Gluten-Free – Page 95 – The Celiathlete

August 29, 2012

Southern Homestyle brings gluten-free corn flake crumbs to the table

Product: Southern Homestyle Corn Flake Crumbs – $4.99+

What normally comes up missing from a gluten-free lifestyle is anything that is…in a word…breaded. And that can be hard to work around at times. But thanks to some companies coming out with gluten-free crumbs packaged and ready for your “breading” needs, it does get a little better.

Prior to picking up a canister of Southern Homestyle Corn Flake Crumbs, I had only previously been exposed to the Glutino Gluten-Free Breadcrumbs (also made from corn). Somehow, in my mind, I pictured these from Southern Homestyle to be different. But…alas…they were just about the same in appearance and everything.

The canister holds corn flake crumbles, that are tiny and round, that are ideal to use with veggies, meats, or whatever. Being a no-meat kind of a girl, I decided to use the eggplant I got in my SCA bin this week and make an eggplant parmesan. The corn flake crumbles from Southern Homestyle would come in handy and I had happened to pick up a can of them when my grocery store ran a huge closeout on their gluten-free section. I fetched them from my gluten-free pantry and poured them into a dish. After coating my eggplant in the egg/almond milk/water wash, they were liberally dipped into the Southern Homestyle Corn Flake Crumbs and placed on a baking dish.

Southern Homestyle Corn Flake Crumbs coating slices of eggplant

The corn flake crumbs didn’t get soggy with each dipping, and I had four slices of eggplant to do. It clumped some, but any coating getting inundated by foods coated in egg and the like would do the same. With the eggplant generously coated in the corn flake crumbs, I baked them up for 20 minutes, turning them halfway through, and then finished up. After letting the “breaded” eggplant rest for 5 minutes, into a baking pan they went with marinara sauce and some vegan cheese. Back into the oven for another 20 minutes and they emerged ready to eat.

On its own, the Corn Flake Crumbs by Southern Homestyle would be rather bland. Paired with the eggplant, the marinara, and the cheese, however, it brought that much needed texture to the dish. Unlike wheat breadcrumbs, these corn flake crumbs do not get soggy as they sit, or are baked or coated. They remain crunchy. Success!! It really made the eggplant parmesan pop!

I hear this coating is ideal for frying too. A lot of eggplant parmesan recipes call for the eggplant to be fried in a pan…but I’ve never been big on fried foods, so I oven baked mine for a healthier option and it worked out just fine. I still got a crispy outer crust, just without the added oil and fat. However, the Southern Homestyle Corn Flake Crumbs would be ideal if you did choose to pan fry as the corn flake crumbs pick up less oil in the frying process, which in the end means less calories consumed and no oily appearance.

Because of the blandness on their own, it makes them more versatile. Dress them up with seasonings and spices however you wish. There are no limits here. And best of all…the finished product has that nice crispy outer layer, whether pan fried or oven baked. And that…is a beautiful thing in the kitchen.

An added bonus for the food allergic is that these Corn Flake Crumbs are gluten-free, wheat free, milk/casein free, lactose free, soy free, egg free, peanut free, tree nut free, and yeast free. They are kosher, vegan and vegetarian. So, unless you have a corn allergy…these would ideally work for you.

Look for Southern Homestyle Corn Flake Crumbs in your grocery store and see what they can do to dress up your dish!

Oven-Baked Eggplant Parmesan coated with Southern Homestyle Corn Flake Crumbs

August 29, 2012

Cherrybrook Kitchen sweetens up breakfast with Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Pancake Mix

Product: Cherrybrook Kitchen Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Pancake Mix – $5.99+

Do you know what makes life better and breakfast out of this world?

Of course you do.

Chocolate chips! Seriously…pancakes, muffins, waffles…they are all just better with chocolate chips. Let’s face it…that hit of sweetness just makes that bite all the better. Imagine my delight when I found a box of Cherrybrook Kitchen Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Pancake Mix on the manager’s special table at my grocery store. And it was wildly discounted. I couldn’t pass up the deal, so I snagged it and purchased it…and placed it on my kitchen counter and not in the pantry…because I just knew I would be using it soon!

I was simply going to make pancakes with it, but then the roomie put in a request. She wanted waffles. Now…waffles are normally a weekend thing because they have the tendency to take awhile to cook up in my waffle maker. But…I agreed. And most of that morning I spent in the kitchen. I even ended up eating my waffles at the counter while I worked on the rest. But…totally worth it.

Cherrybrook Kitchen Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Pancake Mix (prepared)

The Cherrybrook Kitchen Chocolate Chip Pancake Mix is so easy to make. Give it a shake to evenly distribute the chocolate chips. Then add milk and vegetable/canola oil. According to the package directions and how many you intend to make. The entire box makes 9 waffles or 21 pancakes. So…you get a lot. But they do have additional information to make fewer at a time should you wish. As I was doing waffles, I figured I could freeze them and then toast them back up in my toaster…so might as well prepare the entire thing.

