It was a manager’s special at my local grocery store that compelled me to pick up these frozen treats as a dessert option. One thing that caught my attention immediately was the 6 grams of protein boasted about on the box. As a gluten-free vegetarian…protein is important to me. And Greek yogurt is often packed with it. Turn that Greek yogurt into a frozen yogurt bar and…the potential for deliciousness is elevated.
With these yogurt bars, you get one nutrition packed dessert. That’s another great thing about these bars. For one thing, these rather large frozen bars pack only 70 calories and, as mentioned before, 6 grams of protein. They are all gluten-free, fat-free, and all natural. The dairy portion is made with rBST-free milk. This makes these bars an amazing source of calcium. In addition, these are kosher certified and contain no corn syrup. How is that for some accolades?
As for the name? Yasso is derived from the Greek word Yassou, which means “hello.”
Yasso Raspberry Frozen Greek Yogurt Bar (wrapped)
The only flavor available on manager’s special at the grocery store was the Raspberry flavor. While raspberry isn’t my roommate’s favorite, we both decided that these would certainly be worth a try. So…we put them in our cart, checked out, and placed them in our freezer.
After working through some of the desserts ahead of these, we finally cracked these open yesterday to try.
These bars are actually a really good size for an ice cream treat. Honestly. Most of the time a 70 calorie treat is itty-bitty. Not these. These were the size of a regular ice cream bar, but these are enjoyed without any guilt. I mean…did you take in all those nutrition stats I listed above? The flavor is all there. And the thickness of the Greek yogurt is prevalent without. But all this meant to me was that I got to savor the frozen treat a little longer. And that’s what I did.
Nothing wrong with savoring that sweet treat at the end of the meal for a little longer, right? These are available in three flavors: Raspberry, Strawberry, and Blueberry.
I enjoyed the taste of these bars. The thick Greek yogurt makes an amazing frozen treat and the raspberry flavor is the star. It really tastes like raspberry. I was blown away. And no funky Greek yogurt aftertaste either.
If I’m craving something sweet without the guilt…I would totally pick these up again. Highly recommended if you are looking for a nice treat to beat the heat…without losing that bathing suit body!
Yasso Raspberry Frozen Greek Yogurt Bar (unwrapped)
Restaurant: Patachou On The Park, Indianapolis, Indiana
What’s my favorite meal of the day?
That’s right, friend’s. It’s breakfast! I love, love, love breakfast.
So, on the morning after my half marathon, I woke up in Indianapolis and was ready for a good breakfast. Cathy had done some research on great places to grab either breakfast or brunch that would have some options for me and stumbled across Patachou On The Park via Find Me Gluten Free. It had some really great reviews, so we decided that we would give this place a try before checking out of the hotel and making our way home.
We were there right when they opened on Sunday morning at 8 a.m. We entered and were told to take a seat wherever we liked. We chose a corner table with a long bench on one side that shared with other tables along that line, and a chair on the other. We settled in with the menu and soon or waitress came over to see what we wanted to eat. She said that they had a self-serve coffee bar if that was what we wanted, but both Cathy and I chose to get some caffeine through Diet Coke ($1.95…and served in the can) and water.
While she was there, we mentioned that I was medically gluten-free and she asked about the level of my intolerance just so she could be clear. We went over the restrictions with her and she seemed confident that they could provide a safe meal for me. And mentioned that they did serve Udi’s Gluten-Free Bread. Do you know what this meant? This meant that I didn’t have to just have an omelet. Now, I love a good omelet, but it seems like that’s always my go-to and these brunch places, as most don’t have gluten-free bread, gluten-free pancakes, gluten-free waffles, or gluten-free anything besides eggs. So, this was a nice change of pace.
That being the case, when it came time to order, both Cathy and I opted to go with the Broken Yolk Sandwiches, as they were items we couldn’t just get anywhere else. Omelets we could do anywhere with the fixings that were offered…but these were different. What is a Broken Yolk Sandwich? It’s two fried eggs, served runny unless you request otherwise, topped with whatever option you choose from the menu on the bread of choice. They have quite a list of them.
