats, sweetened with organic coconut sugar. It is certified vegan, contains no artificial colors or flavors. All of it is hand baked and obviously made with love.

Don’t let the fact that it isn’t paired with dried fruits or something to bring it extra flavor deter you from this variety. This version doesn’t need it. Honestly, it is full of amazing flavor all on its own. The oats, puffed amaranth, quinoa flakes, sunflower seeds, and chia seeds are perfectly coated with the right amount of sweetness, pulled from the organic palm sugar. The hint of cinnamon adds a little bit more flavor. And all of it, the taste, the texture, the fantastic flavor…it is just rockstar. I can’t even imagine going back to other granola after continuing to be impressed by each variety of Purely Elizabeth granola cereals that I have tried.

So…nutritionally speaking, a serving of Purely Elizabeth Original Ancient Grains Granola Cereal is 1/3 cup. This serving will provide you with 140 calories and 6 grams of fat. There are 2 grams of fiber in each serving and 4 grams of protein. In addition, this granola is cholesterol free and low in sodium (110 mg). So…delicious and oh, so good for you. Loving it.

If I were to purchase only one brand of granola from here on out…Purely Elizabeth would be the brand I would choose. It’s addictively good…and good for you. Give it a try…you won’t be disappointed. And don’t think Original means plain. There is nothing plain about this version of the granola. Simply put…it’s purely delicious.

Fresh Strawberry and Greek Yogurt Breakfast Parfait with Purely Elizabeth Original Ancient Grain Granola Cereal

June 20, 2013

Martini Italian Bistro gives Louisville a taste of made-to-order Italian awesomesauce

Restaurant: Martini Italian Bistro, Louisville, Kentucky

I love businesses that do whatever they can to cater to people who normally wouldn’t be able to eat there. Take, for example, Martini Italian Bistro in Louisville, Kentucky. This cozy bistro at The Summit off of Summit Plaza Drive is definitely worth checking out. I had been meaning to dine here long before now, but I will say this…their menu is a bit on the pricey side, so I wasn’t going to spend that much money on a lunch.

I think I might change that policy now that I have officially dined here.

Yes…I ate at an Italian restaurant. And you know what else? I came out of there without any signs of any cross-contamination. They were very specific when I spoke to them about being a Celiac and assured me that all the food was made-to-order…nothing was just sitting around…everything was fresh…and they would take good care of me.

I admit, I was a little apprehensive about eating there. With restaurants…the knowledge of the chef and staff when it comes to gluten intolerance can sometimes be next to nothing. And at Italian restaurants, especially, the danger can elevate. So, there were definitely some heart palpitations as I gazed at the menu, searching for some gluten-free and vegetarian options.

There were quite a few, believe it or not.

It was Father’s Day, of all days, and my roommate and I were treating her mother to lunch as her Mother’s Day gift. Yes…while everyone else is celebrating Father’s Day…leave it to us to treat mom to dinner. It was an early dinner too…the 3:00 hour, just after they stopped serving brunch at the real menu was brought out. Perfection. Cathy and I had every intention of taking her mom here…because it was a nice place, but not one that you had to get totally dressed up for. It was that right blend of business casual. Jeans and a nice shirt is what we all were wearing. And so was a majority of the crowd.

Our waiter came over to see if we would like anything to drink. As much as their specialty martini’s enticed, all three of us stuck to water that afternoon. Probably for the best. We alerted him that I was a Celiac and he gave me the run-down that all the pastas can be prepared gluten-free and that there were quite a few vegetarian options for me as well. He assured me that my food would be safe because everything was made as it was ordered. And…I actually felt okay after talking with him. He gave us a couple of minutes and when he returned…we were all ready to order.

Cathy went with the classic standby on which she judges all Italian restaurants…the Spaghetti and Meatballs ($14.99). This dish had three large hand-rolled meatballs in a tomato sauce, all laying atop a bed of garlic butter noodles. She said the meatballs just came apart beautifully and tasted so rich and delicious. That’s always a good thing. Classic Italian dish…winning with my roomie. Cathy’s mom chose to go with the Shrimp Garganelli ($16.99). This pasta dish was a mix of pasta, topped with jumbo Gulf shrimp with crushed red pepper (so it has a bit of a kick and some heat to it), topped off with a white wine garlic sauce, oven roasted tomatoes, spinach and a touch of goat cheese. It looked fantastic. She said it was right at her heat tolerance, so that was a good thing. Hey…a little spice is good for that metabolism!