I actually managed to get 12 waffles out of it…so…that’s not bad at all.

The trick is to let all the ingredients set in the bowl for five minutes before setting to the task of making pancakes of waffles. I did this and then began spooning 3/4 cup servings of the mixture into my waffle maker and letting it brown up. After the allotted cooking time, I opened up the waffle iron and removed the waffle to a rack to cool. And what I got was nothing short of a happy, pleasant surprise.

The mix actually churned out a perfectly textured waffle. The outside was crusty and golden and crispy to bite into or cut into with a fork. But the inside was a soft core. And scattered throughout…chocolate chips that just melted with the warm maple syrup and made everything so sweet and delicious.

And for those of you out there with further food allergies, this mix is wheat free, gluten free, peanut free, dairy free, egg free, nut free. It’s all natural, made with recognizable ingredients. None of that guesswork at all. I prepared mine with unsweetened almond milk. And they were fantastic. The calorie count is quite low on these as well…which is always nice. But they do fill you up.

And really…there isn’t anything better than chocolate chip pancakes or waffles in the morning. It’s so comforting and just brings a smile to your face…despite how tired you might still be.

In the market for an allergy-friendly pancake/waffle mix? I encourage you to try the amazing products from Cherrybrook Kitchen. I was blown away and hope to buy another box again when they go on sale. These mixes can be quite pricey…but they are amazing. So sometimes it is worth the splurge.

Trust me…this one is!

Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Waffles made from Cherrybrook Kitchen Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Pancake Mix

August 29, 2012

Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bakery wraps up the competition with new tortillas

Product: Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bakery Original, Spinach, and Fiesta Tortillas – $5.99

Good-bye for life to those tough teff wraps that I started using when I just needed to make burritos or a wrap. I will not miss them. I also will not miss the brown rice wraps which tend to fall apart, turn gummy, and just end up a total disaster more than a masterpiece on a plate. I’m not sad nor sorry to see them go.

Why?

Because Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bakery has just released the best gluten-free food item to hit the market in a long time.

Gluten-Free Tortillas.

Yes. And not just any bland tortilla. Nope. These come in three amazing flavors: Original, Spinach, and Fiesta.

Rudi's Gluten-Free Original Tortillas — Rudi’s Gluten-Free Original Tortillas

I figured the best place to start would be with the Original flavor. I mean…always start with the basics and move on from there. I decided to pack my original tortilla full with burrito classics. I took a layer of spinach and added some rice, black beans, red onion, salsa, and queso fresco to it. I fold the wrap up (and it didn’t tear) and dinner was served. I can’t even begin to explain how happy this tortilla made me. For one thing, it held together without being stiff. While they are soft to begin with, I gave mine a quick warm in the microwave and it softened it up some. It didn’t crumble or break as I wrapped it around the filling. And, even better, it held together bite after bite after bite. I found this tortilla to have a very light, buttery, salty-sweet flavor to it. It worked so well with the filling. I was totally impressed.

Rudi's Gluten-Free Spinach Tortillas — Rudi’s Gluten-Free Spinach Tortillas

The next tortilla I decided to give a try to was the Spinach one. And for this one, I decided I was going to do breakfast. Why not? I love a good breakfast wrap and these had been sadly absent from my life when I went gluten-free. So, that morning, I did up an egg scramble which consisted of eggs, sauteed mushrooms, onion, and a hit of spinach at the end…just in there long enough to wilt. I hit up the pan with a drizzle of truffle oil and then loaded up my spinach tortilla. Once again, it isn’t necessary to warm the tortilla to make it wrap, but I went ahead and did so anyway, just for a few seconds. In the end…I was in heaven. Honestly…one of the best wraps I had ever managed to make. And, once more…nothing fell apart as I bit into it, nor did the tortilla disintegrate in my hands from becoming soggy from the filling. This was breakfast harmony. The spinach tortillas do not overpower you with spinach flavor. They are a very light green in color, which is a nice change of pace. And the flavor is spot on. I used these again with quesadillas that I stuffed with homemade guacamole and cheese. Toasted them up in my pan and viola…dinner perfection.

Rudi's Gluten-Free Fiesta Tortilla — Rudi’s Gluten-Free Fiesta Tortilla

Finally, I opted for the most intriguing of the flavors. Fiesta. I love how colorful this wrap is. It has a soft orange hue to it and is freckled with spices and herbs. As it’s name suggests, this would be the perfect wrap for something Mexican. So, that was the path I decided on when I set out to make a filling for this. I sauteed up some onions, added organic black beans, fresh tomatoes, and fresh corn, and let it simmer for a moment in the pan until most of the tomato juice had been absorbed. Then, it was onto the tortilla. I topped it off with some Daiya cheddar shreds and melted it off in the microwave. I did not pre-heat the tortilla as I knew I’d be putting it in the microwave for cheese melting purposes. What emerged was what my roommate likes to call my best wrap yet. Packed with flavor, the fiesta tortillas have a nice zip to them. They turned out to be my favorite of the bunch. And I made this exact meal three more times that week because it was such a hit.