Cathy chose to get the Broken Yolk Sandwich with Bacon ($10.25), which consisted of two fried eggs, cheddar cheese and Indiana
bacon. For her toast, she chose sourdough…a fantastic choice for a breakfast sandwich.
As for me, I went with the plain Broken Yolk Sandwich ($9.75), which consists of two fried eggs and cheddar cheese. Naturally, I ordered mine on gluten-free bread (+$1.50). It was really the only one that was vegetarian without removing ingredients from the sandwich, which could mess with the integrity of the flavor. I was okay with this though. It sounded delicious.
Both Cathy and I opted for the fruit bowl as our side instead of a small salad. After all…who does salad for breakfast?
Shortly after the orders went in, our waitress was coming to the table with our plates of food. I must admit…the plates look fantastic. The sandwich looked amazing and filling. And it was.
The gluten-free bread that they use at Patachou On The Park is Udi’s Gluten-Free Bread. I hate that they charge more for gluten-free bread. There are so many places that graciously just offer it without the up-charge, but I, as a gluten-free consumer knows that gluten-free bread costs more than regular breads so…that’s why the up-charge is often there. It just…sucks.
Not quite sure how to eat it, I opted for the fork and knife approach. With the runny eggs, I knew it would be messy, and this actually proved to be a good option. Cathy was actually able to pick hers up to eat. Sourdough is a much sturdier bread than gluten-free bread and while mine ended up soggy, hers held together really well.
So, if you eat here…I recommend fork and knife for the gluten-free Broken Yolk Sandwich option. Trust me. It’s the best way to eat it. Each bite was awesome. Egg, bread, cheese…three of my favorite things. And not one bite lacked any of this. I even was able to give mine a little kick with a dash of Sriracha, because I love heat with my eggs regardless of how I am eating them. It was a really great combination.
As for the fruit bowl, there was quite the variety. Very ripe and sweet pineapple, peeled oranges (I appreciated this as most places leave the peel on and it’s just awkward), strawberries, blueberries, grapes. All perfectly sweet and at the right level of ripeness. I liked it. I love it when my fruit is ripe.
Overall…the food was great…it tasted fantastic. It was fresh, made in house with local products, and really delicious. My one problem with Patachou on the Park was the price. The two breakfast sandwiches and the Diet Coke cans set us back nearly $30. For breakfast!!! Now, I’ve spent that kind of money at breakfast/brunch places, but I typically get potatoes with my meal in addition to the fruit and the egg dish. So, do be prepared to pay a lot for your meal here. The food is great, so it is worth the price, but it did give me a bit of sticker shock.
It was definitely worth the visit to give the food a try, but I think next time I’ll seek out somewhere with more affordable prices and equally as good food. They exist all over Indianapolis. I wasn’t at all disappointed with the food…just the cost.
But…you do get what you pay for. And I did get good food. Bottom line…that’s the important thing.
Patachou On The Park’s Broken Yolk Sandwich on Gluten-Free Bread
I almost backed out of going to this amazing Mexican restaurant on account of not feeling well due to dehydration brought on from a red flagged half marathon that morning. I wasn’t feeling good all day and I wasn’t sure how well my stomach would handle Mexican food being fed to it after the abuse I put it through just to get through the race.
In the end, however, I am glad I decided to go. And for the record…I actually was hungry when I stepped into the restaurant with my roomie and actually could smell the authentic Mexican cuisine as other diners enjoyed their meals. Yeah…Cathy made a good choice when she set up reservations for this restaurant prior to the race.
What made her choose this over say…the place up the way with gluten-free pizza? The answer was quite simple. Adobo Grill in Indianapolis had rave reviews on Find Me Gluten Free’s Web site. And with that sort of piece of mind, we both knew that this would at least be a decent dining experience if nothing else. The food, my friends, aside from the safety and the way gluten-free options were handled, was the highlight.
