Gluten-Free – Page 96 – The Celiathlete

August 17, 2012

Livin’ La Vida Lemon with Enjoy Life’s Lively Lemon Cookies

Product: Enjoy Life Foods Soft-Baked Lively Lemon Cookies – $4.19+

Enjoy Life is a company that should be praised. While their products can be hit or miss, I will hand it to them for doing something that is so rare in the food industry these days. What is it?

They really put food allergies at the forefront of their products. It’s true. All of their products are free of the top 8 food allergens, which mean they contain absolutely no wheat/gluten, dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, egg, soy, fish or shellfish – the allergens that account for 90% of all food allergic reactions in the United States. If that wasn’t already enough, Enjoy Life took it up another level and made sure that there products were also made without casein, potato, sesame and sulfites.

Yes…I do need to hand it to Enjoy Life. I eat their products a lot…because I know I can trust them.

That being said…one such product eluded me from the moment I heard of them. Apparently…Enjoy Life had, what they were calling, Lively Lemon Cookies (from their Soft-Baked varieties). Now…you know me and lemon flavored things. I can eat them up because I just adore what lemon does for food…especially baked goods. So, here was the promise of a gluten-free cookie…with lemon zing to it. I was sold. Or would have been had I been able to find it in my area. I went to every grocery store, natural foods store, and specialty store…and struck out. While they all had a variety of Enjoy Life cookies…no one had the lemon ones. Dejected…I let it go…for the time being.

Then…while in Milwaukee, Wisconsin for a race, I came across the Gluten-Free Trading Company. It was a completely gluten-free grocery store. For real. Also known as my heaven…my nirvana…my happy place. One of the first items I spotted upon entering this little oasis of gluten-free wonder was…the Enjoy Life cookies. And there…on the top shelf…like a beacon of heavenly light…the Soft-Baked Lively Lemon Cookies smiled down at me. And without any hesitation at all…into my shopping basket they went.

And as the dessert rotation continues in my apartment, yesterday…it came their time to be eaten. I pulled the box from the pantry and opened it up. Immediately, you smell lemon. This was a very good sign. Inside are 12 small, soft cookies, speckled with lemon zest. No wonder they smelled so amazing! The serving size is two of these itty-bitty cookies, which will set you back 130 calories. I know…hard to believe something so small could be so…unhealthy. But it’s dessert, a treat. They are to be treated as such.

I settled in with them and took a bite. Soft and chewy, these cookies have amazing texture. The lemon zest doesn’t take away from the soft nature of the cookies. And the lemon flavor…is almost perfect. I could stand a little more…but I love lemon. They played it safe and kept it a bit mild, but it is easy to overdo lemon. So, I can’t blame them for that. However, that being said, the lemon flavor is there and is prominent in each nibble of these cookies. I was very impressed.

And…so was my roomie, who doesn’t have to eat anything gluten-free…but loves to because of me. She’s a good judge of a product as she can have regular food. And she was a huge fan of these. So…that’s a win from each of us.

Every ingredient listed on the box is something that I can pronounce and recognize. In fact, I could find most of it in the aisles of my local grocery store. Much respect to Enjoy Life for keeping chemicals out of their food.

When it comes to cookies…I love them soft. And these not only play up to that, but hit that love of lemon as well. Would I buy these again should I run across them at the store…yes. Oh, yes!! Eating freely is what Enjoy Life products are all about. And if you have food allergies or are just looking for something different, I encourage you to try these cookies. They are fantastic and lemony fresh.

August 16, 2012

Kildare’s serves up full Irish experience with mediocre food

Restaurant: Kildare’s Irish Pub, Columbus, Ohio

It was one of those risks you take when you try out a new restaurant. You either get what you expect…or more…or it just falls short of everything you hoped it would be.

