When it comes to Mexican delicacies like guacamole and salsa, there is one chef who I would bet my life on to have a fantastic recipe. That man is the amazing Rick Bayless. And once again, he proved me right when I was determined to make my own salsa for the first time…ever. This recipe is not only easy, but it has a nice slow burn to it. It’s fantastic and it will definitely show you how brilliant this chef is when it comes to Mexican fare.
One important thing I did learn…while cutting the jalapeños…should one accidentally squirt you directly in the eye…it will burn…a lot. And it will hurt…a lot. Oh…and your eye might swell up. Mine did.
Ah, the life lessons we learn in the kitchen.
But without further adieu…the recipe that won my salsa-loving heart.
1 15-ounce can diced tomatoes in juice, preferably fire roasted
1/4 cup (loosely packed) chopped fresh cilantro
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
Salt
Directions:
In a small ungreased skillet over medium heat, roast the chiles and garlic, turning regularly, until they are soft and blotchy brown, about 10 minutes for the chiles, 15 minutes for the garlic. Cool until handleable, then pull the stem(s) off the chile(s) and roughly chop. Peel the skin off the garlic. Scoop into a food processor and pulse until quite finely chopped.
Add the tomatoes with their juice. Re-cover and pulse until you have a coarse puree. Scrape into a serving dish. Stir in the cilantro and lime juice. Taste and season with salt, usually about 1/2 teaspoon.
Serve.
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As I said, this salsa has a nice kick to it, and I even scraped out the seeds of the jalapeños. But, it isn’t too spicy. If you wanted less heat, I recommend using a milder chile or perhaps just using one as opposed to the two that I used. But, this is a nice, medium-heat salsa that compliments a good handful of gluten-free tortilla chips. And…yes…it really is that easy to prepare. So get your your pan and your food processor. This delicious and flavorful salsa can be yours to indulge in too.
Thank you again, master of Mexican cuisine. One again, Rick Bayless…you rocked it out.
Now that I’m back to being in one place for an extended period of time, I’m back in the kitchen with a vengence. Oh yes…you better believe my brain is coming up with new ways to dress up a recipe, creating my own, and just testing things out to see how they work. This…is my element. This is what I love. So, I step away from the freezer for a moment and pull out my baking sheets and ingredients. The plan is to use ingredients I have so no grocery store trip is necessary.
One of my favorite snacks of all time is apple with peanut butter on it. So…I just happened to have Reeses Peanut Butter Baking Chips in my pantry, apple cider and applesauce in my fridge, and a moment to spare for my favorite room in the house – the kitchen!
Gluten-free baking is tricky, but satisfying. When you get it right, you get it right. I’ve been playing around with my scone recipe quite a lot lately, adding things and subtracting things to not just be gluten-free, but also vegan. Why? Because I love to experiment. And this, friends, was an experiment that went completely right.
Recipe: Gluten-Free Apple Cider Peanut Butter Chip Scones
Add the applesauce and apple cider. Mix together with a fork. Dough will be thick.
Drop large, tall dollops of dough (scones will spread when baking) onto lightly greased baking sheet.
Bake for 15-17 minutes.
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Do you love caramel apples? Well, surprisingly, that’s what these taste like…although with that peanut butter flavor there at the end. They are soft, delightful little breakfast goodies to bake up for anytime. And if you love apples with peanut better…yeah…you’ll like these. I promise. I mean…the flavor combination is a sure-fire win.
I hope to make these again soon. Baking up breakfast has never been more delicious and savory-sweet!
Walker Bros. Original Pancake House, Glenview, Illinois
Restaurant: Walker Bros. Original Pancake House, Glenview, Illinois
What happens when you leave the hotel bright and early, heading home from a fantastic vacation, and you have breakfast on the brain? You make a stop in the Chicago area for breakfast…that’s what happens. And when in the Chicago area, some of the best breakfast around is served up at Walker Bros. The Original Pancake House.
Walker Bros. is apparently a Chicago-area landmark. It’s first location was opened in 1960 in Wilmette. Since then, other locations have opened, but standards have been kept high. In fact, Walker Bros. was named as one of USA Today’s “Top Ten Pancake Restaurants in the Nation.” Additionally, Zagat sang their praises and named them Chicago’s “best breakfast – bar none.” Apparently, Walker Bros. is the place to hit up when the breakfast craving hits.