Upon entering the restaurant, we were greeted by a hostess who took us to a nice booth in a dimly lit dining room. The entire restaurant was decorated in warm colors, reds and oranges especially, which are said to stimulate appetite. It was working. I was…for the first time all day…actually a little hungry. We were left menus and our server came to our table to pour us some water and see if we wanted anything else to drink. As I still felt dehydrated, I stuck purely with the water. So did Cathy.
Then, we mentioned that I was medically gluten-free and the waiter said he would take my menu and return with one specifically for me. Yes…their gluten-free menu. I absolutely love when places have menus specifically for those who need to eat gluten-free. It really puts my mind to ease to some extent. What was even better was that this menu had more than just a few selections on them and many of the options were vegetarian.
Happy dance of joy. The waiter gave me another moment to look over the options and I finally made my decision.
Adobo Grill’s Guacamole (prepared table side)
First of all, both Cathy and I decided to split an appetizer of the Guacamole ($7.99). What makes this guacamole a must-have is that it is prepared table side. Yes. It is made right before your very eyes. You see everything that goes into it. No need to question how it is made or anything. And it was so much fun to see the woman roll the cart over with all the makings and a stone bowl. She asked us how hot we wanted our guacamole. Cathy said I like hot and she likes mild, so we’d settle on a medium. The very gracious server nodded and began the art of table side guacamole preparation. The best part was at the end, when she speedily sliced an avocado in half, hit the pit with the knife to remove it, then scooped it into the bowl with the rest of the fixings and…mashed it all together. Then it was set on the table and we were left with our chips and ready to enjoy. I spooned up a helping onto my plate and took a bite.
Rich. Creamy. Packed with flavor. I loved the hit of lime juice which would follow up each bite. It was one of the more delicious guacamoles that I have eaten. I didn’t find it to pack any heat at all, which was good for Cathy…but I do like a bit of heat with mine. But that was not an issue as the flavors were all there and none of them overpowered the rest. I could taste everything. I loved the chunkiness of the texture and how amazing it tasted when it all came together. Love at first bite.
Adobo Grill’s Enchiladas de Calabaza
For my entree, I chose the Enchiladas de Calabaza ($14.99). It’s their vegetarian enchilada option on the menu. Enchiladas just sounded like the perfect meal that night. And now that my stomach wasn’t feeling so…blah…I was ready for something of actual sustenance. The Enchiladas de Calabaza are corn tortillas packed with roasted butternut squash & mushrooms and then coated in creamy tomatillo salsa with cheese & red onion on top. Sour cream usually accompanies this, but I’ve never been a fan so I asked that they not include it. It came with a side of black beans. A large serving of black beans to be exact. But, I figured after the race…the protein was much needed.
Yummy. No. Really, really yummy! What I loved about this enchilada was the various flavors that came out of each bite. The butternut squash was sweet, but paired so well with the umami, earthly flavors of the mushrooms. The sauce, the corn, the onion…the pico de gallo and the cheese all brought it together. And when I would scoop up a bite with some of the seasoned and creamy black beans…it was magic. Honestly. I loved the fantastic, savory flavors that would emerge with each bite. I was in love with this meal and devoured it all. Dehydration and upset stomach be damned…this was fantastic food, bite-for-bite, and I was hungry for more.
For the record, Cathy enjoyed her Enchiladas de Mariscos, which are enchiladas filled with shrimp, tilapia, grilled peppers, corn and cheese and basted in fresh corn-chipotle salsa. She also nixed the sour cream, but it came with the pico de gallo, a side of Mexican rice and a side of black beans ($14.99)
Well…I was actually quite full, but figured I needed something to celebrate with. So when our server returned, Cathy and I inquired as to what would be gluten-free on the dessert menu. The server said the Chocolate Tamal would be without the cookie/cake part. But he would check on the rest. When he returned, he said the Flan was gluten-free and Ice Cream was gluten-free.