I can’t even begin to explain how happy these tortillas have made me. I use them for everything now and eagerly anticipate the day I can find them in one of my local grocery store/natural food store haunts. I find them to be miles ahead of any other gluten-free wrap/tortillas out on the market…and there aren’t that many options. Seeing Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bakery take on this task and provide an amazing product to the gluten-free community has me wanting to turn cartwheels.

But hold on…there is more. Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bakery is currently running a special giveaway on their website. Their What’s Under Wraps? Giveaway is currently underway and they’ve been giving away some fantastic prizes to those who have been participating. It’s winding up, but head over there and give it your best shot.

In addition, I am also hosting a great giveaway on this blog. If you missed the post, it’s still not too late to enter. Just hop on over to my blog and leave a comment about what your favorite picnic food is and get entered for a chance to win a Gluten-Free Prize Pack, compliments of Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bakery.

And when all is said and done…remember that once again Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bakery has put out something fresh, amazing, and delicious on the gluten-free market. Something that this gluten-free world has been missing. Thank you, Rudi’s…for giving me back tortillas and wraps that won’t fall apart, that are soft, that fold around my filling, and that are epically delicious…whichever flavor you choose. Having options is a great thing. I’m one happy girl!

August 27, 2012

Louisville gets ray of morning sunshine with Highland Morning

Restaurant: Highland Morning, Louisville, Kentucky

Thank you Groupon!

Without Groupon, some of these fantastic breakfast/brunch spots would go unvisited by me, despite driving by them all the time. It was that case with Hillbilly Tea…and now…Highland Morning.

Every week I go to Louisville for my fun run on Monday and drive past Highland Morning (which is closed at that time as it does cater to the breakfast/brunch/lunch crowd). Now, as we all know…breakfast is not only the most important meal of the day, but also my favorite meal of the day. So, when breakfast foods are involved, you can count me in.

It just so happened that a Groupon came around for Highland Morning…and being the Groupon savvy shopper that I am…I snagged one. Why not? It’s a local business and it offers food that I can eat and also food that I love. It doesn’t get better than that. Well, unfortunately this Groupon stated that it was good during the week at all time, but on the weekends, only after 2 p.m. During the week is not an option, because I work in Indiana, not Kentucky. So, it would have to be a late lunch on a Saturday then.

And that’s how it worked out.

My first order of business was to check out their menu and figure out what I could eat there. Unfortunately, they don’t have an official Web site and their Facebook page doesn’t have their menu up. So, I actually asked about gluten-free options on their Facebook page. And I got a response that said: “Our eggs are gluten-free… and they’re delicious. Two great combinations.”

Absolutely right! With that piece of mind…I was ready to give this place a try.

It was around 2:30 p.m. when my roommate and I entered the restaurant and took a seat near the bar at the back. We were immediately greeted by our very friendly and helpful waitress, Sapphira, immediately greeted us with cold glasses of water and a warm welcome. She asked if we wanted anything else to drink besides the water. We both felt the need for some caffeine, so Diet Cokes were ordered in addition to the water. She went to retrieve them and I started browsing the menu. There was SO much delicious stuff to choose from. I had lots of egg/vegetarian options and actually had a hard time choosing what exactly sounded the most delicious at the time. But, I finally settled on one of the omelet choices.

We did alert Sapphira as to my food allergies and inquired as to whether the skillet potatoes were gluten-free. They were so I knew I could still have those as a side (which does cost an extra $1.00 to replace the grits with them, but I have never been a fan of grits and I love my starchy potato carbs!)

So, we placed our orders. My roommate decided to go off the beaten path (taking an example from the Menu Ninja – Jenn) and ordered Mike’s Fantastic Brauts ($7.00), which are two bratwursts on rye bread with peppers and onions. It came with a side of chips as well. Not bad for $7.00. That’s one hell of a deal.

As for me, I decided to go with the Oven Baked Tomato and Basil Omelet (with egg whites) ($8.50), with skillet potatoes instead of grits ($1.00), and a small fruit cup ($1.50). It just sounded…delicious. And the idea of an oven baked omelet instead of one done in a pan intrigued me. So…there it was.

