Review – Page 28 – The Celiathlete

August 26, 2014

Restaurant Review: Papa Roux, Indianapolis, Indiana

Restaurant: Papa Roux, Indianapolis, Indiana

When it comes to food, there are certain cuisines that I absolutely love. Seriously. From Italian to Indian to Greek and more…there is something about the various tastes, seasonings, and textures of each different type of food that just awakens my palate every time.

One such cuisine that I love to eat, but haven’t had much of it in the past…oh…8 years…is Cajun!

YUM!

I love Cajun food, and not just because it famously is known to be spicy. I mean, we all know that I like it hot and spicy…but there is something so comforting and simplistic, even when the dish is anything but easy. As a vegetarian, a lot of Cajun food doesn’t fall into my diet. As a Celiac…it makes it even harder. We have a couple of small chain Cajun places around here, but they aren’t making the real deal. I forgot just what I was missing up until Saturday afternoon, when Cathy and I followed up our Gluten Free Food Allergy Fest with a lunch date with our good friend, Greg.

As you guys know, Greg can be quite particular about the places and foods that he eats. Well, for years now he has been raving about the food at a local Cajun place called Papa Roux. And he always pointed out that this particular place had plenty of vegetarian options…as well as gluten-free. While we are in Indianapolis quite often, we never seem to be there at a decent time to actually go to Papa Roux. So, we default to a personal favorite – Cheeseburger in Paradise.

But…NOT. THIS. TIME.

I was excited to try out Papa Roux. With all that Greg had talked it up to be, I was happy that he decided that would be our place to meet and eat that day. Cathy and I arrived just as Greg had pulled in. So we had good timing. Papa Roux may not look like much from the outside, but don’t let the dive atmosphere turn you off or away. Go inside. And you’re in for a treat.

Upon entering, you are greeted at the counter where you place your order. I had to look at the options for me, and finally decided that I was going to get the Spicy Tomato Creole ($8.00). I ordered an unsweetened iced tea with that (that’s free, by the way!) and then let Cathy get her order in. Cathy opted for the Chicken Po-Boy ($9.00) with a handcrafted lemonade to drink ($2.00). And Greg went for the Spicy Bean Chili ($8.00) with an unsweetened iced tea as well. You pay there, put a name on the order, and go find a table.

At the table, you get to choose your sides. This was exciting. You can choose as many as you want and as often as you want. When you dine-in at Papa Roux…the unlimited sides are free and unlimited. Honestly. I knew my creole was going to be spicy, so I went with something soothing and refreshing. Applesauce. Greg got the Coleslaw and something else, which I don’t recall. And Cathy opted for the Red Beans and Rice.

Our drinks arrived and we were invited to sign the autograph wall. Yes…the walls inside Papa Roux are covered in signatures. It’s a really cool, very nice touch. So, both Cathy and I added our signatures to the graffiti. And, after a little bit of a wait (they cook to order!), our food was soon arriving.

The first thing I noticed…Cathy’s Chicken Po-Boy was bigger than her head. She said she’d be lucky to make a dent in it. But after she pulled it apart, ate the chicken with the spicy mustard and coleslaw mixed in and not much of the bread, she managed a bit more than expected. The star was the stuff inside, not the giant, thick bread, for sure! Greg let me try the chili that he ordered, as he had raved about it for as long as he’s raved about the restaurant itself. He said it wasn’t as spicy as usual, and I had to agree…because my Spicy Tomato Creole was spicier than his chili.

So…how was the Spicy Tomato Creole? Spicy!! And that’s a good thing. It had this nice, rich flavor…like an amazing marinara, with a kick. The heat was perfect…for me. Some might have said it was too much, but I didn’t find it to overwhelm or completely kill my palate. Nope. This was amazing. Before I was a vegetarian, my mom would make a fantastic shrimp creole for Thanksgiving each year…so the creole definitely caught my attention. I loved the chunks of tomato and onion that were throughout, lending a bit of texture. And the spice definitely didn’t overwhelm but I wasn’t underwhelmed either. It said “spicy” in the title, so I wanted spicy. And it delivered, for sure. I was impressed. The stew, itself, came with small servings of rice that were dished on the side…just the right amount. The applesauce was delicious too…not sure if they make it, but the cool, soothing nature of it was a nice compliment to the spicy creole stew I was devouring.