Instead of sharing a dessert, Cathy and I decided we’d each order one. I got the Flan ($4.99), which is a traditional vanilla custard with caramel sauce. Cathy got the Chocolate Tamal ($5.99), which we thought would be done gluten-free, but it came out regular for her. So I didn’t get to sample it. But it looked fantastic…sort of a chocolate cake/cookie wrapped like a tamale and served with vanilla bean ice cream, chocolate sauce and dried cranberries.
This was the first time I ever had Flan. And I was really impressed with it. It felt light, despite being a custard. The caramel sauce didn’t take away from the vanilla flavor. It was used as more of a topping and garnish than anything. And…there was a strawberry on top…which, naturally I saved for the very last bite. I was full when I finished eating. Stuffed, really. But I found this meal to be well worth going to that extreme. I don’t eat like that often, but my appetite was back with a vengeance and it was time to really celebrate getting through that difficult race.
Sure…the meal was pricey. But we were eating in the heart of downtown Indianapolis. It’s going to be pricey. The important thing was I was able to eat there without feeling ill afterwards. They took my gluten intolerance very seriously and provided me with a fantastic, safe dinner. And after the rough day I had, it was just what I needed. I felt full, but great as I meandered out the door after dinner and back to the hotel.
Would I return to Adobo Grill next time I’m in Indianapolis? In a heartbeat. Highly recommended for those who can’t have gluten…and for those who can. As both my roomie and I enjoyed our meals and raved about them the entire time we were eating. Authentic Mexican food done authentically right and to perfection. Yeah…I’d eat there again. No problem.
Jolly Llama Banana Coconut Real Fruit Sorbet Squeezups
Product: Jolly Llama Banana Coconut Real Fruit Sorbet Squeezeups – $4.99+
I’m going to be honest…what really caught my eye at the natural food store with this product was the name: Jolly Llama. Why? Well, my roommate, Cathy, is nicknamed Llama, so it sort of stood up and waved as if to say, “Take me home!” The only flavor lurking in the freezer section was banana coconut. Now…I’m nuts over banana…but coconut…it usually needs to be mixed in with something before I can truly enjoy it. I figured…it’s a frozen goodie…I’ll deal.
Besides…the company that makes them is named Jolly Llama.
Banana Coconut just happens to be one of the newest flavors in the Jolly Llama line-up of real fruit sorbet squeezeups. Other flavors include mango, blueberry, strawberry, raspberry, and the other new flavor on the block – peach. All of these fruity frozen goodies are fat free, save for the banana coconut, which has naturally occurring fat in the fresh ingredients.
Oh…yes…there is that little bit too. Every ingredient that goes into these sorbet squeezeups are made with only the healthiest, highest quality ingredients. It’s the belief of the founder, Scott Jacobson, that desserts don’t have to be loaded down with ingredients that are unhealthy or not up-to-par. A quick inspection of the ingredients in the banana coconut variety shows this. You don’t question anything listed on the box. Natural. And that’s how I like my treats.
Jolly Llama Banana Coconut Real Fruit Sorbet Squeezeup
In addition, these frozen goodies from Jolly Llama are allergen free, fat free (save for the naturally occurring fat in the banana coconut), dairy free, non-GMO certified, kosher, and have no artificial ingredients. How can you go wrong with that?
Well, tonight I found out that there really isn’t a way to go wrong with that combination. When I opened up this pack after dinner tonight for dessert, my roommate and I were both a little nervous. Not because we didn’t think it was a good product. It was the flavor we had. With no other option, and neither of us too big of a fan of coconut…we weren’t quite sure what to expect.
Let me tell you this…expect the best because that’s what these sorbet squeezeups deliver. Honestly. The banana coconut version tastes like a frozen banana. It was so delicious. I was in pure heaven, as bananas are one of my favorite fruits out there. The coconut isn’t even really in the flavor at all. This is made to perfection too. It’s cold without freezing your entire mouth off. This means you can easily bite into it without setting off those sensitive teeth. Love that.