Being the Columbus, Ohio traveling fools we are (because…an awesome friend lives there…so travel has to happen), my roomie and I have pretty much pillaged every pub up that way. Including ones just outside of Columbus or in neighboring areas. But, it took a trip to the Dublin Irish Festival in Dublin, Ohio to discover Kildare’s Irish Pub, located in Columbus, Ohio. How we overlooked this one I’ll never know…but it was an oversight we sought to correct.

To be honest, the original plan was to drive up to Medina, Ohio to dine at Sully’s (only the best Irish pub this side of the pond!), but after a late night at the Irish Festival the night before…none of us were really feeling energetic or spry enough for the drive there and back. So, to keep the Irish theme alive, we decided to head to Kildare’s Irish Pub instead. This way my roomie still got her fish and chips…I could figure out what I could have…and Jenn…well, I never know what Jenn will order. She’s a sneaky one.

Anyway…finding Kildare’s wasn’t easy. In fact…we drove past it, despite having directions. The image on the internet showed a big red pub, reminiscent of Dublin Ireland’s very own Temple Bar. What we didn’t realize was that the side of the pub was painted red and the wall facing the road…was blue. But, we got there eventually, parked the car, and headed in.

In true pub fashion, you seat yourself. We opted for a table near the back, where we could get a good look at everything. Soon after settling in, the waitress came over to greet us, tell us a little about the pub, and see what we would like to drink. Of important note with Kildare’s…98% of the decor is from Ireland. Seriously. We played a game where we tried to decide what 2% wasn’t. Hey…you do these things while waiting on food. When the waitress returned with drinks (water for me and Magners for my friends), she asked if we had any questions. I told her I was a tricky one in that I was a gluten-free vegetarian…so I might need some menu guidance.

She told me that Kildare’s does fantastic with vegetarian…but not so much with gluten-free. Hey…she was honest! Anyway…with that in mind, she directed me toward the salad section. She even suggested the Kildare’s Salad, which would be safe…as long as I got it without croutons/flatbread. So…that’s what I got. The Kildare’s Salad with a safe balsamic vinaigrette ($5.99). My roommate, of course, ordered the fish and chips ($14.99) and Jenn went completely outside the box(ty)…and got the Philly Cheesesteak Boxty ($11.99). As everything is made fresh at Kildare’s…we settled in to watch some Olympics on the televisions and chat about anything and everything…as we often do.

When food arrived…I was actually surprised at the serving sizes. As my salad was only $5.99, I got a huge containing chopped Iceberg & Romaine lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, red onions and julienne carrots. The dressing was kept to the side so I could add it myself (thank you!). It was a lot bigger than I imagined…but it looked fresh and delicious. And it was…but there was nothing that really set this salad apart from one that I could make at home. In fact…those are the usual suspects in a salad I make at home (minus the lettuce…as I’m a spinach girl). So…yeah…not so hugely impressed with the salad, but it was fresh, crisp, and edible. Nothing wrong with it…but…nothing that set it apart either.

My roommate got one plank of fish, which was slightly overdone on the tips. With it…a good serving of fries. Now, I’ve seen platters of fish and chips much larger than this one for the same price, but…it was actually in human portion sizes, so who is to complain about that, right? And as for Jenn’s Philly Cheesesteak Boxty (thin sliced roast beef, American cheese, and onions rolled in an Irish Potato Pancake then drizzled with Cheese Whiz)…well, my roommate tried a bite and said she liked it better than the fish and chips. So…there you have it. But this gluten-free vegetarian was pretty much…limited to salad.

But I’m used to that.

Overall, we decided that the food wasn’t bad…it just didn’t really blow us away. I love that in theory they try to keep things authentically Irish, giving a few meals an American twist (for those people who can’t step outside their food comfort zones). However, none of us walked out of there raving about what to have the next time we happened to be in town. In fact, we had already come up with the restaurant we want to eat at next time.

Good or bad…the staff is friendly, the atmosphere is straight out of Ireland, but the food…well…it was a bit of a letdown.