As for me…I had a couple of options but finally decided on the one that the waiter suggested, as it is one of their most popular dishes. I ordered the Mediterranean Penne, done gluten-free ($14.49…regular $12.99 with a $1.50 charge for gluten-free). What this consisted of is a gluten-free fusilli, not penne, pasta, that is topped off with a very light, highly flavorful white wine garlic sauce, sun-dried tomatoes, mushrooms, spinach, toasted pine nuts, and a scattering of feta cheese. It sounded heavenly.

With our orders in, and everything made to order, this gave us some time to talk, look at the martini menu, and Cathy and her mom both enjoyed the focaccia bread with the dipping oil. Cathy said the bread had some heat to it. So, that means I would have found it mild…but I am the breadless wonder at Italian places as most do not have a gluten-free bread option. Only two places I have dined at have, Piazza Sorrento in Hershey, Pennsylvania, and Mama Melrose’s at Disney World. The no bread thing doesn’t even bother me.

Our food arrived, fresh and piping hot from the kitchen. When mine was placed in front of me, the waitress who carried it out even made a point of reiterating that it was, in fact, the Gluten-Free Mediterranean Penne. That was a nice touch. When all the plates were down, the waiter asked if we needed anything further, but we were just ready to dig in. I snapped a picture for this blog…then eagerly picked up my fork and speared a little of every component in the dish.

Mouthgasm of wonderful gluten-free Italian goodness. For real!! First of all, the gluten-free pasta was cooked to perfection. It wasn’t gummy, nor was it mushy. In fact, it was at that perfect al dente that is so difficult to achieve with a rice pasta. But they did it. Spot on. Gluten-free pasta cooking perfection. My compliments to the chef. As for the toppings…Oh mio Dio…I am going to replicate this at home if at all possible. Honest to God…this was one of the most fantastic pasta dishes I have ever eaten. The feta cheese gave a hit of salty, rich flavor to the sauteed vegetables. And I am a sucker for sun-dried tomatoes. And I loved that they didn’t overkill the plate with them. A little goes a long way and the chef totally grasped that concept. There was the perfect balance of each component on this plate…and the sauce was light and full of flavor. I was in heaven. In fact, I devoured every bit of it. Down to the last noodle. Of the three of us…I was the only one who created a happy plate (which means…I ate everything on there). No regrets either. That was gluten-free Italian awesomesauce.

I encourage anyone in the Louisville area, whether you are just passing through or are a resident of this city, to stop in to Martini Italian Bistro and give their food and perhaps their signature drinks a try. The price of the dishes is worth it. You definitely get what you pay for. And the quality…the quality is hard to beat. I can’t wait to go back. I already have an idea of what I want to eat next time. And I won’t even scoff at the prices because I’d pay that again in a heartbeat. Yes…the food, the service, the atmosphere…it is all worth it. I encourage anyone and everyone to go there at least once and see if they win you over like they did for me. Even Cathy and her mom were impressed.

We left full, but happy, all discussing how wonderful our food was. That is always a good sign.

I appreciate the care, the service, and the reassurance I received at Martini Italian Bistro that helped make my dining experience one I will never forget. And now…I’m craving that gluten-free pasta again…

Martini Italian Bistro's Gluten-Free Mediterranean Penne (Fusilli) — Martini Italian Bistro’s Gluten-Free Mediterranean Penne (Fusilli)

June 18, 2013June 18, 2013

Recipe: Breakfast Banana Splits

So…my sports nutritionist is working on getting me in the best shape for my upcoming marathon. That being said, she is moving me towards a Clean Eating diet. Less processed foods. I’m going to really embrace this, although I have a pantry to work through before I can really set onto this path. So, it will be a slow move in that direction, but I’ll get there.

That being said, today I decided to give a “Clean Eating” breakfast a try. After hitting up the gym for some cross training (it’s cross training day) and some strength training, I came into work and prepared what is known as a Breakfast Banana Split. The concept came from Clean Eating Magazine…but I substituted cottage cheese (BLECH!) for Greek yogurt (YUM!). Let me tell you…it’s awesome!

Recipe: Breakfast Banana Split

Servings: 2
Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

2 medium bananas
1 cup Greek yogurt
3 tablespoons all-fruit strawberry jam
Fresh pineapple, chopped
2 Tablespoons roasted peanuts, chopped
Pinch of sea salt

Directions:

Peel and cut each banana in half lengthwise.

Place 2 banana halves in a shallow dish or bowl (or a deep traveling container if you’re off to work).