If you are a big fruit lover…I highly recommend checking out your grocer’s freezer section for Jolly Llama. I found mine at our natural food store, but I’ve also seen them at Whole Foods. So, that is a good place to start. And, honestly, when your dessert is made from fresh fruit and sugar levels come from the fruits and the evaporated cane juice…well it makes your dessert or treat feel that much better for you. I say indulge in these and try every flavor possible. I hope to find more flavors to try…but I’ll never, ever turn down one of the banana coconut ones. Very delicious. For the record…there are four in a box. So…savor…and enjoy.
Jolly Llama Banana Coconut Real Fruit Sorbet Squeezeup
Galaxy National Foods Mozzarella Flavor Rice Shreds
Product: Galaxy National Foods Mozzarella Flavor Rice Shreds – $4.69+
Normally, when it comes to non-dairy cheese, I don’t reach for the rice-based variety that are out there. I normally go for Daiya or Veggie Shreds. However…on this occasion, I specifically needed non-dairy mozzarella for a recipe…and the only variety the store I was in had was Galaxy National Foods Mozzarella Flavor Rice Shreds.
So, what’s the difference between Rice Shreds and Veggie Shreds (both made by Galaxy National Foods)? The answer is simple. Veggie Shreds are soy-based. Rice Shreds are rice-based. See…it really is that simple.
I was actually a bit unhappy when I had to buy these, but I didn’t want to make another stop when I was out grocery shopping. I already go to enough stores as it is and I was making a conscious effort to not do that for once. So, I went with what was on hand and just hoped for the best.
Tonight, I cooked up some gluten-free, vegetarian meatballs in a tomato sauce to put on gluten-free sandwich bread…and I decided to break out the Rice Shreds and see how they went with my homemade veggie “meat”ball sammie.
I tasted a pinch of the Mozzarella Flavor Rice Shreds on their own. And, surprisingly enough, I found they tasted a lot more like mozzarella cheese than I expected. So, that was a good start. With a little sprinkling of the rice shreds onto my vegetarian sandwich, I tossed it into the microwave for 30 seconds, not expecting much of a melt to happen.
I was presently surprised when the microwave beeped and I removed the plate. The cheese had actually melted down. Better than Daiya and Veggie Shreds. I was impressed. And it tasted really good. Sometimes the non-dairy variety can have a bit of a plastic flavor to them. But not these. These were soft, and flavorful. I was beyond impressed.
What’s more, these are a fantastic source of calcium and contain no cholesterol, trans fat or lactose. YAY! I’d even be willing to say I’d try the other flavors available in the Rice Shreds line. And actually might even try the Rice Slices to see how they compare to the Veggie Slices I use in my gluten-free grilled cheese.
Yeah…I was pretty surprised and quite happily impressed. I can’t wait to top off a pizza with these!
A vegetarian “meat”ball sandwich topped with Mozzarella Flavor Rice Shreds
Instead, however, you find something so much better. Instead of loading up on 11 grams of sugar in the morning (which is what you’ll do with Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes), try something that tastes just as good, if not better than the original with a fraction of the sugar content.
Thanks to Nature’s Path Envirokidz Line, those sugary-sweet cereals made by the big corporation are getting a run for their money. Envirokidz version of Frosted Flakes are simply called Amazon Frosted Flakes. Instead of being made with milled corn, sugar, salt and malt flavoring…this variety offers a lot of the same flavor with better ingredients and better nutritional standings.
Envirokidz Amazon Frosted Flakes are made from organic corn meal, organic evaporated cane juice and salt. That’s it. The sugar content in this cereal is only 6 grams per 3/4 cup serving. That’s 5 grams less sugar than the same size serving of Frosted Flakes. I love good cereal but I don’t like to be powered by high sugar content. What Envirokidz Amazon Frosted Flakes does is pack all the amazing flavor of Frosted Flakes into a gluten-free cereal. I might even like it better. Granted, it has been since I was a kid since I really sat down to a bowl of Frosted Flakes, but I remember really liking them. When I had to go gluten-free, I had to give up a lot of the cereals I used to eat or might have gone back to eating…and was left with the gluten-free line-up in grocery stores.