And…that’s what we did
You know a place is good when you turn into a full parking lot. And then…the line. It was a long line…and a rather decent wait to get seated. But the staff turned tables as fast as they could and we never really stood for too long somewhere. One of the hostesses came through to find out how many people were in each party to assist with getting the line moving. Oh, I was already excited about breakfast here.
We were finally seated, approximately 30-40 minutes after our arrival. The restaurant has this nice, homey appeal to it. Waiters wear white, button-up shirts and diner hats. Yes…those little folded hats that were a standard in every diner in the 50s. Talk about a throwback! The Glenview location is designed with solid oak, brass lamps, and stained glass. It’s beautiful. And bustling.
We were given water and given some time to peruse the menu. And there…a shining beacon on the pancake page…was gluten-free pancakes. I was sold. FINALLY…no omelets or eggs. I could get something that I normally can’t enjoy while out at a breakfast place.
We placed our orders. Cathy treated herself to one of the standards that Walker Bros. is known for – Three Little Pigs In A Blanket ($7.25), which is their own house-made sausage wrapped in fluffy pancakes, dusted with powdered sugar, and served with whipped butter and syrup. As for me…I had to order the Gluten-Free Pancakes ($7.25), which comes with whipped butter and syrup.
I was practically giddy with anticipation over these pancakes…for real! I don’t think I shut up about them as we waited on our order to arrive at our table. I got really excited when the little dishes of maple syrup arrived. Our food wasn’t far behind.
And holy flap-jacks, Batman…you get your money’s worth from the menu. My very large plate was filled with six fluffy gluten-free pancakes. Yes…six. Holy Moses. They were perfectly cooked up too, with that beautiful golden crust on the outside. I sparingly spread a bit of the butter over a couple of the pancakes, poured a touch of syrup over them, took a breath, and sliced through one with the edge of my fork. A moment later, I was enjoying the taste of pancakes…not prepared by me for a change.
The Gluten-Free Pancakes from Walker Bros. are light and fluffy for sure. They have the crunch of the outer, golden crust that I love when pancakes are done right. And the best part is…they are gluten-free, wheat free and peanut free. So…safe to eat if you have any of those allergens. Nothing is off with the taste. They are fantastic, reminding me of what classic buttermilk pancakes were like. Man, I’ve missed being able to have pancakes out at these places known for breakfast food.
Could I eat all six pancakes? No. But I managed more than I expected. I was caught up in the taste, texture, and sheer brilliance of the Gluten-Free Pancakes. Walker Bros. managed to turn out a plate of pancakes that tasted like classic buttermilk pancakes…none of this cornmeal business…this was a classic pancake…minus the gluten. And yes…it made me so happy to be eating there.
When food can put a smile on your face, leave you satisfied, and just be fantastic…then something is being done right. Walker Bros. definitely sets a high standard for brunch places and pancake houses. They beat out any franchise or chain…hands down. It’s obvious they respect the products they put out and want to serve the best to every customer. The service was fantastic…the food…even better.
If you find yourself traveling through the Chicago area and a hankering for breakfast (no matter what time of day…they are open until 9:30 p.m.) hits…find a Walker Bros. I mean it. I will forever visit here because I know I can get amazing food that works with my food allergies. And…hello…I can eat pancakes!!
There are two certainties in life when I travel. One is that I will find a pub to dine at. The other is that I will split a banana split with my roommate. Why? Because that’s just how I roll, friends. And a trip should always be accompanied by good food and an ice cream treat. Worry about your figure another time. Ice cream is to be enjoyed.
So, after a long day of seeing the running in a Quarter Marathon, hiking down to the beach of Lake Michigan, dining at a great pub, shopping, seeing the sights…it was starting to get late…and my roommate and I wanted a sweet, cold treat to mark the end of a fantastic day and put some food in our now hungry bodies. Let’s face it…we earned it.