And soon…it was time to dig in. Food arrived in a decent amount of time. And the first thing I noticed is how sensible my plate was. No stupid amount of skillet potatoes to overwhelm me and my stomach. The omelet was a thing of normal-size beauty. And my fruit was fresh and ripe. Yeah…this made for one happy girl at that table. I dug in, and…WOW. Flavor galore. The omelet was simple…but tasted amazing. It was just egg whites, tomatoes, fresh basil, and feta cheese. The cheese wasn’t heaped in there and overwhelming the omelet either. In fact…it was complimentary more than anything. And that’s what I want. I hate when places just heap the cheese in and that’s all you can taste. The tomatoes and basil were the star of this omelet and rightfully so.

My skillet potatoes were perfect. They had a nice pan sear on them. Brown and crisp on the outside, soft and delicious on the inside. Give them a quick dip in some ketchup and I was in breakfast potato heaven. For real! And the fruit cup was a mixture of strawberries, blueberries, pineapple and oranges. And yes…it was ripe and juicy and delicious. The perfect end to a perfectly good brunch.

My roommate loved her meal as well. She thought the brauts were cooked to perfection and complimented perfectly by the onions and peppers. And she absolutely loved the kettle chips that came with it. While she’s not a huge fan of rye bread, it worked well with the rest of it as a whole. So, yes…we were both absolutely pleased with our meals at Highland Morning.

And the prices couldn’t be better. I wish I didn’t have a gluten intolerance because some of their pancakes sound absolutely fantastic. I miss being able to have pancakes out…but I’m good with eggs. I went running this morning…the protein was good for me, yes?

Would I go back to Highland Morning? Totally. And I’d bring some friends to try it out. The food was delicious and simple and came in human-size portions. I like that. It is on Bardstown Road, which isn’t easy to navigate and can be a challenge to find parking on, but if I’m out and about and craving some eggs…I know where I’ll be heading.

Thank you, Highland Morning! Your food brightened what was already a very good day. Good day and good food makes me one very satisfied customer. I promise…I’ll be back. There are other vegetarian omelets that are calling my name.

Highland Morning's Tomato & Basil Omelet (made with egg whites), with a side of Skillet Potatoes and a Small Fruit Cup — Highland Morning’s Oven Baked Tomato & Basil Omelet (made with egg whites), with a side of Skillet Potatoes and a Small Fruit Cup

August 25, 2012

Koops Honey Mustard fizzles on flavor

Product: Koops Honey Mustard – $2.99+

Almost a year ago, I was introduced to Koops mustard by Amanda, a good friend and my roommate’s sister. She brought me over some one day because it said gluten-free. I love when that happens. The two flavors I originally started out with were Arizona Heat (my favorite!) and Dijon. Both, I loved. LOVED! And rightfully raved about in my blog.

So, while out at my grocery store, I spotted a bottle of Koops Honey Dijon Mustard on the clearance shelf. As in…it was marked down to only $0.60. I checked the expiration date, and it was still a ways off…so I went ahead and got it. And why not? After all, Koops won me over with the other two flavors I had tried.

After my latest discovery of gluten-free vegan chickenless nuggets, I decided that tonight I was going to forgo the barbeque sauce and use honey mustard instead. I could make my own…and from now on I just might. But I knew this bottle of Koops Honey Mustard was in my pantry and I figured it would pair so well with my delicious gluten-free nuggets.

And why wouldn’t it? Honey mustard and vegan, gluten-free nuggets go hand-in-hand, I think.

And Koops has such a reputation too. Not only do they use all natural ingredients (meaning, you will be able to recognize every ingredient on the nutrition panel), but all of their products are also gluten-free. Love that. Their Web site bills the Honey Mustard as a mix of finely ground mustard that is flavored with honey for a sweet and mild taste. Sounds amazing, yes?

So, I squeezed some into my little dipping bowl and set it out while my nuggets finished up in the oven. I settled in immediately dunking one of my nuggets into the mustard. One bite…and I already knew it wasn’t for me. I should have just made my own. This mustard had a weird fruity taste to it. I know…it was bizarre. And I really, really didn’t like it. But, I was a trooper. I finished off my nuggets with it and then said that I could probably cook something with it. Although, at this point…I’m only out $0.60. I might just rinse out the bottle and recycle it.

Yeah…it just wasn’t to my liking. Sad, since I’ve loved every other Koops product I have tried. It just went all wrong with the Honey Mustard. I think I’ll stick with the recipe my friend Heather gave me for her homemade version. Why buy it when you can make it…and make it better? I love you, Koops…just not this flavor.

August 24, 2012

OMGluten-Free! Liz Lovely introduces Gluten-Free Lovely Oh’s

Product: Liz Lovely Gluten-Free Lovely Oh’s – $8.49

OMG.

No…really.

According to the Liz Lovely Web site, Gluten-Free Lovely Oh’s were the most requested treat by customers. And really…no company ignores the many requests of their consumers. Such was the case for Liz Lovely when it came to these indulgent, amazing, decadent, rich, delicious, addicting chocolate covered sandwich cookies.

In case you didn’t get my point…these are CRAZY GOOD!