We were all quite happy with the food, the prices, and the experience overall. I can see why Greg raves about Papa Roux all the time. I already want to go back and try more of their gluten-free and vegetarian stews. Really fell in love with the place. The atmosphere is great. The service is good. And the food…beyond fantastic. And any reservations I might have had about just how gluten-free the food was going to be was put to rest when the person who took our order at the counter asked if it was a dietary preference or an allergy. YES! A place that truly gets it.

Thank you, Greg…for finally getting us to Papa Roux to try the amazing food and take in the place in person…instead of through your mouthwatering stories of what you’ve had there. Thank you, Papa Roux, for giving me a safe, delicious, and spicy meal that day. It was just what I needed.

And soon…I’ll be back for more. I can’t wait.

Papa Roux's Spicy Tomato Creole — Papa Roux’s Spicy Tomato Creole

August 21, 2014

Product Review: Breads From Anna Gluten Free Banana Bread Mix

Product: Breads From Anna Gluten Free Banana Bread Mix – $7.49+

I don’t remember where I first heard about Breads From Anna bread mixes…but I discovered it one day at work. I remember messaging my friend, Jenn, on Twitter because the store locator showed that her local natural foods store, The Raisin Rack, carried these mixes. She said that the next time she made it over there, she’d check.

Well, it just so happened that the next time she was over there…I happened to be with her. And my roommate happened to be in a generous mood as far as the food budget, because she handed me a basket and told me to fill it up!

I did. And, lo and behold, in one of the aisles with a bunch of gluten-free baking mixes…I found Breads From Anna bread mixes. Lots and lots of them. The hard part was finally choosing which one to try first. While I love pumpkin bread…in the end I went with the Gluten Free Banana Bread Mix.

Normally I make my own bread, but I have never, ever had a gluten-free banana bread come out right. I figured it was time to call in some help in the form of a mix. When in doubt…try the experts. How did I know that Anna would be an expert? I didn’t. But I had heard things. Good things. And as a celiac and type 1 diabetic, she wanted to make bread that tastes like bread (not cardboard), and as a trained chef, she was able to put her skills to the test and created safe, allergen-free products that would have superb flavor, texture, and taste. When her non-celiac brother first tried her bread…he said it tasted like bread. That was all she needed. Breads From Anna grew from there.

Regardless of what I heard and the creator’s promise on the side of the box…with me…it just has to be baked and tested. Making the batter was easy. After preheating the oven and greasing one bread loaf pan, I mixed together the eggs, the oil, and the 3 bananas, which I had pureed in the food processor. In went the bread mix, and once that was well blended, I went ahead and folded in the optional chopped nuts. Because banana bread plays nicely with nuts. Into the loaf pan and then into the oven for one hour.

Yes. One hour. One hour of sheer torture because after about 20 minutes, you get that amazing banana bread smell wafting out of the kitchen. I was literally doing my hand weight routine and trying really heard not to drool. The aroma was beyond enticing. I peaked into the oven about halfway through and the loaf had risen and puffed up gorgeously and was turning this fantastic golden color. I wasn’t sure it needed the remaining 30 minutes, but kept it in the oven regardless…hoping for the best this time around. When the timer went off, I pulled it from the oven and set it on a cooling rack to now cool in the pan for an hour.

Sweet torture!

But…well worth the wait. After an hour…to the exact moment, I made my way back into the kitchen, grabbed a knife, and you better believe I carved a slice out of it. My roommate, who is non-celiac and a bread connoisseur, was my ultimate test. I handed her a slice of the still warm gluten-free banana bread and waited for her to take a bite. She absolutely loved it. My turn.