Kildare's House Salad (no croutons/flatbread) with Balsamic Vinaigrette — Kildare’s House Salad (no croutons/flatbread) with Balsamic Vinaigrette

August 15, 2012

So Delicious introduces Unsweetened Almond Plus – an almond milk with a boost in protein

Product: So Delicious Dairy Free Unsweetened Almond Plus Almond Milk – $3.37+

Almond milk is my favorite beverage out on the market. Since I became lactose intolerant, it has been my non-dairy beverage of choice. While So Delicious is normally equated to the coconut milk products that have been out on the market for years, this time…they are focusing on those of us who are enamored with almond milk. But, unlike the other almond milk out on the market, So Delicious has given their product an amazing boost in protein.

Where most almond milk has 1 gram of milk (despite being made from protein-rich almonds), So Delicious Almond Plus brings an astounding 5 grams of protein to each serving.

For me, as a gluten-free vegetarian, the chance to boost my protein intake is something I have been striving to work on. With the added boost in protein without overloading with sugars, So Delicious Dairy Free Unsweetened Almond Plus finally made it into my fridge.

I say finally because it took some time to get it into stores here. In fact, I have only seen it at Wal-Mart, where I normally don’t shop, but I had to go in there for some race clothes one day. While there, I scoped out some products I normally buy elsewhere to compare prices. And what did I find? Yep…the elusive Unsweetened Almond Plus from So Delicious. Needless to say…it came home with me.

And so, my Apple Cinnamon Chex are being dressed, each and every morning, with a healthy serving of Unsweetened Almond Plus. This delicious take on almond milk is 100% free of soy and dairy. It also has 9 essential amino acids that the body needs. As it is unsweetened, this has no sugar added to it. And each serving (1 cup) is only 40 calories. Combine that with the extra boost of calcium that almond milk provides in each glass, and I’m sitting pretty each morning.

This almond milk in no way lacks flavor. It has a great texture and isn’t too thick like some can be. I found the taste to be “so delicious”…honestly. I fell in love with it from first sip. And, I shouldn’t be surprised…So Delicious also provides my gluten-free life with amazing coconut milk and dairy-free/soy-free ice cream goodies.

They have become a go-to brand…and this only solidifies their standing. I’m once again falling in love…with a beverage.

A healthy…does your body good…kind of beverage.

August 14, 2012August 14, 2012

GIVEAWAYS GALORE FROM RUDI’S GLUTEN-FREE BAKERY

My friends, the talented people at Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bakery, are at it again. That’s right…they are releasing some new products onto the market and they want you, my readers, to take part in a fantastic giveaway that is currently going on…NOW!

Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bakery just began their What’s Under Wraps Facebook Campaign this week! For the next three weeks, starting August 13 (yesterday!), Facebook fans for Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bakery get the opportunity to guess which kitchen gizmos are wrapped in the NEW Rudi’s Gluten-Free Tortillas and immediately get entered to win what’s underneath. Additionally, once fans “like” Rudi’s Gluten-Free on Facebook, they also receive a coupon for $2.00 off so they can rush out to the store and try the three flavors of Gluten-Free Tortillas.

Yes…three flavors. Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bakery has created Plain, Spinach, and Fiesta tortillas. Go ahead…dance a jig of happiness. You know I did. Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bakery is founded on the idea that when you go gluten-free, you shouldn’t have to give up anything. And thanks to them, this new line of three different tortilla flavors means you can still have your wraps like everyone else.

Even better yet…you don’t even have to guess correctly to receive the prize that is wrapped up beneath the tortilla. Prizes include a Cuisinart Stainless-Steel Ice Cream Maker, Bella Quesadilla Maker, Tiago Tortilla Warmer, and a Le Creuset Dutch Oven, and the new Rudi’s Gluten-Free Tortillas. Each daily winner is chosen at random and announced on Facebook the following day. So…be watchful because it could be you!