So, what exactly is a Lovely Oh? Well, it’s simple…really. It’s a gluten-free and vegan Oreo-style cookie that has been liberally coated in 100% dairy-free dark chocolate. Nothing fake. No added waxes, oils or glazes. Just a sandwich cookie…and a layer of luscious dark chocolate. This…good friends…is the things gluten-free chocoholic dreams are made out of.

Growing up, every now and again, my parents would buy Chocolate Covered Oreos (or what are now Oreo Fudge Cremes) for us to have as dessert. These were a special treat. But when I go and compare the nutritional information of the Oreo variety to those of Liz Lovely…here’s what I discover. Not only do the Lovely Oh’s have fewer calories, but they also clock in with less sugar and more protein. Oreos contain a bunch of ingredients that no one could ever begin to pronounce correctly. The Lovely Oh’s have recognizable (and pronounceable) ingredients on their packaging. No guess work. I don’t have to sit and wonder exactly what that word is and what it might possibly be. Taking the guess work out of what I’m eating always makes me happy.

One of these cookies was me dessert tonight. And oh…my God! These are dangerous. Dangerous as in I could probably sit down with the container and eat all 8 of the cookies inside if I wasn’t careful. Yeah. Amazing. Rich. The chocolate coating melts in your mouth and gives way to the crunchy cookie that is formed around that creamy center. Yeah…it was heaven in each bite for sure.

I didn’t even question the price tag when these were spotted at the natural food store. I just reacted. They were at the register in the blink of an eye. Hey…I’m a cookie monster and these needed to be tried. Even my non-gluten-free roomie called these one of the best cookies she has ever tasted. Coming from someone who can eat any cookie out there, that says a lot.

If you can’t find Liz Lovely cookies in your area, then rest assured, you can order them online from the company. And they are totally worth the splurge…trust me. And these Gluten-Free Lovely Oh’s just edged up towards the top of my Cookie Hall of Fame. Here’s hoping they last the rest of the week…

August 22, 2012

Nothing tops Health is Wealth for vegan and gluten-free nuggets

Product: Health is Wealth Gluten-Free Chicken-Free Nuggets – $5.99+

It was the first time I ever cried out of happiness while standing in a grocery store. This is no exaggeration. Before I went vegetarian, I had chicken nuggets. Then, for health reasons…vegetarian happened and I could still have chicken-less nuggets. But then…it happened. My gluten-intolerance reared its head and away went the vegan/vegetarian proteins that I normally would grab for an easy meal. Why? Most of them contain ingredients that have gluten in them. So, I was left with what little was on the market for the gluten-free vegetarian.

Vegetarian burgers…yeah…those were easy to find.

The void in my life was with the nuggets. No company I could find made gluten-free chicken-less nuggets. I checked them all. Morningstar, Gardein, Quorn, Boca…and each time had to place them back in the freezer at the grocery store.

Then…a little ray of sunshine happened. It all started at my local natural foods store. I was in there one evening and my roomie and I spotted…gluten-free mozzarella sticks. YES! Those came home with us that instant. I mean…those were too good to be true and I had never seen them prior to then. Come to find out, the company that made them, Health is Wealth, has a line of gluten-free products. SWEET!

So, when I discovered they made gluten-free chicken-free nuggets, I immediately knew I had to have them. I had been craving, craving, craving them. Oh…yeah…I had been craving them. The problem was, none of the local health/natural food stores around here kept them in stock. So, I asked about ordering them. The same response came back to me at each store…only if I bought a case, and that would run me $85.00+. Now, I wanted my vegan gluten-free nuggets as much as the next girl…but I live in a small apartment with a small fridge/freezer, and don’t have $85.00 to just blow on nuggets, no matter how bad the craving is. So, I gave up and just continued to check every time I went into the stores…just in case.

Fast forward to this week. I’m visiting my parents in Birmingham, Alabama. And while I’m out and about, my roommate and I stop into Earth Fare, a super market that just opened there…and we just got one in Louisville, Kentucky as well. As we are wandering the aisles, taking in everything that our store might have, we find ourselves in the freezer section. And there…there they were…shining like a beacon from the gluten-free vegetarian gods…Health is Wealth Gluten-Free Chicken-Free Nuggets.

I literally started to cry. And then I vowed that if our local Earth Fare didn’t carry these, I’d be driving back to Birmingham with a cooler. I was that happy.

Upon returning to Louisville, we hit up our newly opened Earth Fare…and THEY HAD THEM! I did a happy dance of joy, cried some more, and snagged two boxes from the freezer section, not even caring that I had never tried them before. These were vegan nuggets that I could actually eat. My craving would be satisfied. I was moments away from true gluten-free food nirvana.