Before even leaving for Milwaukee, Wisconsin, I was already searching for our place to treat ourselves to a banana split. When all was said and done, I settled with Babe’s Ice Cream on South Kinnickinnik Avenue in Milwaukee. We ended up at a fantastic place. Babe’s is family owned and operated, which is always a plus. And they offer a high, fine standard of ice cream, which you can get by the scoop…or in a sundae treat.
For us…it was all about the banana split ($6.95).
With Babe’s banana split, you get to choose your ice cream flavors to go over your split banana. We kept it to the standard…vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry. Then you get to choose three toppings. We once again kept it to the usual suspects: strawberry, pineapple, hot fudge. And the whipped cream (made in house) can either be vanilla or chocolate. We stayed with vanilla. All of that topped off with three cherries. It looked divine.
It was a hot day, so I quickly took pictures of the masterpiece and then, we raised our spoons and dug in. Wow. The ice cream was really good. The vanilla was your standard vanilla. Nothing special. The strawberry was pretty good too. But the star of the banana split was the dark chocolate scoop in the center. In fact, it was the scoop that lasted the longest because my roomie and I were trying to savor that one. Best chocolate ice cream I have had…anywhere. And trust me, friends…I eat a lot of chocolate ice cream. Especially when it is dark chocolate! I don’t eat much whipped cream, but my roommate encouraged me to have a taste of the vanilla whipped cream. That…was a soft, amazing bite. Very creamy and amazing with the flavor.
We were totally impressed with Babe’s Ice Cream. The staff was awesome. They loved talking to us about where we were from. Why we were in town. And our obsession with banana splits. A customer came over to take a picture of our sundae because she said her boyfriend claims pineapple doesn’t go on a banana split and she wanted to prove him wrong. DUH! The pineapple topping is a staple on a banana split. Everyone knows that!!
The atmosphere was really great. Very relaxed. We sat there, talked, and enjoyed our ice cream to the fullest. And when we left…we were full, content, and happy.
That’s what ice cream should do for you. That means you’ve had a good ice cream experience.
While Milwaukee is the home of frozen custard, which is delicious in and of it’s own right, I encourage you, if visiting, to seek out Babe’s Ice Cream and treat yourself to one of their amazing ice creams. Either just have a scoop or enjoy one of their signature sundaes. In the end…you’ll find yourself a happier person who just enjoyed some of the best ice cream there is in Milwaukee. Trust me. It’s worth it. Spoil that diet for one day. It’s okay.
By now, my friends, you know the drill. When I go out of town, one of the main requirements when it comes to eating out is finding a good pub. Well, there are plenty to choose from in Milwaukee, trust me. And when possible, it’s best to ask a local about where to get the best pub grub in town. But, I sort of stumbled upon this place via an Internet search. And my roommate mentioned it to a local at the race and she gave it her approval.
The pub: Brocach Irish Pub & Restaurant in downtown Milwaukee.
There was much anticipation coming into a late lunch/early dinner here. We needed to wait for the dinner menu to be offered and not the brunch menu, as it would be a crime for my roomie to go into a pub and not be able to have the fish and chips. So, we hit there around 3:00 p.m. and were greeted in the little alcove inside the door and taken to a table upstairs. Except no one informed our waiter that the upstairs was reserved for a wedding party. So, back down the stairs we went and were given a nice raised table to settle into. Our waiter took our drink order and we settled in to peruse the menu.
There were plenty of options on there for a vegetarian. However, with me also being gluten-free, I was pretty much limited to a salad. Which is fine, because they had a list of delicious, large salads to choose from…varieties on flavor…everything a vegetarian could ask for. So, I sat there and went over which one I really wanted to try. My roomie helped me come to my final decision as her mind was already set on the Fish and Chips ($13.50).
So when our waiter returned to take our order, she did her standard, and I put in for the Very Veggie Salad ($8.00).
The pub wasn’t hopping yet. The wedding party was en route, but we were there at an odd time to order food. So, our wait wasn’t very long before we had plates of food being set in front of us. My roommate’s fish and chips actually looked like a decent, normal portion. Nothing that would be too much. And my salad was freakin’ huge.
The Very Veggie Salad was a toss of mixed greens, grape tomatoes, green beans, red onions, cucumbers, chickpeas, and artichokes. All of this was tossed in a balsamic vinaigrette, which I meant to ask for on the side, but they didn’t drown my salad in it, so I was okay with it. It was a very colorful salad, with lots going on. LOTS.