Place 1/2 cup of the Greek yogurt over center of banana and top with 1 1/2 tablespoons jam, 1 tablespoon peanuts and a pinch of salt.

Repeat with remaining ingredients to assemble 1 more Breakfast Banana Split.

Serve immediately.

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Yes…it really is that simple. Basic, real ingredients that leave you feeling satisfied and good about your breakfast. I loved this and can’t wait to make it again! The flavors are perfectly matched. And the Greek yogurt gives you that hit of protein to go along with the fruits and the nuts that you are pairing with it. It’s like having dessert for breakfast. And it tastes…oh…so good!

Dig in.

June 17, 2013

Recipe: Gluten-Free Avocado Toast

Sometimes the simplest and best meal ideas come from the most unlikely places. Honestly. And this recipe is no exception. Why do I say that? Because this recipe comes from a cookbook called It’s All Good: Delicious, Easy Recipes That Will Make You Look Good and Feel Great. What? That doesn’t sound strange? What if I told you that the cookbook author is none other than actress Gwyneth Paltrow.

I was at the library last week and spotted this book on the shelf of the new releases. I picked it up and paged through it, seeing a few recipes of interest. So, I had my roommate check it out for me (I didn’t have my library card with me) so I could look through it some more when I had more time. The cookbook pretty much sat on the coffee table until Saturday morning. I had a race in Frankfort, Kentucky. Cathy was driving, so this gave me some time to page through the story in the beginning about why this cookbook came to be and a little bit about the author and co-author, Julia Turshen. And then…I got to soak in the recipes.

One of the most enticing sounding recipes was one that actually didn’t have ingredients listed off. It didn’t need it. But when Gwyneth Paltrow compares a recipe to a favorite pair of jeans – “so reliable and easy and just always what you want” – I admit…I get intrigued. And it sounded so easy. And so delicious. And now…I will share it with you.

Recipe: Gluten-Free Avocado Toast

Servings: 2
Time: Prep 5 minutes; Cook 5 minutes

Ingredients:

2 slices gluten-free bread (I used Udi’s Gluten-Free Millet-Chia Bread)
1 avocado
Vegenaise (or other vegan mayonnaise)
Sriracha (optional)
Salt
Pepper
Red pepper flakes (optional)
Lemon juice (optional)

Directions:

Toast the gluten-free bread. Spread it generously with Vegenaise (or other vegan mayonnaise) and top it off with a few slices of a perfectly ripe avocado, ever so gently pressing the avocado into the bread. Hit it with a nice pinch of salt or Vege-Sal and a few grinds of fresh black pepper.

~*~*~

Yep…that’s it. Do make note that I mixed a splash of Sriracha into my Trader Joe’s Vegan Mayonnaise to give it a little kick. I also hit mine up with a bit of red chili flakes for some added heat. Gwyneth also suggests adding a little zip to the recipe by giving a squeeze of fresh lemon juice over the avocado toast. But, the fact is…the sandwich is fantastic on its own with the holy trinity of Vegenaise, avocado and salt. Simple, but delicious.

If I had a restaurant…this would be on the menu. For real.

Thank you, Gwyneth Paltrow…for giving me a new breakfast to make. Because I intend to make this often. It is so delicious and so healthy…and yes…so easy to make.

June 16, 2013

GalloLea Gluten-Free Pizza Kit is exactly what NOT to do to gluten-free pizza

Product: GalloLea Gluten-Free Pizza Kit – $10.99+

Let’s face it, my gluten-free friends. When it comes to pizza crust, we usually have two options – make it ourselves…or use the frozen pre-packaged cracker crust pizza shells made by numerous gluten-free companies. While these aren’t all bad…I have been fortunate enough to go to a few restaurants that actually make gluten-free pizza crust that isn’t crunchy thin and tastes like…real…awesome…pizza…crust.

But, tradition for me is a gluten-free pizza before the night of a big race. For 5Ks…I’m apathetic on the tradition, but on a 10K or higher…you better believe I want my gluten-free pizza the night before. I’m a superstitious athlete…and this has just been my magic night-before-the-race fuel. It just works for me. But…recently I’m on a tighter-than-usual budget (I blame race fees!), so instead of dropping money at a restaurant, I decided to pull out this kit I purchased at my local Earth Fare awhile back and give it a shot. It would be…the best of both worlds. A crust made from a mix that I got to roll out like a real pizza…without it feeling or, hopefully tasting, like those gluten-free cracker crusts of gluten-free pizza monotony.