And so…for dinner…my roommate and I each had some vegan nuggets by Health is Wealth. She had the regular vegan nuggets while I cooked up, and drooled over my gluten-free, vegan nuggets. I cooked up some Alexia Yukon Gold Oven Baked Julienne French Fries. And I served them…with Stubb’s Barbeque Sauce.

I couldn’t wait to dive in. And I didn’t. I settled down to eat…and took my very first bite…without any sauce or anything. I just needed to taste them.

Health is Wealth had done it again in my book. These vegan, gluten-free nuggets are delicious. Scrumptious. Amazing. They are light, and packed with flavor. These soy based vegan nuggets are breaded with gluten-free corn and rice breading. And you don’t have to be gluten-free to appreciate the texture and taste of these. My roommate was given a taste of mine to compare to her Health is Wealth Vegan Chicken Free Nuggets…and she couldn’t tell the difference.

Yeah…craving more than satisfied. And what makes these even more amazing is the nutritional information and how it stacks up. These gluten-free vegan nuggets are only 170 calories for 4 nuggets. They have 3 grams of fat, but zero saturated fat and zero cholesterol as well. Not only are these good, but they are good for you. It’s hard to find any sort of processed food with those kinds of nutrition factors.

My taste buds, my heart, my stomach…they all are singing the praises of Health is Wealth once more. I am totally going to need to stock up on these and try some of their other gluten-free and vegan options as well. They haven’t let me down yet. And I think might be the first company to actually bring tears to my eyes while I’m standing in the grocery store. Tears of joy…of course.

Health is Wealth is gluten-free happiness…in a freezer box.

Health is Wealth Gluten-Free Chicken-Free Nuggets (with a side of Alexia Yukon Gold Oven Baked Julienne Fries & Stubb's Barbeque Sauce) — Health is Wealth Gluten-Free Chicken-Free Nuggets (with a side of Alexia Yukon Gold Oven Baked Julienne Fries & Stubb’s Barbeque Sauce)

August 20, 2012

A little taste of France at Chez Fonfon in Birmingham, Alabama

Restaurant: Chez Fonfon, Birmingham, Alabama

Okay…I admit it. When I go home to visit my parents, a beautiful French restaurant is not the first place we’d normally go for dinner. Honestly. French cuisine, while amazing and what most chef’s will be classically trained to prepare and cook, is not something I am overly familiar with. I’ve eaten at one other French restaurant that I can recall, and that was Bouchon in Las Vegas.

But there is a story as to how I ended up sitting at a small round table with my roommate, my parents, and a nice couple my parents know through their work. And it all started with James Beard.

Now…there are words I never thought I would be typing…but this is the pure and simple truth. I was glancing through the 2012 James Beard Award nominations and ran across a restaurant that my dad had mentioned having lunch at a couple times with a rep he works with at his office. Interesting. So, I mentioned on Facebook that I was incredibly jealous that he was getting to eat at Highlands Bar and Grill, as it was up for a James Beard Award under the amazing skills of Executive Chef, Frank Stitt, who has received many accolades over the years for his restaurants and food.

This…is how it started. My dad mentioned to the rep, Mr. Davis, that I had actually heard of the restaurant and the chef and had been singing the praises of both. Before I knew it, a couple months of planning, and I was set to be in town and have dinner at Chez Fonfon, a sister restaurant to Highlands Bar and Grill, which was opened in 2000 by Chris Mancill, Frank Stitt and Pardis Stitt. This restaurant has more of a cozy, casual French bistro flare to it and serves up classic, hearty French fare to match the beautiful decor. Yes…Chez Fonfon boasts authentic French with its French Belle Epoque café tables 100 year old etched glass door from Lyons. It really feels like you’re in the heart of Paris, Lyons or Nice, settling in to enjoy a little atmosphere and some great food.

So, that’s how I ended up here. And now that I was here…I was ready to see what Frank Stitt and his kitchen staff could do for me – a gluten-free vegetarian.

I can tell you one thing…they handle food allergies quite well. Upon settling in to eat, the waitress was informed by myself of my dietary restrictions. She immediately had some suggestions as to what I could eat for an entree. I already felt comfortable there. So, the table ordered an appetizer of Escargots with Parsley and Shallot Butter ($8.75) and I set myself to deciding between having the chef create a delicious veggie tray or whether to try the dish on the menu that is both gluten-free and vegetarian. Decisions…decisions.

In the end, I kept to the menu. We actually had quite a variety going on with the orders from the menu. Mr. and Mrs. Davis both ordered one of the fish dishes that was a special that night. My mom decided on the Shrimp and Avocado Salad with Sauce Rémoulade ($14.75). My roommate and my dad both got the Trout with Brown Butter, Capers and Brabant Potatoes ($18.75). And, like I said…I kept to the menu and ordered the Omelette with Zucchini, Tomato, Basil and Comté ($13.50).

I love omelettes. I eat them a lot. I wish I were better at making them at home, because I would do it more often. But mine turn into a egg scramble mostly…so getting a delicious omelette when I eat out is always awesome.