So, after taking my photos for the blog, I picked up my fork and dug in. And here is what I loved about it. The artichokes lent a perfect hint of bite to the salad. I love artichokes, so including them in the salad made a perfect compliment to the other ingredients in there. The green beans were al dente. The chickpeas gave me some much-needed protein. And the rest of the vegetables were all fresh. Every forkful brought a new blend of flavors. And the dressing was the right match for this kind of salad. Light so as not to overpower the great vegetable combination going on in the bowl. Yeah…I was one happy girl at the table.
My roommate loved her fish and chips, so we were both quite content at the end of the meal. What’s more is the pub vibe you get at Brocach. It’s laid back. It’s easy-going. It’s like a true pub in Ireland. The Euro 2012 matches were playing on the television near the bar. We could still hear ourselves talk as we settled in to eat. It was the perfect setting and I’m glad we ended up going there.
Brocach has a lot to offer and a little bit of something for everyone who walks through the doors. They served up amazing food without a long wait. And provided the perfect setting for a great dinner out in Milwaukee. And we left just as the wedding party was beginning to arrive. So, we actually had really good timing. Next time I’m in Milwaukee, would I go back. Sure. But there are other pubs to try…although it is definitely not out of the question.
If you do a search for the best coffee in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the name you’ll continue to see in your search is Alterra coffee. That being said, I knew that was the place I needed to check out while I was in town. My roomie and I make it a point to go to a local coffee house and a local ice cream shop on each trip. And Alterra certainly didn’t disappoint.
I had just finished running the Rock ‘N Sole Quarter Marathon and after downing some water, Cathy and I decided that it was time to hit up a coffee shop for a much-needed caffeine pick-me-up. Alterra was on our list…the big question was…which coffee house were we going to visit. There was one not too far from the Summerfest grounds, so we decided to see if we could make our way there and fulfill our need for caffeine.
It wasn’t hard to get to at all. And when we walked in, we could immediately smell fresh roasted coffee, hear the grinder, and get that quiet buzz you tend to find in coffee houses. Yeah…I immediately felt at home.
We took a moment to examine the boards and decide on what we wanted. For the first time ever, Cathy went with a small iced white mocha ($3.50). I was shocked. This woman never gets her coffee iced. And I went with a small, soy, sugar-free raspberry latte ($3.50).
My raspberry latte came up, but it wasn’t soy. So they gladly remade it for me the proper way without any complaint, eye-rolling, or attitude. LOVED that. I appreciated that to no end. And within moments, a proper iced soy raspberry latte was placed on the counter for my sipping pleasure.
I love testing fruity syrups in a latte. Raspberry tends to be one that pairs overly well with espresso. And this was no different. The raspberry syrup wasn’t too heavy-handed. In fact, it was the perfect amount to give the flavor to the drink without taking it over. And the espresso was a perfect shot. Oh yes. Smooth as silk. It wasn’t bitter, no harsh aftertaste. Perfect espresso pour. And the soy milk was icy cold, and delicious. I was one happy runner at that point to not only have something cold to sip on, but also have something so fantastic.
I also loved that their true small size was an 8 ounce portion. YES! You know, 12 ounces is all fine and good, but 8 ounces just seems like the perfect amount. And the usual price of about $0.50/each was applied for my change to soy milk and my added flavor. Couldn’t argue with that. It’s about what every coffee shop does.
Both my roommate and I walked out of Alterra quite content, with iced drinks in hand and smiles on our faces. Our drinks were the perfect strength and made just the way we wanted them. I was impressed with the atmosphere, the service, and the product at Alterra Coffee . I would go back in a heartbeat. Or visit one of their other locations throughout Milwaukee.
So raise a glass…and caffeinate yourself next time you find yourself in Milwaukee. Trust me…coffee is much better for you than beer, which is mostly what Milwaukee is known for.
Restaurant: Transfer Pizzeria & Café, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Eating out can be tricky. When food allergies come into play, well…there is a lot of guess work that goes on. So, when I go out of town and have to find places to eat, I’m pretty strict about where I choose. Coming up to Milwaukee, I had a great Italian restaurant picked out that had gluten-free pizza and pasta options. And then my roommate pointed out it was sort of a big, heap, fancy kind of a place that would require dressing up…and really, what runner wants to strap on a pair of heels the night before the race just to carb up? Not me.