I should trademark that…

Anyway…

It had been a long day at work and I was rather hungry when I walked inside from a long day at the office. Immediately I settled into the kitchen to get this pizza working. I opened up the kit, pulled out the vacuum-sealed pizza crust mix, the sauce packet, and the baking paper that they provided. I preheated the oven to 450 degrees and put my pizza stone in there to warm up. So far…so good. Now came the fun part.

I call this the fun part because this is where I felt like I was really, truly, making a real…yes a REAL pizza. The crust was vegan, which means it had no eggs added to it and no dairy was involved in making it. In fact…it took 1/2 cup of water, warmed in the microwave for about 30 seconds, then the pizza crust mix that was provided. This was a simple blend of organic brown rice flour, organic buckwheat flour, teff flour, sweet rice flour, yeast, organic raw sugar, sea salt and vitamin C. Seems legit, yes? Well, I did as instructed and poured the mix into the warmed water, stirring it until it was all incorporated and then making a dough ball, as instructed, in the bowl, covering it with the provided baking paper, and letting it sit for 10 minutes to rise.

While that was happening, I prepared the rest of the toppings…which is whatever you want. For me…vegan Daiya cheese, avocado, pinapple, tomato, onion, green pepper, and broccolette. Mmmm…veggie pizza with a hit of sweet pineapple. It would be epic. I just knew it.

With my veggies chopped and ready for the pizza, I removed the baking paper…and noticed my dough ball hadn’t even altered in size. It looked just like it did when I rolled it into a ball and left it there. Hmmm…

Well, I ran with it. The baking paper was placed on the counter and I put two teaspoons of olive oil on it. The dough ball was plopped onto the paper and rolled around into the olive oil, then I grabbed my rolling pin and rolled it out into a 12-inch circle as best I could, doing a horrible job at crimping the edges. No surprise. This isn’t my forte. Anyway, I slid the baking paper with my crust base over to the warm pizza stone and set it on the low rack to begin cooking for about 10 minutes.

GalloLea Gluten-Free Pizza Kit includes a gluten-free pizza crust mix, a sauce pack, and baking paper

When that 10 minutes was up, I pulled it out and did as I was instructed by the kit…I poured the sauce packet on top and spread it out to coat the crust. The sauce, by the way is a simple blend of organic whole peeled tomatoes, organic tomato paste, organic extra virgin olive oil, organic garlic, organic raw sugar, organic basil, organic oregano and more organic spices. It sounded organically awesome, honestly. Pure, natural ingredients. I like it. Then, over the sauce I added all the toppings and a scattering of my Daiya mozzarella shreds. Vegan pizza…is awesome. Trust me. And back into the oven it went for another 10 minute baking session, allowing the crust to cook more, the toppings to warm, the cheese to melt, and that pineapple to caramelize.

When 10 minutes was up…the pizza stone came out and my pizza was done and ready to eat. All of this is around 30 minutes time. Not too bad for a dough you prep by hand. That was, actually, my favorite part of this process. I felt like I was eating something real. Not just a frozen mass of dough already pre-made for my convenience. I like getting my hands into things and making and rolling the dough was a nice step in that direction.

So…here it is…the truth, the whole truth…and nothing but the truth.

GalloLea Gluten-Free Pizza Kit let me down. It just…let me down hard.

I went to slice through the crust and found that it was…very difficult to slice into. My hopes of having this beautifully crisp yet soft pizza crust flew immediately out the window. I was already frustrated with the crust and I hadn’t even tasted it. Once I managed to slice it into fourths and then into smaller pieces for consumption purposes, I took a serving (1/4 of the pizza) to my roommate and served up another serving for myself. I settled in, hoping the taste would make up for the tough to slice through crust.

Nope. This crust turned out to be completely tasteless. It was crunchy and bland…reminding me more of the cardboard flavored gluten-free products of yesterday rather than the amazing flavor, texture, and taste that can come with gluten-free products that are done right. SO frustrating and aggravating. I was let down. The underside of the pizza crust got this amazing crunch to it, but the top, the part that was sauced, turned into a soggy mess. I’m sorry…pizza crust should not be soggy. Ever. It was lackluster, uninspired, bland, and just plain…disgusting. I almost didn’t want to save the other half of the pizza for the following evening. But I did…because I didn’t want to waste money. Ugh. I reheated it the following night in a skillet, hoping it might improve the crust some. Nope. Still a bland, soggy mess of a pizza.

GalloLea…you did everything wrong with this mix. I mean, who says that pizza crust has to be bland and just…not worth the effort to make it. I was so disappointed with the time I spent rolling out this dough and preparing it. The sauce was bitter and didn’t taste good at all. I’d recommend using your own sauce if you happen to have one of these in your pantry. I’m just saying.