With the food prepared, the waitress began to bring out the plates. All of them were fine-tuned and beautifully plated. There was a place for everything.

My omelette came complete with a salad of greens and pommes frites on the side. It was a large plate of food, but I was hungry and ready to dig in and see what Frank Stitt and the kitchen crew were made of. After all, it’s not every day that I get to taste food prepared by such a highly regarded and chef.

The Omelette with Zucchini, Tomato, Basil and Comté was, in a word, delicious. The eggs were prepared to the perfect airy fluffiness and stuffed to the max with the delicious cheese and vegetables. It was silky rich and just…amazing with every bite. There was no skimping on the filling in this omelette. Each bite was full of every vegetable inside and it was seasoned to perfection. Nothing bland about this egg dish. Not at all. The salad was lightly dressed and delicious. It paired really well with the omelette. I often found myself scooping up some of the greens onto the fork with a small bite of the omelette. They paired very well. And the pommes frites…just what I would expect from a French bistro. Crispy, salty, and perfect. But between the omelette and the salad, I was well full, so I only sampled from the pommes frites on my plate.

Everyone else was very content and quite pleased with their decision for dinner. Every plate was cleaned. The rest of the table enjoyed desserts, but there were no gluten-free options for me to have, so I passed. It’s okay though, because my mom had baked me up a gluten-free brownie at home, so when I got back to their house, I dug into that and washed it down with some vanilla almond milk. Not very French…but heavenly to me. It was a perfect way to end a perfect dining experience.

So, was Chez Fonfon everything I hoped it would be and more? You bet it was. The service was fantastic. Our waitress walked me through what would be safe to eat. The food was fresh, warm, delicious. The atmosphere was buzzing. The place was crowded with a line waiting when we left. That speaks very highly of this restaurant, which I was told turns tables quite steadily throughout the night. I can see why. And my company at that French bistro in Birmingham, Alabama…was the icing on the cake. A perfect meal in a perfect setting.

And all because of James Beard.

And my dad…for arranging to make it all happen.

Chez Fonfon…you deserve every accolade written about you, your chef, your food, and your sister restaurants. Because of the meal I had was any indication of what else is offered at the other establishments…then you’re really at the top of your game. Birmingham, Alabama is lucky to have you.

French food in the heart of the South. Yeah…that’s the life. And it is très délicieux!

Chez Fonfon's Omelette with Zucchini, Tomato, Basil and Comté (with a salad of greens and pommes frites) — Chez Fonfon’s Omelette with Zucchini, Tomato, Basil and Comté (with a salad of greens and pommes frites)

August 19, 2012

Recipe: Goat Cheese Ice Cream with Roasted Cherries

Don’t mock it until you’ve tried it.

I made that mistake when I first tried this flavor at Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams in Columbus, Ohio. And I was pleasantly surprised. What I expected to be a train wreck of a flavor actually turned out to be a party on the palate. Especially if you love cheesecake. In fact…it tastes like cheesecake…only better. Yes. Better.

This recipe is from Jeni herself. It is included in her cookbook Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams at Home. Thank God for her sharing these recipes with those of us who have tasted her amazing flavors and can’t get to a shop as there isn’t one near us. Even if you are unfamiliar with Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams…this is worth the time to make.

The better quality goat cheese you find, the better flavor you will have. Goat cheese actually pairs with many fruits, but roasted cherries really work here.

Go ahead. Wrinkle up your nose and tell me that this won’t work. That ice cream and goat cheese should never be used together in the same phrase. Then…try it. And find out why the combination is pure cheesecake-y magic.

Recipe: Goat Cheese Ice Cream with Roasted Cherries

Servings: 6 – 8
Time: Prep 30 minutes; Cook/Chill 5 hours

Ingredients for Roasted Cherries:

2 cups pitted fresh or frozen (not thawed) red or black cherries
2/3 cup sugar
2 teaspoons cornstarch

Ingredients for Ice Cream:

2 cups whole milk
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon cornstarch or tapioca starch
1/2 cup (4 ounces) fresh goat cheese
1-1/2 ounces (3 tablespoons) cream cheese, softened (Microwave for 15 seconds.)
1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
1-1/4 cups heavy cream
2/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup light corn syrup or tapioca syrup
Roasted Cherries

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Combine the cherries, sugar and cornstarch in a 9-inch square baking dish, tossing to mix. (You can use any baking dish, as long as it’s big enough to hold the cherries and is several inches deep, since the cherry mixture bubbles up in the oven.)

Roast for 30 to 45 minutes, until the juices are thickened and bubbly, stirring every 15 minutes.

Let the cherry mixture cool completely, and then chill it in the refrigerator until ready to use.

In a small bowl, mix 2 tablespoons of the milk with the cornstarch to make a slurry. Set aside.