So…dining the night before the Rock ‘n Sole Quarter Marathon was up in the air to the very evening before we left. And that’s when my roomie, using my favorite Web site/app available ever (Find Me Gluten Free), discovered the place we ended up dining. It was a great little pizzeria/café called Transfer Pizzeria & Café on W. Mitchell St. in Milwaukee. Let me tell you…this was one epic find.
On the outside, it doesn’t look like much. In fact, we almost missed it when we drove past. Thank goodness for the neon sign above the front door. We parked and made our way over to the restaurant, where we were greeted very warmly and shown to a table near the window. The inside was nothing like I imagined. Very bohemian. Very rustic. With a café/bar in the center, the kitchen behind it, and a dining area all around, with booths and tables. It isn’t a large space, but it was very nice.
We were handed menus and told our waiter, Mischa, would be with us shortly. And he was. Wearing an epic Dark Side of the Moon t-shirt, featuring the Death Star with the prism lights from the Pink Floyd cover art. Yeah…we had to comment on how much we loved his shirt. Anyway, we informed him that I am medically gluten-free and he said, “Ah, medically…you mean not one of these fad diets?” It made me laugh. And he was very helpful in telling me that all the toppings for their pizza are gluten-free. He went to fetch Cathy some Diet Coke while I stuck with water for hydration purposes.
Gluten-Free note on the menu at Transfer Pizzeria & Café in Milwaukee, Wisonsin. Vasyl is the chef who hand makes the rice flour crust.
Left with the menu, we quickly glanced over the veggie pizza options and settled on a few to pick from. When he returned he asked if we had any questions and then volunteered to share some of his favorites and suggestions. Oddly enough, he was a big fan of the ones we had been eyeing. And with that recommendation, we placed our order.
Now…something rare happened at Transfer that doesn’t happen very often when I go out to eat…specifically at a pizza/pasta joint. First of all…I was not limited to a salad. YES!! Second of all…I was not just left to pizza. No, my friends. This went beyond what any other restaurant has done for the gluten-free pizza. At Transfer, I could have appetizers…and…wait for it…dessert!
So, already I was doing a happy dance of foodie joy. And we went ahead and placed an order to split the Gluten-Free Bruschetta as an appetizer (which was only a $2.00 upcharge). Then, we would split a small Gluten-Free Da Vinci Pizza (small pizza only, with a $2.00 upcharge). He went to put the order in and we happily discussed our upcoming meal and how much we already loved the atmosphere of the place.
Transfer Pizzeria & Café’s Gluten-Free Bruschetta
The Gluten-Free Bruschetta ($8.00) arrived in short order. Mischa kindly explained to us that all gluten-free products were brought out on red plates…completely dedicated to gluten-free foods. Sweet! On the plate was 10 halves of gluten-free toast that had been rubbed with garlic cloves. In a bowl, large chunks of tomato, fresh basil, and olive oil were ready for us to dish it up onto our toast. And that’s what we did.
The tomatoes were incredibly ripe and full of flavor. The large chunks were not unwieldy, but rather very refreshing, without taking away from the flavor provided by the fresh basil and the taste of the amazing olive oil. Yeah…it was good. I think we might have hoovered the appetizer. But, honestly, it’s been ages since I’ve been able to eat the bread at a restaurant. The bread had a nice toast to it, without being too hard. It was still soft and chewy, but held up the tomato chunks without a problem. I was in love…with an appetizer. Who knew tomatoes, basil, olive oil and gluten-free bread could be the most amazing thing ever? Well, when you usually have to watch everyone eat the bread…it makes a hell of a difference.
The gluten-free pizza was up next. It was tough to decide between the different varieties of veggie pizzas being offered. But I think we made a fantastic choice. The Gluten-Free Da Vinci Pizza ($14.00) consists of a gluten-free crust topped with tomato sauce and pesto sauce. It is then topped off with fresh tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, feta cheese, and shaved asiago cheese. I was quite excited about the pizza toppings. Cathy was a little nervous about the pesto…but her trepidation was soon put to rest once the pizza arrived.