Moist. Light. Definitely delivering on the flavor, the texture, and the overall feel of banana bread. This bread isn’t heavy and dense. It isn’t overly banana. It’s moist, but without being wet. It’s perfection. Honest to goodness bread goodness. I wish I could claim I made this from scratch. This loaf of bread puffed up to this gorgeous loaf with a nice golden outer crust. Inside, you get this fantastic banana and walnut flavor. And this loaf does bake up big. Like…better than any other bread I have made, whether from scratch or from a mix. Never before has it turned out like this one did. I’m hooked. I want to buy all the Breads From Anna Mixes and just get into that kitchen and test them all out.

Totally worth it.

So, down to the science of things. The Breads From Anna Gluten Free Banana Bread Mix is made from powdered honey, tapioca starch, arrowroot, millet four, potato starch, chia flour, chickpea flour, pinto bean flour, navy bean flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, xanthan gum, and sea salt. This bread mix is gluten-free, yeast-free, corn-free, dairy-free, soy-free, nut-free and rice-free. For a bread that is yeast free…it sure did rise up beautifully. This mix is also kosher parve and non-GMO.

Nutritionally speaking, the Breads From Anna Gluten Free Banana Bread Mix contains 14 servings. One serving of the mix on its own is 80 calories. The mix is fat free and cholesterol free. Just the dry ingredients alone, you will be taking in 270 mg sodium and 9 grams of sugar. In addition, you will be consuming 2 grams of fiber and 1 gram of protein.

I. AM. IN. LOVE.

With a bread mix. Thank you, Anna Sobaski…for creating this fantastic mix to make gluten-free baking, which is an art and science all itself, easy for someone like me. This bread is one of the best I have ever cooked up in my kitchen. I am happily, happily noshing away on this delicious loaf. And with all the flavor, texture and taste of “real” banana bread…no one would have a clue that they were eating gluten-free.

Thank you.

August 19, 2014

Product Review: Little Lad’s Lemon Herbal Popcorn

Product: Little Lad’s Lemon Herbal Popcorn – $2.25+

Popcorn.

When done right, popcorn can be one of the healthiest snacks out there. I gave up microwave popcorn ages ago (for the most part…sometimes…it’s the only option), and have been using the hell out of my air popper.

Truly, it is almost a nightly tradition to enjoy some air popped popcorn, seasoned with herbs and a little drizzle of olive oil (healthy fat that is also a belly flattener). Usually enjoyed while watching a Gordon Ramsay show or Torchwood or Dr. Who or…American Ninja Warrior! Something. I don’t watch much TV…but I usually unwind at the end of a long day with some sort of television show on Netflix or Hulu.

And I grew up feasting on popcorn while watching a movie at home or winding down at night. And every Sunday…it was my family’s dinner. Honestly. Popcorn has always been a favorite food in my family…and I carry that tradition with me today.

I was actually really excited when my July Cuisine Cube arrived and I pulled this bag of popcorn from the box. For one thing…the words popcorn were enough to entice me. But toss the word “lemon” in front of it…and you have a really happy girl. Lemon is one of my favorite seasonings and often do a lemon pepper popcorn at home as one of my seasonings. This…had it done for me.

The item I received was a bag of LIttle Lad’s Lemon Herbal Popcorn. Little Lad’s is a small family restaurant in Portland, Maine. Their mission was to create a place where people could bring their families and friends and enjoy a restaurant quality meal that focuses on bold flavors and high nutrition. One of the creations that this restaurant created was an herbal popcorn that their customers raved about and couldn’t get enough of. This was no dull popcorn either. And the Lemon Herbal Popcorn version is one take on this popular product.

Little Lad’s Herbal Popcorn is made from organic lemon and fresh herbs. Yes. Organic and fresh. Bet you didn’t see that coming. This variety of popcorn doesn’t use any animal products and is gluten-free. And, the Lemon Herbal Popcorn is made with whole grains! According to the package, a portion of the proceeds from the sale of this popcorn goes towards health education in Africa.