In a separate medium bowl, whisk the goat cheese, cream cheese and salt until smooth. Set aside.

Make an ice bath by filling a large bowl with ice and water. Set aside.

Using a 4-quart saucepan, combine the remaining milk, the cream, sugar, and corn syrup over medium-high heat. Bring the mixture to a rolling boil, and boil for exactly 4 minutes. (The mixture will rise as it boils, so keep an eye on it!) Remove from the heat.

Make sure your cornstarch slurry is still well mixed. Slowly drizzle the slurry into your hot milk mixture while whisking vigorously. (Otherwise, the slurry will form a film on the bottom of the pan.)

Bring the mixture back to a boil over medium-high heat, and cook, stirring vigorously, until slightly thickened, about 1 minute. Remove from the heat.

Gradually whisk the hot milk mixture into the cream cheese mixture until smooth.

Pour the mixture into a 1-gallon Ziploc freezer bag, and submerge the sealed bag in the ice bath. Let stand, adding more ice as necessary, until cold, about 30 minutes.

Goat Cheese with Roasted Cherries Ice Cream layered and ready for freezing

Pour the ice cream base into your ice cream maker, and process according to the manufacturer’s directions.

Transfer the ice cream into a storage container, alternating it with layers of the Roasted Cherries and ending with a spoonful of cherries. DO NOT MIX.

Press a sheet of parchment paper directly on the surface of the ice cream, and cover with an airtight lid. Freeze until firm, at least 4 hours.

~*~*~

Lessons learned while making this: Place a pan underneath the cherries as you roast them in the oven. As noted above, they do tend to bubble up. If you don’t have something under them, oven cleaning commences. And I can promise you that cleaning up cherry juice that has cooked onto the bottom of the oven is not fun.

That being said, my roommate loves this flavor and gets it every time we go to Jeni’s in Ohio. So when I had her sample it straight from the ice cream maker, she said it tasted just like Jeni’s. And it should as it is from her cookbook.

So, if you are looking at expanding on your taste for ice cream and, like me, don’t live anywhere near a Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams…get her cookbook and try some of her recipes like I did. They are perfection to the very end. And this flavor…honestly…tastes like cheesecake. Really delicious, ice creamy cheesecake.

August 18, 2012

RiceWorks Parmesan & Sundried Tomato Gourmet Brown Rice Crisps didn’t quite work

Product: RiceWorks Parmesan & Sundried Tomato Brown Rice Crisps – $3.29+

Every afternoon while at work, I usually treat myself to a nice salty-sort of snack. Normally it’s snack crackers, a granola bar, or some gluten-free chips. This past week, I was up to a new product that I pulled from my pantry of assorted gluten-free goodies that I bought while they were on sale. And the next up was one that I was eager to try since I picked them up at the store.

RiceWorks Gourmet Brown Rice Crisps. These chips are all 100% gluten-free. They have even been tested by the company, who insists they ue good manufacturing practices in their plant and with their suppliers. While the plants are not dedicated gluten-free, the lines that are used to manufacture these chips are.

With that sort of an endorsement by the company itself, I was definitely willing to give these chips a fair shake. After all…I love the flavors in the package I found at the store.

I mean…Parmesan & Sundried Tomato. Yeah. Delicious, right? I love both of those things…so combine them and it’s sure to be a gluten-free gourmet chip party in my mouth, yes?

Well…that’s what I thought.

Under the impression that this flavor would sweep me away to the Mediterranean with its flavor combination and excite my palate in ways the Mediterranean probably only could…I was eagerly waiting for 3:00 p.m. to strike so I could break into my snack at the office. When it came around, I snagged my container, which contained a full portion (28 grams – or about 10 chips) and popped it open.

One bite.

And disappointment. While I didn’t actually believe my taste buds would go on a Mediterranean journey, what I did expect was a flavor-packed chip, full of flavor and crunch and…yumminess.

But what I got…reminded me more of stale Doritos.

Sad, but true.

When I go to bite into a “brown rice crisp,” I expect there to be mega crunch. Like gobbling down Doritos. They should have this crunch and then the wow-factor of flavor. While I do taste the Parmesan flavor, it isn’t as prominent as I would have thought. Especially as it is billed in the largest letters on the bag. I was underwhelmed with them. And when I have a snack at the office, I totally don’t want to be underwhelmed.

The plus side is, the serving (about 10 chips) is only 140 calories and pack only 6 grams of fat. That being said, most other gluten-free chips on the market provide a bigger serving with the same nutritional value. So…I don’t know if this is really of any benefit.

So, unfortunately, I’m not thinking RiceWorks will find their way back into my pantry any time soon. But, there was only one way to find out. And while I started off excited, my tasting experience only lead to disappointment.

It’s too bad. They had such promise for a healthier gluten-free option for chips.