It looked amazing. Honestly. This pizza really looked amazing. I mean, you can’t go wrong with cheese and tomatoes, right? Heck, no!! And the thin gluten-free crust was browned to a crunchy perfection. It’s made at the restaurant too. Not something that is pre-packaged. The chef makes a homemade gluten-free crust from rice flour. There is a special oven specifically for gluten-free. And utensils to take it in and out of the oven that are dedicated as gluten-free.
And how did it taste?
Transfer Pizzeria & Café’s Gluten-Free Da Vinci Pizza
AMAZING! The blend of tomato sauce and basil pesto was fantastic. Absolutely fantastic. They married together so well. The chunks of tomato were, again, fresh. Not slices…chunks. Love that. They were so ripe and packed with flavor. I absolutely loved it. The blend of three different cheeses (mozzarella, feta, and asiago) was fantastic. I love cheese as much as the next person…and this was…so amazing. SO AMAZING! Creamy. Sweet. Just melt-in-your-mouth fantastic. This might just be the best gluten-free pizza…or pizza in general…I have ever eaten. EVER!!
Oh…I was so full on pizza and bruschetta…but gluten-free dessert was mentioned. Yes. Dessert. And we’re not talking about just a bowl of ice cream. Nope. I actually got to have dessert. For real. I was told their gluten-free options were a brownie or a cupcake. I am definitely a brownie girl. And, let me tell you, I was brought an amazing Gluten-Free Brownie ($5.00). Rich. Decadent. Drizzled with chocolate. Amazing. I took one bite and I was sold. It was so rich. It was like biting into dream. Seriously. This brownie was soft and just…so good! Good isn’t even the word that best describes it. It was sinfully decadently delicious. Yeah…I was one happy gluten-free girl.
Stuffed to the max, I walked out of Transfer Pizzeria & Café with a three-course meal under my belt. That never happens anywhere these days. Not only was I full, but I was impressed. The atmosphere, the food, the people…I felt right at home there. And I was taken very good care of. Everything was safely prepared and kept high standards. I felt good to go into a restaurant where the staff was so knowledgeable about gluten-free items, made sure safety precautions were taken with the food, and served up something amazing with each dish that came out.
Color me impressed. No…color me jealous that this place is located in Milwaukee and not where I live.
Gluten-free is no problem at Transfer Pizzeria & Café. They not only know how to safely prepare food, they even host a gluten-free night, every Monday, called “Defeat the Wheat” where they offer no upcharge on gluten-free items on the menu and give a 2 for 1 special on bottles of Lakefront Brewery New Grist gluten-free beer. Gotta love that.
And I do. I’m in love with this restaurant. Well, I guess I found yet another reason to return to the Milwaukee area. And the sooner…the better!
I totally blame my friend, Heather, for my newest fascination with frozen custard. It is just rich, smooth and amazing. Simply amazing. Why simply? Because it is a rich, decadent, but simple treat.
After a long day on the road and hitting up the race expo to pick up my packet for the Rock and Sole Half and Quarter Marathon tomorrow, my roommate and I hit the town for some shopping. And as we were headed to a Half Price Books, we suddenly realized we were hungry. And dinner was still hours away. And there…as if a indulgent oasis suddenly appeared before us, we saw a beacon known as Kopp’s Frozen Custard. Now, I had been browsing Travel Channel and other sites and when it comes to frozen custard, Milwaukee is the place to be. And Kopp’s Frozen Custard is truly a staple to the Milwaukee area.
Founded in 1950, Kopp’s Frozen Custard is a true landmark in the Metro-Milwaukee area. What has brought longevity to their business? The great, unmistakeable taste of their custard. No doubt about it. And, as a little bit of trivia here, Kopp’s was the first to offer something other than the standard vanilla and chocolate frozen custards. This became known as the “Flavor of the Day” and is still put in affect today.
And when we stopped in, there were two additional flavors today. Mint Chip and Chocolate Peanut Butter Chocolate. Um…no guess as to which one my roommate and I decided to get.
You guessed it. Chocolate Peanut Butter Chocolate. One scoop. ($2.29)
Yum.