Like I said, I usually air pop popcorn at night, but last night, I was feeling lazy. Master Chef was on and, for once, I didn’t want to drown it out with my air popper. So, I went to my pantry and pulled out the Little Lad’s Lemon Herbal Popcorn, pouring it into two bowls and giving one to my roommate while I settled in with the other one to watch the show.

Here’s the deal…packaged popcorn is either going to be amazing or fall flat. I knew the moment I opened the Little Lad’s Lemon Herbal Popcorn bag that it smelled fantastic. That was a good start. I popped one of the popped kernels into my mouth…and it was settled. This popcorn definitely fell into the good side of packaged popcorn. In fact, what it reminded me of was day-old movie theater popcorn (movie theater popcorn tastes the best a day later, seriously!) with lemon flavoring. Seriously. You may not think that sounds appetizing, but, honestly, it does. The balance of lemon flavor and savory herbs is perfection. You get this great sweet and sour take on the seasoning, which plays well on the palate. And the lemon doesn’t take over and completely overpower the product. There is never too much lemon and too little to counterbalance it. And that is a difficult balance to find. One that I’m still working on when I make my lemon pepper popcorn at home. So, I was quite content snacking on Little Lad’s Lemon Herbal Popcorn last night. It was refreshing and delicious.

So, how wholesome and nutritious is Little Lad’s Lemon Herbal Popcorn? You know I was going to get to that.

Little Lad’s Lemon Herbal Popcorn is made from non-GMO popcorn, organic evaporated cane juice, organic lemon, herbs and spices, non-GMO soybean oil, and sea salt. This popcorn is gluten-free, cholesterol free, and vegan.

As far as nutrition goes…it’s pretty outstanding. A serving of Little Lad’s Lemon Herbal Popcorn is 30 grams (or half of the 2 ounce package). This serving will provide you with 120 calories and 7 grams of fat. A serving will give you 45 mg sodium and 2 grams of sugar. And, you will be consuming 2 grams of fiber and 3 grams of protein.

Not bad for a snack last night, right? That’s right. I’ll never stray from my air popped popcorn, but having this option last night was a delicious, easy treat. Thank you, again, Cuisine Cube, for your continued success in bringing me products I had never hard of before…would probably never hear of without these deliveries…and that actually taste amazing. Another winner from my monthly selection.

August 18, 2014

Product Review: Liz Lovely Gluten Free Crunchy Double Chocolate Cookies

Product: Liz Lovely Gluten Free Crunchy Double Chocolate Cookies – $6.50+

Oh…dear!! My cookie noshing habits had been tame as of late. An occasional splurge here and there…but I was getting it under control. Because, as a cookie monster, any gluten-free cookie with me is fair game. I absolutely love cookies. They are just…the perfect dessert. So many varieties…crunchy, chewy, crunchy on the outside and chewy on the inside, made with chips, candy, stuffed, topped, iced…so many ways to make a cookie. You can let your imagination run wild…and let your taste buds and stomach profit from it.

Mmmm…cookies.

So, imagine my face when I pulled the bright, hot pink box of one of my favorite gluten-free cookie producers out of the August Cuisine Cube and read what had just arrived. Liz Lovely Cookies??! Hell yes!! Happy dance!! But wait…what’s this? Crunchy cookies? Liz Lovely is doing CRUNCHY cookies now?

Um…that’s…fantastic.

So, for those of you who are unfamiliar with Liz Lovely, they were one of the first gluten-free cookies that didn’t remind me that I was eating a gluten-free cookie. Big, chewy…a serving being only half the cookie…I could get them at my local natural food store and would purchase a new flavor each time until I worked my way through them all. It was hard to stick to that actual serving size…but I behaved. But…Liz Lovely was known for those chewy, big cookies. So this…this was new.

Turns out, for years now, Liz had so many consumers and people inquire about small snack cookies…to which she always replied that those sorts of cookies weren’t what they did. But it seems it all fell into place one night…and out of it came a new product…a new line of gluten-free crunchy cookies from the fantastic Liz Lovely.