Keep in mind that Rudi’s Gluten-Free products are free of all artificial ingredients, preservatives and genetically modified organisms – including the new tortillas. This means when you look at the ingredients on the package…you will recognize them all. No guesswork here. And that is part of the magic of Rudi’s Gluten-Free. The tortillas are all made with whole grain flours and have a soft, pliable texture, ready to be rolled into a burrito or sandwich wrap. And with the three varieties, there is something that will satisfy everyone’s tastes.

To help inspire that kitchen creativity, the Facebook application also includes a daily recipe featuring food that is created with different flavors of Rudi’s Gluten-Free Tortillas, such as Dessert Nachos, Mini-Mexican Pizzas and Picnic Tortilla Roll-Ups. These recipes were all created by Rudi’s Gluten-Free experts to help maximize the taste and texture of the tortillas.

BUT WAIT…THERE IS MORE!!

One lucky reader of this blog will also get the opportunity to win another prize from Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bakery.

That’s right.

My friends at Rudi’s Gluten-Free have presented me with a phenomenal gift basket in honor of their Gluten-Free Spinach Tortillas. This amazing prize pack is pictured here:

This includes a picnic basket with service for four people, including flatware, plates, glasses, a wine opener, and napkins. In addition, there is also a picnic blanket included.

And who doesn’t like a good picnic, right?

All you have to do is comment below with your answer to this question:

What is your absolute favorite food to take on a picnic?

One winner will be chosen at random to receive this beautiful gift basket, compliments of Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bakery.

So…make sure you join in the fun with the What’s Under Wraps Facebook Campaign and then be sure to leave a comment here to be entered to win the prize pack shown above.

Go leave your best guess…then hurry back and tell me your favorite picnic food and some amazing gifts could be headed your way.

Eating gluten-free just got a lot more tasty and fun!

August 14, 2012

Holy gluten-free donuts! Katz introduces amazing Chocolate Frosted Donuts!

Product: Katz Gluten-Free Chocolate Frosted Donuts – $6.99

Katz Gluten-Free has done it again. This company has been winning my gluten-free heart and taste buds over with the fantastic products provided via their Web site. No joke. Whenever I see a special being offered regarding their products, I leap on the chance to use it. So, despite having two coupons for half off an order, the other day, Katz put up a special – order $30 worth of product and get donuts…free. One pack of donuts…of your choosing…free.

Well, I just happened to be heading out of town, and Katz donuts are one of my favorite things on the gluten-free market. They are amazing. No…seriously. You wouldn’t even suspect they were gluten-free if you didn’t know. In fact, you might even assume it came from a local bakery, homemade, soft, amazing.

I was absolutely stoked when Katz announced they had a new product – chocolate frosted donuts. I had been asking for chocolate donuts…and here was the closest thing I was getting to it (so far). I was thrilled with this announcement and was making plans to buy some using some of my coupons at home…until the donut deal came over my e-mail. As I was heading out of town to visit my friend Jenn, I figured I could order a few products, tack on some donuts, and take them up to Ohio with me to enjoy for breakfast with Jenn one morning of my visit.

And that’s what I did.

The donuts arrived…and I went to put them in the freezer for the time being. They were transported to Ohio via a cooler and made the journey very well. The night before the morning we decided to indulge in some donuts, we left them out on the counter to thaw. The following morning…it was time to make the donuts.

Nothing could be easier. As I like my donuts to be warm (like they were fresh baked), I gave it a quick heat in the microwave (about 10 seconds), which got the icing all gooey, delicious and warm. The donut was soft, like a yeast donut (think Krispy Kreme). The sprinkles melted in the thawing and warming process, but that was okay. They just add a little color.