Envirokidz does it right every time. With no extra additives or preservatives, what you are getting is the purest form of the cereal. Nothing unnecessary. I also loved that I left this cereal to swim in a bath of unsweetened almond milk while I finished cutting up a peach this morning and when I finally took my first bite, the texture and crunch were there. They didn’t get soggy and leave me with a bowl full of mush flakes. This made me beyond happy.
The sweetness of the cereal is brought out by the evaporated cane juice. It isn’t too much, but it doesn’t leave you reaching for a sweetener either. It’s perfection in a box. I found the taste and texture to be a complete win.
Gluten-free breakfast cereal doesn’t have to taste like cardboard. Nor do you always just have to stick with Chex. What Nature’s Path has done with the Envirokidz line is make amazing, healthy cereals that are free of gluten and just as delicious as the corporate counterparts of my childhood. In some cases, such as this one…even better.
You know…it’s the law of averages. You find a product that you absolutely love…but it isn’t available in any store near you nor does the company Web site provide a way of ordering it. In fact, while Jennies site has plenty on their infamous macaroons, the baked goodies such as the pound cake minis are mentioned…but follow the link and you are told that there are no products to list in that category.
But…they do exist. The mere fact that I have them in my pantry is proof enough. However, in order to get my hands on these, I had to go through Milwaukee. I was in town and stopped off at the Gluten-Free Trading Company and they happened to have Jennies pound cake minis on their shelves, in both classic and marble flavors. Both varieties are Gluten-Free, Wheat-Free, Peanut-Free, Dairy-Free, Soy-Free, Casein-Free, Trans Fat-Free and Kosher Pareve.
Well, the classic variety was way better than I ever even anticipated. Those savory hints of vanilla, mixed with a light, sweet taste of pound cake. It was hard to keep myself to just one individual cake (I did though…because 130 calories per cake and 4.5 grams of fat isn’t bad…but you can overdo it easily.
So, I was ready to give the other box a shot soon after I worked through the classic variety. Jennies Gluten-Free Marble Pound Cake Minis are just like their classic sisters…except it’s vanilla and chocolate cake swirled together. It smelled just as amazing as the regular ones when I opened up the individual packet…that amazing vanilla scent just wafting out to greet me and prep my senses for my dessert.
As I did with the classic minis, I gave the marble ones I little warming in the microwave before topping it off with Fat Free Cool Whip and fresh strawberries. Mmmm. And just as I did with the classic, I fell in love with these at first bite.
Jennies Gluten-Free Mable Pound Cake Mini
Maybe it’s the addition of the chocolate, but these taste sweeter than the classic. They do not look as perfectly swirled as they do on the box, but all the flavors are there. The chocolate and vanilla combination is a winning one, any way you slice it, and these individual cakes bring that flavor balance together in one personal-size treat.
I love, once again, how these are both taste-wise and texturally. They aren’t dry or dense. In fact, these are rather light and quite soft. I love how as my fork glides through it, the cake crumbles perfectly with each bite. It holds any topping without growing soggy. But it also has that perfect lightness to it. It isn’t hard at all. Quite soft on the inside. Very reminiscent of strawberry shortcake the way I do mine up. Except…swirled with chocolate.
And we all know…chocolate make things awesome. I don’t know if I can taste the actual chocolate in these, but I definitely detected a bit more sweetness. And that’s fine. Everything else remained as perfect and amazing as the classic version I originally tried.
So, if the people who run Jennies Gluten-Free Bakery would get these up on their Web site…I would love to place some orders. Until then…I guess if I happen to be in Milwaukee…I’ll get my fix there.
These are certainly a delicious treat though…and one that should be savored and tried.
Jennies Gluten-Free Marble Pound Cake Minis topped with Fat Free Cool Whip and fresh strawberries
It’s weird. I have a lot of recipes for pound cake, but I’m never attempted to actually make one. However, I used to eat pound cake whenever it was served somewhere. Especially with some Cool Whip and fresh berries. There was no better way to eat it.