These are currently out in four different flavors: chocolate chip, double chocolate, oatmeal raisin, and ginger snap.

The bright pink box declared that the cookies that Cuisine Cube sent into my life were…Liz Lovely Gluten Free Crunchy Double Chocolate Cookies.

Mmmm…chocolate.

Mmmm…cookies!

Okay, so normally it takes me the entire month to work through the Cuisine Cube that I receive, but this cube has been a bit of an anomaly. For one thing, one product I had to place in the break room at work…the Field Trip Cracked Pepper Turkey Jerky. This vegetarian can’t and won’t even eat that. But, the boys at work have been enjoying it. So, there we go. And then, last night, I went ahead and plowed through three products. Yes…three!

And after I used the first two for dinner…it was time for dessert.

And I happily pulled open the box of Liz Lovely Gluten Free Crunchy Double Chocolate Cookies. They smelled…amazing. They were these thin little rounds, about the 2 inches in diameter, if I were guessing (and I am). Small, thin…and yes…crunchy. Nothing I have ever associated with Liz Lovely. So…I was beyond intrigued as to how I would like these. As I have stated before, I am more of a soft cookie lover than a crispy cookie lover…but I do love cookies regardless and don’t hold the softness or crispiness factor against any cookie.

I removed four cookies, passing off two to my roommate and snagging two for me. Yes…this time you get two full cookies…not just half of one. YAY! I settled in for my dessert and took a bite.

WOW! First of all, I believe that these cookies completely encapsulate the best part of something like a pan of brownies. These cookies taste just like that crispy edge of the brownies that bakes along the pan. That is one of my favorite parts of a brownie and these cookies mimic it both in crunch, texture, and flavor. I might have drooled upon taking my first bite. These have a nice, rich, chocolate flavor…bold and decadent. The cookies have a great crunch to them, and they are easy to chew and one of the greatest things I may have ever eaten in cookie form. Holy Double Chocolate Crunchy Goodness!! I was so tempted to go and count cookies to see if there might be an odd number so I could sneak another one…but I didn’t. I behaved. I kept it to the serving size. And, for the life of me, I don’t know how I didn’t give in to the temptation. Seriously…these are amazing cookies. You can tell how much work, love, and joy goes into the making of these cookies because they reflect that in not just flavor but quality. And I am totally in love.

Let’s talk about those ingredients and nutritional facts, shall we?

The Liz Lovely Gluten Free Crunchy Double Chocolate Cookies are made from cane sugar, chocolate chips, white rice flour, palm fruit oil, water, potato starch, cocoa powder, tapioca flour, molasses, Ener-G Egg Replacer, vanilla extract, sea salt, baking soda, xanthan gum, and natural tocopherols (vitamin E). Not too bad for a sweet treat, right? These cookies are vegan, gluten-free, cholesterol free, kosher, made with non-GMO ingredients and all natural.

As far as how nutritious these are…well…they are cookies so…

A serving of the Liz Lovely Gluten Free Crunch Double Chocolate Cookies is 2 cookies. These cookies will deliver 130 calories and 6 grams of fat. These two cookies will also provide 90 mg sodium and 12 grams of fat. That’s not bad at all for cookies. Not at all. And finally, these cookies will provide you with 1 gram of fiber and 1 gram of sugar. These will definitely not fill you up…which means you can snack on them before dinner. HA!

Okay…so maybe not. But, you’re an adult right? Have dessert first every now and again. Live it up. Change it up. Be a little wild!

I am enamored with these cookies. I want to make them last forever, but cookies never last long in my home. I’m a cookie monster for a reason. And these will be devoured each night until they are gone. But, now I hope I can find a place to purchase them and/or order them online because…yeah…I’ll be dreaming about these cookies for a long time. Who says a chewy cookie girl can’t cross over to the crunchy side.

Go ahead…take a bite and see for yourself.