As for the nutritional worth of this bland pizza crust…with the sauce included…the serving of 1/4 of a pizza will set you back 170 calories, and that’s without counting the toppings you add to it. There is only 1 gram of fat in the mix and sauce, however, and it does provide 3 grams of fiber and 6 grams of protein. This mix is also low on sodium (220 mg) and contains only 3 grams of sugar. It is cholesterol free as well.

Unfortunately…it is also disgusting. And I was so disappointed that once again I was stuck with a less-than-satisfying pre-race pizza. I want a good pizza before a race, dammit. Is that too much to ask?

My recommendation…make your own gluten-free crust. Don’t rely on mixes. And if you are pressed for time, there are plenty of tasty, frozen, pre-made gluten-free pizza crusts out there to throw into the oven with your own sauce and toppings. Don’t waste your time and money on the GalloLea Gluten-Free Pizza Kit. You will regret it. I sure did.

GalloLea Pizza Crust stopped with my amazing toppings. The toppings were the best part. The crust was horrible!

June 15, 2013

The Good Bean bakes up amazing Sea Salt chickpea snack

Product: The Good Bean Sea Salt Roasted Chickpea Snacks – $2.99+

I’m on a mission. A mission that was set forth by my sports nutritionist.

Yes…I have a sports nutritionist.

Why? Because I’m preparing to run my first marathon and I want to make sure I am doing everything right. From following a good training plan to making sure I am fueling my body to the best of my abilities. This is important to me. So, as I work through some of the stuff that is in my pantry…as I am cheap and won’t throw it away…I am already looking for new things to replace some of these snack items with.

I found a winner at World Market a couple weeks ago. I broke them out on Friday as my snack at work and I fell in love at the first bite.

The product: The Good Bean Sea Salt Roasted Chickpea Snacks.

Yes…roasted chickpeas.

And yes…I am quite aware that I could easily make these myself, but my life is pretty busy and hectic as it is. Maybe when things settle down in a couple months I’ll work more toward making a lot of my own food items. But…this is pretty much as healthy as it gets when it comes to a snack. Let’s start with the nitty-gritty and work into my opinion on these.

These are…what the bag says they are…roasted chickpeas. I love chickpeas and I have my mom to thank for that (Thanks, Mom!). However, I had never tried them roasted (but have pinned many recipes for this very snack on Pinterest to try…one day). I chose to start with a trial on the original. The very first snack by The Good Bean – roasted chickpeas flavored simply with…sea salt. This concept was inspired by street vendors in Indian cities, who roast chickpeas in salt, resulting in hard little beans that give off this nutty, crispy, buttery texture of awesomesauce. Yes…that is an accurate description. Building off this concept, the people at The Good Bean roast their chickpeas in salt, bringing out the natural deliciousness of the chickpea itself. Let’s face it…chickpeas are awesome. They are a powerhouse of nutrition and just taste really good. They taste even more badass when they are roasted. Trust me.

So, let’s talk numbers. No one likes numbers…but these…these are impressive. The Good Bean Sea Salt Roasted Chickpea Snacks will only set you back 140 calories for a serving of 1/4 cup (which is the serving size). This will also serve you up only 2 grams of fat (the healthy kind you get from beans!), 6 grams of fiber, 7 grams of protein, and only 260 mg of sodium. Nice. These chickpeas are low fat, nut-free, gluten-free, cholesterol-free, contain nothing over-engineered, nothing artificial, and are just SO good for your body, your heart, your waistline, and for giving you energy. Nutritional powerhouses…that’s what these are.

But what about taste, right? You gotta go off of taste!

Mark my words…these are totally AWESOME!! Crunchy, tasty, with just the right about of salt to excite the taste buds. Oh yeah…these are full of yumminess. I loved the buttery texture and how, instead of having a mushy bean, you get this crunchy snack. It’s like eating potato chips that are good for you. Honestly. I was so impressed by these. In fact, I bought two of the other flavors today while grocery shopping. That’s how yum-tastic these are. As I move towards cleaner eating, these are more of the snacks I’ll be turning to. Thankfully…these are delicious!!

So, if you’re looking to break your potato chip habit, I totally recommend The Good Bean’s roasted chickpea snacks. Start with the basics…Sea Salt was the ideal place to start with me. But if you want to be bold…try one of the other three flavors available. I promise…you’ll love every crunchy bite of them.