Then gluten-free happened…
But all is not lost, pound cake aficionados. Jennies, the makers of those infamous macaroons you might have heard about (that are Gluten-Free, Wheat-Free, Peanut-Free, Dairy-Free, Soy-Free, Casein-Free, Trans Fat-Free and Kosher Pareve) has created another treat, individual-size, and shelf-stable, that is also all of those things listed above…but baked into a delicious pound cake.
These little minis come individually wrapped inside a box of five. You can eat them straight out of the package, but when am I to do that? Like I said, my favorite way to eat pound cake was topped with Cool Whip and fresh berries. In this case…strawberries. Yum!
The first thing I noticed was the reminiscent aroma of vanilla from the moment you pull apart the plastic to however you like to eat it. It smells fantastic. I gave mine a quick warm in the microwave for a couple of seconds. By warming it up for a moment, that amazing aroma just begins to permeate the kitchen. It definitely wakes up your taste buds. After topping it, I slid my fork through it and it crumbled perfectly. One bite and I had everything I wanted…cake, topping, fruit. Perfection.
Jennies Gluten-Free Pound Cake Mini
The taste and texture…awesome. The vanilla really shines in these. And even more, these just taste and feel so much lighter than regular pound cake. I loved that. It was a nice change of pace, since most gluten-free baked goods often are or feel heavier and more dense. Not these. These were pure perfection with every bite.
My one problem with these is…I can’t find them anywhere. I managed to locate these at the The Gluten-Free Trading Company in Milwaukee, Wisconsin when I was up there for a race. That being said now that I know I like them…should I ever want more, I’ll have to order from the Gluten-Free Trading Company as opposed to Jennies. The company Web site has these listed, but nowhere to get further information on them or even purchase them. Which is sad…because they are so good.
But…at least they can be found online…albeit it does take a little hunting and searching to do. I don’t know if I would order these online, but I do know that when I am in Milwaukee next…one of the items I choose to bring home from The Gluten-Free Trading Company will be these delicious little cakes.
Really, really good!
Jennies Gluten-Free Pound Cake Mini topped with Fat Free Cool Whip and fresh strawberries
One of my favorite eggplant dishes has to be Eggplant Parmesan. I loved ordering it at restaurants and it never would disappoint me. And then…gluten-free happened. And things had to change.
In a word…I didn’t eat it anymore…despite being a great vegetarian dish to go to when out and about. Not only is it normally served with pasta, but breadcrumbs coat the eggplant. *sigh*
But, when I received an eggplant in my CSA bin this past week, my roommate really made a push for me to make a gluten-free Eggplant Parmesan. I agreed, as we just happened to have some gluten-free corn flake crumbs to bread the eggplant in. So that was actually doable. The problem was…I am not big on fried foods, so I wanted this to be baked. It’s healthier that way anyway. But I also didn’t want to spend a fortune on other ingredients to incorporate into it.
Thankfully, there is this great book I bought called Gluten-Free on a Shoestring. It’s by Nicole Hunn and it is fantastic for these little cooking dilemmas. Even better…there is a Baked Eggplant Parmesan recipe in this book. And that’s what got me the meal I absolutely wanted to make. And I already had everything on hand in my kitchen.
1 large or 2 medium eggplants, peeled and sliced in 3/4-inch thick rounds
2-3 cups gluten-free breadcrumbs (I used Southern Homestyle Corn Flake Crumbs)
2 extra-large eggs, beaten with 1/4 cup milk (I used unsweetened almond milk) and 1/4 cup water
2-3 cups tomato sauce (I used Dave’s Gourmet Organic Roasted Garlic & Sweet Basil Pasta Sauce)
10-12 ounces grated mozzarella cheese (more if you like)
Directions:
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F. Line rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper and set them aside.
Place the egg mixture in a wide, flat dish; place the breadcrumbs in another.
Place one slice of raw eggplant in the egg mixture, invert it to coat the other side, and allow the excess to drip off.
Next, press both sides of the eggplant firmly into the breadcrumbs and transfer to a prepared baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining slices of eggplant, arranging them 1 inch apart on the baking sheets.