August 18, 2014

Product Review: Charleston Gourmet Burger Co. Burger Sauce

Product: Charleston Gourmet Burger Co. Burger Sauce – $9.95

When your Cuisine Cube delivers a box that is 1/2 meat-friendly…you get a little creative. Honestly. I was willing to part with the Field Trip Cracked Pepper Turkey Jerky, as there was no way I could possibly eat that being a vegetarian. But the other two items…the sauce and seasoning meant for burgers…those I could use. I just had to get a little creative in my kitchen.

And I do love it when a cooking gauntlet is thrown down. And this box did just that. For months now, I had a recipe idea just percolating, and the inclusion of the previously blogged on Dinner Tonight Burger Seasoning Mix and the Charleston Gourmet Burger Co. Burger Sauce meant that I was being issued a veggie burger challenge, whether Cuisine Cube knew it or not. And I guarantee you…they didn’t know it. Ultimately though…the challenge was accepted. Using items in my pantry (lentils) and from my CSA bin (VEGGIES!), I set out to make a specific veggie burger that I had been talking about creating for awhile, just never really had a reason to actually do it. I admit, it was a whole lot of fun getting into that kitchen and getting my creative chef’s hat on.

And that’s how it worked out in the end. I made this amazing burger with lentils and farm-fresh ingredients, topping it off with some Russian red kale and a green tomato. But this burger needed that condiment to tie it all together. And that’s where the Charleston Gourmet Burger Co. Burger Sauce came in. While the label itself touts this sauce as being perfect to use with any meat (from poultry to beef to elk to pork and so on)…I was really going to put it to the test by pairing it with…a veggie burger of my own making. I hope the Charleston Gourmet Burger Co. doesn’t hold it against me for not using meat. But this vegetarian was still willing to give their product a vessel…albeit made from lentils and veggies. Would it matter?

Let me tell you, this sauce is awesome. This is literally AWESOMESAUCE! HA! The Charleston Gourmet Burger Co. Burger Sauce was a great flavor elevator. It brought this nice tangy flavor to the burger. The sauce brought together both sweet and savory, enhancing each bite. The Charleston Gourmet Burger Co. Burger Sauce honestly lifted every bit of my veggie burger and just added a nice sweet and tangy touch. While it is advertised as being rich and thick, I found it to be slightly runny, and I promise, I did shake it up. That being said, it went way beyond delicious. Now I’m trying to figure out how to get more without the $10 price tag. Because I’m hooked.

The Charleston Gourmet Burger Co. Burger Sauce is made from what the company describes as a secret blend of Lowcountry herbs and spices that help bring flavor to any meat (or in my case…veggies and lentils). It is made from water, distilled water, vinegar, molasses, sugar, onions, salt, garlic salt, cloves, tammarind extract, chili pepper extract, tomatoes, onion powder, garlic powder and gluten free xanthan gum.

A serving of the Charleston Gourmet Burger Co. Burger Sauce is 1 tablespoon. This serving provides you with 15 calories. It is fat free, cholesterol free, and contains no fiber or protein. The sauce, however, does provide 200 mg sodium and 2 grams of sugar.

Yet again, Cuisine Cube brings a product I never, ever would have heard about or tried without it surprising me with its inclusion in the box. Very happy with this month’s offerings for sure. And my roommate is already pondering other ways to use this sauce in the future. Delicious!

Charleston Gourmet Burger Co. Burger Sauce on my Homemade Gluten-Free Veggie Burger

August 18, 2014

Product Review: Dinner Tonight Burger Seasoning

Product: Dinner Tonight Burger Seasoning – $3.95+

Maybe it’s the “end of summer” last call in this month’s Cuisine Cube, but I was hit up with a product I couldn’t eat (Field Trip Cracked Pepper Turkey Jerky) as a vegetarian, and then, as I was eagerly pulling products out of the box…noted the burger sauce and the burger seasoning.

You’d think I would do as I did with the turkey jerky and put it in the break room as fair game for any hungry or burger-loving co-workers. But not me. You see, one thing I love doing is creating products in my kitchen. And never have burgers been completely limited to meat. Especially where I am concerned. What I did was started to ponder what a vegetarian could create using these products meant for burgers and lo and behold…it came to me.