And yum doesn’t even really begin to cover the smooth, rich, creaminess of this frozen custard. I raved about the one I had in Minnesota…but this was above and beyond. This was full of rich, deep chocolate flavor, loaded with peanuts, and dark chocolate chunks. It was…a salty-sweet party in my mouth. And we all know how much I love frozen treats anyway. Well, this was one of the richest, decadent frozen treats I’ve indulged in. SO good. I might have hoovered it. Just maybe.
The taste of this custard truly is unmistakable. I thought I had the absolute best before…but this blew it all away. Just really, really fantastic. And the setting was so space-agey…while still maintaining a bit of a drive-in/diner vibe. I loved standing at my table, people-watching, and spooning down my frozen treat. I was in heaven.
If you happen to be in the Milwaukee area, check out one of the three top frozen custard places. But…speaking from experience here…I really recommend trying Kopp’s Frozen Custard. This landmark is worth standing in line for one of the flavor’s of the day…or just the plain vanilla or chocolate. For a business to last this long…you know it’s more than good. It’s great. It’s amazing. It’s..sinful…in an amazing, rich, delicious way.
Grab a spoon…because you’ll want to dig in immediately.
Product: GoPicnic Hummus and Crackers All-Natural Meal – $4.99+
It never fails. You’re trying to save money on a road trip by not eating out every time you get hungry…and sure enough…hunger strikes. You don’t want to stop off somewhere and pay an arm and a leg for either a snack or a meal. And with my food allergies…that’s not exactly the best option anyway. So…this time…I came prepared.
On a trip up to Milwaukee, Wisconsin for a Quarter Marathon I was running in, my roommate and I were up before the sun and on the road at 6 a.m. That meant we downed our breakfast at 5:30 before finishing with preparations and last-minute packing before taking out the garbage and heading out with the luggage to hit the road. Regardless…by the time 10 a.m. rolled around…we were starving.
Thankfully, I came prepared with a couple of varieties of GoPicnic meals. I had a couple that I got for free from the Gluten-Free Expo in Birmingham, Alabama. But they included hummus and I was unsure of whether or not my roommate would eat that as she has a love/hate relationship with hummus. So, when they ran a 1/2-off special on GoPicnic’s Web site, I ordered two of the Peanut Butter and Crackers for her, part of their All-Natural, Healthy Meals. For me, I was quite content with my Hummus and Crackers pack. Hers is not gluten-free. But the Hummus and Crackers one is.
And it is full of delicious, healthy treats.
Open the box and you are greeted with a tube of Wild Garden Hummus Dip, Crunchmaster Multi-Seed Crackers, Seapoint Farms Dry Roasted Edamame, Sweet Perry Orchards Baja Blend Fruit & Nut Mix and an Endangered Species Dark Chocolate Square. Every component of this meal is all-natural, gluten-free, vegan and kosher. Gotta love that!!
The biggest decision now was where to start. I opted to hit up the Wild Garden Hummus Dip and the Crunchmaster Multi-Seed Crackers first. I’ve enjoyed the delicious Cruchmaster Crackers before, but this was my first time trying Wild Garden Hummus Dip. Let me tell you…it was absolutely delicious. I even had my roommate try some of it and she actually liked it too. Go figure. It was creamy and full of flavor. It tasted like really good refried beans…but much healthier for you. In fact, this hummus packs a whopping 6 grams of protein. Most store-bough hummus has maybe 1 gram. This made me a very happy girl. Pairing it with the Original Flavor of Crunchmaster Multi-Seed Crackers was brilliant. The hummus only has 60 calories and the Crunchmaster Cracker pack also has only 60 calories. NICE!
The next component that I tore into was the Sweet Perry Orchard Baja Blend Fruit & Nut Mix. This was a simple blend of all natural dried fruits and nuts, which includes habañera almonds, sweet and salty peanuts and mango cranberries. It was pretty good too. A nice mix of salty and sweet. The flavor from the dried fruits and the salty nuts was fantastic. The pack that comes in the GoPicnic box has 100 calories and packs 3 grams of protein.