The chocolate was sweet, and the perfect compliment to the light donut that it coated. Each bite was a sweet treat. But, unlike Krispy Kreme (not gluten-free!), Katz is making donuts a little easier to stomach. A chocolate frosted yeast donut (with sprinkles) at Krispy Kreme would set you back 260 calories, 12 grams of fat, and load you up with 23 grams of sugar. Compare that donut to Katz gluten-free’s nutritional stats and one donut is only 170 calories, 8 grams of fat, and only 7 grams of sugar. You can’t argue with those statistics. Katz gluten-free managed to make a healthier donut. And they don’t lack anything in texture or taste. They are…simply amazing.

Jenn, my roomie, and I happily noshed on our gluten-free chocolate frosted donuts that morning, enjoy every last bite of them. And, we were quite satisfied at the end of our breakfast. Full, even. And that’s saying something with only 2 donuts each. It was a nice way to start off the day with a morning treat.

Katz makes fantastic products…and these donuts are just another fine example of the quality of their products. I am once again impressed. I brag about this company as much as possible, because they continue to churn out the best gluten-free foods out on the market. I have yet to be let down.

Thank you, Katz…for a healthier indulgence for this donut lover. Now my sweet tooth and my chocolate cravings are satisfied all at once.

Yum.

Katz Gluten-Free Chocolate Frosted Donut

August 1, 2012

Adding variety to their already varied line, General Mills launches Gluten-Free Apple Cinnamon Chex

Product: General Mills Apple Cinnamon Chex – $3.39+

You know what I love? Cinnamon. Really. I mean, obviously. My favorite kind of cookie is a Snickerdoodle…and I just love the sweet-spice flavor that cinnamon adds to certain things.

Already a fan of Cinnamon Chex, I was elated to hear that General Mills was expanding on their gluten-free line of Chex cereals. The new flavor – Apple Cinnamon.

Yep. Apple Cinnamon Chex. I figured I’d have to wait as long as I did for Gluten-Free Rice Krispies around here…but it wasn’t long after the launch that these were on the shelf of my local grocery store. And you better believe they came home with me.

Now, I grew up in the age of the changing flavors of Cheerios. Now, normally, unless they were Honey Nut, I didn’t care for the different varieties. However, that changed with the introduction of Apple Cinnamon Cheerios. For some reason…those…I liked. I was hoping that’s what this cereal would remind me of. Then again, it has been forever since I had Apple Cinnamon Cheerios, I’m not sure I actually remember what they tasted like.

Well, I had just polished off the brand of cereal I had open, so this morning, I cracked open the box of Apple Cinnamon Chex. They smelled fantastic. Like baked apples. For real. Who wouldn’t like that? So if the initial aroma had anything to say about the flavor, I was already anticipating my first bite.

I poured myself a serving (3/4 cup) of the cereal, noting that there were plain Rice Chex mixed with those dusted with the apple powder and cinnamon. I tried a couple just dry. The plain ones, like in the other varieties…are flavorless. However, grabbing one of the ones dusted with the apple-cinnamon flavor and yeah…that’s good.

That’s beyond good. What was even better was when I poured my unsweetened almond milk over it. Once those flavors got mingled in with the milk…the cereal was breakfast heaven. Honestly. I was just spooning that stuff up like it was going out of style. Another great flavor in the gluten-free cereals I can trust to taste good. Thank you, General Mills, for expanding on one of your gluten-free varieties and mixing up a delicious blend of apple-cinnamon flavor. And, each serving is only 130 calories with 2 grams of fat. So it’s not going to break your diet either. So, a gluten-free breakfast cereal that is nutritious and tastes like apple-cinnamon does exist…thanks to General Mills. And trust me, this lover of apples and cinnamon thanks them for it.

And so does my tummy…at breakfast every morning this week.

August 1, 2012

Getting back to good with Back To Nature Gluten-Free White Cheddar Rice Thin Crackers

Product: Back To Nature Gluten-Free White Cheddar Rice Thin Crackers – $4.59+

Rice crackers.