Place the baking sheets in the preheated oven and bake until soft to the touch and golden brown, 15-20 minutes. Halfway through baking, flip the slices so they brown evenly on both sides.
While the eggplant is baking, grease a 9 x 12-inch baking dish with unsalted butter and spoon just enough tomato sauce into the pan to cover the bottom with a thin layer. Once the eggplant is done baking, remove the baking sheets from the oven and allow the eggplant to cool for 5 minutes, or even less. This allows the eggplant to become somewhat firm. Lower the oven temperature to 350 degrees F.
Place one layer of eggplant over the layer of tomato sauce, cover each slice with sauce, and top generously with grated cheese. Continue with another layer of eggplant slices, sauce and grated cheese, followed by one more layer (if eggplant is small…my eggplant was big so I made big, single slices and didn’t layer).
Place the baking dish in the center of the oven and bake for 15 to 20 minutes until the cheese is melted and the sauce is bubbling.
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Like I said…my eggplant was massive so I made individual slices of eggplant, which were placed over sauce, then sauced and cheesed according to the recipe. No layering with this style of eggplant. But let me tell you…the results were awesome. The eggplant was firm, but soft and the corn flake “breading” crisped up perfectly. I even reheated the extra slices the next night for dinner and it was just as good as the original night I pulled it out of the oven.
I will totally make this again in a heartbeat. And maybe next time layer some eggplant and cheese. I guess it all depends on the size of the eggplant I get delivered to my door.
Go ahead…try it. It’s easy, delicious, and done on a budget!
There aren’t enough words in the English language to adequately profess of love of Dave’s Gourmet pasta sauces. This is the third kind I have tried and once again…it has lived up to every expectation…and, just as before, exceeded it.
I was given an eggplant in my CSA bin this past week and my roommate and I decided that Eggplant Parmesan was going to be a good meal and a great way to use that eggplant. I had gluten-free corn flake crumbs on hand for the ‘breading’ of the eggplant. So, I tasked my roommate of choosing from some of the gluten-free sauces stocked in our cabinet. We have a few. She emerged with Dave’s Gourmet Organic Roasted Garlic and Sweet Basil Pasta Sauce.
One we hadn’t tried yet. What better way to test it out than on a new recipe, right?
Sure.
So…that’s what I did. I coated a baking dish with a thin layer of the sauce…placed the baked eggplant over it, topped the eggplant off with more sauce, then added some vegan cheese, popped it into the oven for 20 minutes and…dinner was served.
The sauce…was so flavorful and amazing. It was honestly one of the best tomato sauces I have ever had. That’s no lie. And let me tell you, being the Italian food freak (yes…even now that I am gluten-free) that I am…that’s saying a lot.
The taste is just like homemade, honestly. It is really hard to believe this sauce comes out of a jar. But, my friends, it does. It has the right balance of sweetness and acidity. And the roasted garlic is just enough to flavor without overpowering the entire sauce. And why shouldn’t it taste homemade? The ingredients are: organic tomatoes, organic onions, water, organic carrots, organic extra virgin olive oil, organic garlic, organic evaporated cane juice, organic basil, organic roasted garlic, salt, spices. Everything that we have access to at a grocery store, in a garden, and in our pantries. Nothing weird or unpronounceable. Just good, hearty, chunky sauce for any pasta meal.
I’ve fallen in love with all three varieties that I have tried from Dave’s Gourmet. And there are still plenty more in the line-up for me to purchase and test out. And with a streak like this…I can’t wait to do just that. I love making my own sauce, but sometimes there just isn’t time to do so. I will always trust my gluten-free Italian meals to Dave’s Gourmet in that case. Seriously. While the sauces are quite pricey, they are totally worth the splurge. Or, do what I do and wait for a sale on it.
I promise…you’ll fall in love with Dave’s Gourmet sauces just as much as my roomie and I have. We swear by them.
Gluten-Free Eggplant Parmesan topped with Dave’s Gourmet Organic Roasted Garlic & Sweet Basil Pasta Sauce and vegan cheese
The Celiathlete 