My next indulgence in the GoPicnic box of goodies was the Seapoint Farms Dry Roasted Edamame. This is another snack I have eaten before…but I don’t think I ever blogged about it. I love this stuff and prefer it over chips any day. Honestly. These dry roasted beans are absolutely delicious. Not too salty. And packed with flavor. Like eating a peanut…but better. This pack has only 130 calories in it, but packs a protein punch of 14 grams. NICE!
And…for dessert…my GoPicnic box had an amazing square of Endangered Species Dark Chocolate. It was a very dark chocolate blend too, of 72% cocoa content. It was smooth, delicious, and sinful. But not too sinful. The square only sets you back 50 calories. Mmmm…that’s an indulgence worth taking.
What I loved about GoPicnic is how easy these are to travel with. My roommate and I were satisfied after eating our meals. And, on a whole, definitely worth every bite. My Hummus and Crackers meal was only 400 calories for the entire thing, had 12 grams of fiber, and a powerful 25 grams of protein. For a vegetarian who is also gluten-free…that protein is exactly what I needed. And it was just so good too. I absolutely appreciate the simplicity of these meals, but how filling they are without breaking a diet or the fat/carb/whatever bank.
GoPicnic offers up quite a variety of meals for the busy-body or traveler. But only two fall into my dietary needs. The Hummus and Crackers GoPicnic meal was fantastic and I recommend it to any vegan, regardless of gluten-free status. It’s a delicious on-the-go treat that held me over until early afternoon.
GoPicnic…I love you. For (deliciously) real!
Inside the GoPicnic Hummus and Crackers All-Natural Meal
Okay…I’m going to admit this straight away. When my CSA put turnips in my weekly bin, I was completely stumped on what to make. I mean…turnips? What do you do with turnips?
A lot actually. There are so many delicious sounding recipes to try, but as I had a limited amount of time, I got online and started to try to figure out a meal I could make from these amazing little root vegetables. With a little help from the Fat Free Vegan, and a little recipe tweaking (I forgot to buy leeks at the grocery store and wasn’t going back out), I ended up cooking up my first Ethiopian-inspired dish.
The end result was a Chickpea and Turnip Stew with Ethiopian Spices, which is fine to eat as a stew, or to pour over rice, which is what I did. The best part is, this recipe is completely vegan and virtually fat free. Gotta love that. And, surprisingly enough…my roommate and I both enjoyed our stew.
So go ahead…give yourself a little taste of Ethiopia.
Recipe: Chickpea and Turnip Stew with Ethiopian Spices
1 teaspoon minced ginger root (I ended up using 1/2 tsp ground ginger as my ginger root was old)
2 teaspoons berberé seasoning (I substituted Garam Masala)
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
2 carrots, chopped
4 cups vegetable broth or stock
1 15-ounce can chickpeas, drained well
1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1/2 cup plain soymilk (I used unsweetened almond milk…but I bet coconut milk would rock!)
Directions:
Clean the turnips well. Trim off the tops and bottoms and then peel them. Cut them into 1/2-inch cubes.
Coat a large pot lightly with non-stick spray.
Add the onions and sauté until they begin to turn brown.
Add the ginger root, garam masala, and turmeric and sauté for another minute.
Add all the remaining ingredients except the soymilk.
Cook, covered, until the turnips are tender, about 20 minutes.
Remove about 1-1/2 cups of the stew and puree it in a blender. Return it to the pot, along with the soymilk.
Stir well until heated throughout and serve.
Serving option: Chickpea and Turnip Stew with Ethiopian Spices over Jasmine Rice
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The flavor of this dish has a very distinct Indian feel to it. As I love Indian food, that’s fine by me. It’s not spicy at all. I sort of wish I had remembered to buy the leeks, but the stew didn’t suffer any from the lack of them. If, by chance, you give this recipe a try, the original one called for 3 leeks, white parts only, washed well and chopped. You add them when you put in the rest of the ingredients after the seasonings. But, since I forgot to buy them, I just added more turnips and carrots and called it even.
This stew was so easy to make. And when you taste it, you’ll definitely be taking your palate on a flavor journey. And with that said, I’m now hoping to receive some more turnips sometime in my CSA bin because I have other recipes to try.
Wanting to give some Ethiopian food a try? This recipe is simple, easy, and…yes…delicious!
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The Celiathlete 