You either love them or hate them. In most cases, I hated them. Honestly. They tend to remind me a lot of what communion wafers tasted like. Just dry, flavorless, unimpressive crunchy bites. Yeah…not my most favorite thing.

The last variety of rice crackers I tried…left me rather reluctant to try more. They reminded me of…cardboard. Not that I ever ate cardboard, but it was just not to my liking. I found them dry, lacking flavor, and just…blah.

So, when I ran across a sale at my grocery store where certain products were on close-out, my roomie and I just grabbed some items we had thought about trying…but just couldn’t justify the risk of not liking it at that price. So, despite not being completely sold on rice crackers, the Back To Nature Gluten-Free White Cheddar Rice Thin Crackers made their way into the cart…and then into my pantry.

And there…they sat. I am working my way through gluten-free snacks by their expiration date, so these had to wait a couple of weeks. But today…they were given their moment to shine.

I opened up the box to pull out a serving to take to work with me for my afternoon snack. These crackers are little circles made from rice. They are naturally gluten-free. I pulled out a serving of them and then called my roommate over for a taste test. As my roomie doesn’t have to eat gluten-free, I like to get her take on the items I buy to indulge in and eat. She took one of the crackers and took a bite, looking very thoughtful. She popped the rest in her mouth, then asked for another. When she nibbled on that, she said…”These remind me of Bugles.” Remember Bugles? Those little cone-shaped snacks that everyone puts on their fingertips before eating? Yeah…those. I ate those a lot growing up…so that was a good sign. And now that I can no longer eat them…well…maybe this would be a good substitute.

At work today, I pulled them out for my afternoon snack. A little bit of caution was taken when I took my first bite. But when I did, what I found was how light these crackers were. The crackers were dusted with white cheddar powder, which stayed on the crackers and didn’t coat my fingertips (like Cheetos would). This is good, because I snack on these while I’m working on some paperwork. I wouldn’t want to get that all over my papers. I loved the crunch these crackers packed. But, more than anything, I appreciated the fact that these had flavor. My roommate was absolutely correct…they tasted like Bugles. Huh. Go figure. They weren’t bland or lackluster when it came to texture.

Even more, they aren’t an unhealthy snack. The serving size is 30 grams (or about 18 crackers). These are very low in fat. Even better, they contain no cholesterol, no gluten, no hydrogenated oils, and are free from artificial preservatives, colors, and flavors. WIN! So…naturally good. That’s even better. No chemicals. No guessing. No wondering what exactly it is you are eating. It’s all laid out for you.

While rice crackers are still not my favorite snack to munch on…these aren’t bad. Not at all. In fact, they are quite good. Delicious even. And I’m happily packing up another serving for tomorrow.

Back To Nature did gluten-free rice thin crackers a favor…and they can’t get much better than this White Cheddar variety. Really well done!

July 31, 2012

More love for Livwell…this time for Gluten-Free Crumpets

Product: Livwell Gluten-Free Crumpets – $4.99+

In honor of the Olympic games carrying on in London right now, I am feeling more connected to the English and British. Therefore, I’ve been planning some meals accordingly and preparing certain dishes with London on my mind.

Thanks again to the fabulous people at Livwell…another delicacy is once again back in my diet. What might this be, you ask.

Crumpets.

Yes…those very English breakfast griddlecakes…that are somewhat of a hybrid of an English muffin and a pancake. I, for on, have always loved crumpets. But, alas, being gluten-free usually means I have to pass on any baked goodie unless I make it myself. While I’m certain I am more than capable of giving this a go, my mornings are often rushed and busy. So…now I know where I can purchase some and know for sure they are safe for me to eat.

First of all, these thin, flat cakes are, in my opinion, best served with butter and jam. I also tacked on a little drizzle of honey…but I’ll get to that.

I found the Livwell products on the shelf of my local Whole Foods. I have insisted that they never, ever get rid of the products because I keep finding new ones in their line that I absolutely love (Hello, gluten-free pita bread!). They said that most people who don’t like Udi’s like the Livwell stuff, and if you like Udi’s, you don’t like Livwell. I’m the happy medium…I like both. Seriously. So far, I’ve enjoyed everything. So, I like the way this is going and will continue to try other products in the line.

The crumpets come in a pack of four, all vacuum sealed. All the preparation that is needed is giving it a short toasting in the toaster. That easy. I opened up my package of them for my roommate and I this morning. These spongy cakes smelled amazing just coming out of the package. And so, into the toaster they went to warm. When the popped up, they were toasty, warm, and ready for a schmear of butter, strawberry jam, and a drizzle of honey.

In a word…it was a gluten-free breakfast of awesomeness. The only way my breakfast could feel more English would be to devour it with some tea. Which…is exactly how I intend to eat these tomorrow…dressed the same, but with a delicious cup of hot tea. Nothing could be better in the morning while I get caught up on Olympic news. These light, low calorie, soft little griddlecakes are so good, you won’t even know they are gluten-free. Absolutely loved them. And at only 110 calories for one crumpet…you can’t go wrong. Spread a topping on and enjoy however you like it.

Again, Livwell…I continue to sing your praises.

Livwell Gluten-Free Crumpet (topped with margarine, strawberry jam, and honey)

July 30, 2012August 1, 2022

Recipe: Gluten-Free Perogies

With the onset of gluten-intolerance last year…I was missing out on an important piece of food from my life. My mom used to make them. I’d eat them as fast as she could cook them up. I’m talking about perogies. Yes. Perogies. Those delicious Polish dumplings that are stuffed with goodies in the filling. In my case, it has always been potatoes and cheese.

Believe me, when the wonderful Jules Gluten Free posted this recipe on her blog, I couldn’t wait to make it. Even better, my CSA bin was going to have Yukon gold potatoes in it…so I had the filling. Some extra-sharp Cabot cheese was the other part of the filling. And together…with the dough recipe…I was finally going to have perogies in my life again.

I couldn’t wait.

The recipe is super simple. Not a lot goes in to them. Just remember to not let your dough dry out as you stuff them.

Recipe: Gluten-Free Perogies

Servings: 36
Time: Prep 50 minutes; Cook 20 minutes

Ingredients:

For the dough:

2 cups Gluten-Free All-Purpose Flour (I used Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-Free All-Purpose)
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 large egg
1/4 cup sour cream, dairy or non-dairy alternative (I used Tofutti’s Better Than Sour Cream)
1/4 cup +/- very warm water

For the filling:

1 pound Yukon gold potatoes
3/4 cup extra sharp cheddar cheese (I used Cabot)

Directions:

In a large-bottomed bowl, whisk together the flour and salt. Whisk together with a fork. Form a well in the center and pour the oil and cracked egg into the well.

Whisk these together without incorporating much flour, until well mixed. Add the sour cream to the well next, whisking to integrate.

Gradually begin stirring the flour in with the wet mixture in the center. Meanwhile, pour 1/8 cup of water on top of the dry ingredients and stir that in as well. As the dough gets too dry, add in the additional 1/8 cup water. Continue stirring with the fork until all the liquid is completely integrated. If the dough is too dry, add more water, one tablespoon at at time. The dough should hold together without being overly wet and sticky.

Gather the dough into a ball and wrap tightly with plastic wrap. Set out on the counter for at least 30 minutes while you prepare your fillings.

Cover the potatoes with water and add a little salt. Bring to a boil and cover. Allow potatoes to cook until tender, about 20-25 minutes. Drain the water and mash with a potato masher. Add the cheese. Stir well. Season to taste.

After 30 minutes, prepare a clean counter or pastry mat by dusting with All Purpose Flour. Divide the dough in half, turning one half of the dough onto the dusted surface and leaving one half of the dough wrapped tightly in plastic wrap.

Begin rolling the dough by rolling gently in one direction, then in the other, to form a 1/8 inch thick round of dough.

Using a 3-inch round cutter (or larger), cut out circles of dough until all the dough is used. One half of the dough should yield about 18 3-inch rounds.

Scoop out a marble-size ball of your prepared filling and place it just off the center line of one pastry circle. Press each ball into a longer shape, more like the last knuckle of your index finger, so that the filling will fill the cavity of the crescent formed by folding the dough over itself.

Dip your finger in water and lightly dab around the edge of each pastry circle to wet it, helping one side to adhere to the other when folded over the filling.

Fold one side of the pastry over the filling, forming a semi-circle.

Press gently, being sure to seal the edges, then press again lightly with the tines of a fork. Set each formed pierogi aside and cover with a damp towel until ready to boil.

Bring a large pot of water to boil and gently submerge each pierogi in the boiling water. Put only as many pierogies into the pot as can boil without crowding (I boiled 6 at a time). Stir once in awhile, if necessary to prevent them from sticking together. Once they begin to float, boil another 5 minutes – total boil time should be approximately 6-7 minutes.

Remove with a skimmer or slotted spoon to rinse and drain. Try not to let the pierogies touch while they are draining, so that they will not stick to one another. Repeat until all pierogies are boiled.

Serve at this point, or pan fry in butter or non-dairy alternative until slightly crisp.

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For my first attempt, these didn’t work out quite as planned. But, they were still good. They lacked some seasoning, but that was my own fault. I ended up boiling them, then searing them off in a pan with some butter. Very yummy. Gave them a little crisp on the dough.

While these do require some work, some time, and yes…some patience…being able to eat perogies again made it all worth it. And I, once again, have the marvelous Jules Gluten Free to thank for this recipe!

July 29, 2012

Recipe: Vegan and Gluten-Free Blackberry Cornmeal Muffins

I am laid up with an injured foot. And it sucks. So, what does this mean? Well, it means if I want to do more than sit on my duff on my couch and waste away, I make myself hop somewhere in the kitchen and do something…productive. I’ve been doing it a lot this past week, seeing what I can create from some of the goodies from my CSA bin.

Today, my ingredient of choice was blackberries. I received 6 ounces of them in my bin, and while I could just eat them straight from the container, my roommate is a little apathetic when it comes to blackberries. No worries…I can work around that. I’ll just…bake them into something.

So, I hit up my gluten-free pantry and realized I had some Arrowhead Mills Cornmeal that I needed to use up as the expiration date was approaching. No problem. I got online and did a little recipe hunting to get some ideas. And I found one that I then totally altered to make…vegan. No eggs and no oil. Instead…I simply used applesauce. And this…my good friends…worked beautifully…and totally lowered the calorie count!

Recipe: Vegan & Gluten-Free Blackberry Cornmeal Muffins

Servings: 12
Time: Prep 10 minutes; Bake 20-25 minute

Ingredients:

1-1/4 cups gluten-free flour (I used Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-Free All-Purpose Flour)
3/4 cup fine grind yellow cornmeal (Arrowhead Mills)
2/3 cup sugar (I used Truvia)
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
zest of 1 lemon
1 cup. milk (I used unsweetened almond milk)
1/3 cup + 1 tablespoon unsweetened applesauce
1-1/2 cup blackberries ( I used fresh organic)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Line a muffin pan with paper cups.

In a large bowl combine flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and lemon zest.

In a separate bowl, mix together the milk and applesauce milk.

Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and stir just until blended.

Stir in berries.

Spoon batter into muffin cups and bake for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.

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The result? A sweet corn muffin with a hit of the sweetness of the blackberries mixed in. These were really delicious, especially warm. I loved the way the cornmeal and blackberries worked together and just bring a punch of fruity-savory flavor to each muffin.

Best part…each muffin is only 88 calories and 1 gram of fat. Healthy, delicious, and fresh. Can’t argue with that.