I decided I would create a veggie burger (using green lentils for the main source of protein) and figured I could use the Dinner Tonight Burger Seasoning Mix as I would if I had been cooking with meat. It was brilliant. It was…a good reason to dig out those lentils.

Last night, I donned my skull and crossbones apron and set myself to work, creating my veggie burger. Lentils, mushrooms, and more all got cooked up, and after giving it a little mash, in went the seasoning. I immediately loved how light and citrus-y it smelled. It had this very bright aroma to it and I knew it was really going to elevate my veggie burger. Happiness. I chilled the base and after about 30 minutes, pounded out about 10 actual patties, freezing 8 of them and using two for dinner (one for me and one for the roomie!). Some olive oil on my skillet and down went the patties. No cheese necessary…I was topping these with Russian red kale and green tomato.

Within a couple of minutes, the burgers had a beautiful sear on them and I lifted them off the skillet and put them in the gluten-free buns (which I purchased from my local gluten-free bakery, Annie May’s Sweet Café). Dinner was served (with a side of smashed purple potatoes!). I topped these off with the Charleston Gourmet Burger Co. Burger Sauce (see next review!) and then…settled in to see how my own play on a veggie burger came out.

I can honestly say, thanks to the Dinner Tonight Burger Seasoning, I didn’t need to add anything more to these burgers as I formed the base. No extra salt. No other spices or herbs. This was just what these lentils, mushrooms, and other veggies needed. The seasoning itself wasn’t too strong, but you could definitely taste the variety of flavors that made up this mix. The veggie burgers that I made with the Dinner Tonight Burger Seasoning were pure perfection…especially when it came to balancing flavors. Brilliant.

The Dinner Tonight Burger Seasoning Mix is made from garlic, thyme, black pepper, salt, lemon zest, cayenne pepper, onion, parsley, natural lemon juice powder, sugar, and citric acid. This mix is all natural, cholesterol free, and gluten-free. And…it’s perfect for carnivores and herbivores alike. Trust me.

A serving of the Dinner Tonight Burger Seasoning Mix is 1 teaspoon. This one serving will provide you with 5 calories and less than 1 gram of fat. You will be taking in 135 mg sodium. Finally, this serving gives you 0 grams of protein and fiber.

Once again, Cuisine Cube provided me with a product I never would have known about or tried…but thanks to it being in my cube, I found a purpose for it. I’m not going to let a vegetarian keep me from trying whatever I can in these boxes of happiness each month. The jerky was one thing…but burger seasoning…hell, I can figure out a use for that! One delicious veggie burger later, not using it with a meat base made no difference, this seasoning mix should be raved about. Absolutely loved it. And now, I have my first official recipe for my own cookbook.

Thank you Dinner Tonight and Cuisine Cube!

August 17, 2014

Restaurant Review: Blaze Pizza, Louisville, Kentucky

Restaurant: Blaze Pizza, Louisville, Kentucky

What’s the deal with restaurants and that tasteless, pre-made, pre-packaged gluten-free pizza crust? It’s so rare to actually receive a freshly made pizza crust…unless you happen to have a specialty bakery in your area…like I do. But, not everyone is that lucky, and those who aren’t are usually left to those cracker crust gluten-free pizza shells that it seems every place serving a gluten-free pizza uses.

That was what I was prepared for when my roommate and I decided to try out the newest (small) franchised chain and place to offer a gluten-free pizza option in Louisville.

Blaze Pizza.

I had heard things about Blaze Pizza. Good things. My good friend, Harry, raved about the place, telling me all about how it’s like a Subway or Qdoba for pizza. And that they offered a gluten-free crust. I had heard that they offered a gluten-free option and had definite interest in checking it out. Instead of my normal Saturday breakfast, my roomie and I skipped the gluten-free bakery and made plans to meet Harry for lunch at Blaze Pizza.

Unfortunately, Harry’s appointment he had prior to the lunch meeting was running over and he had to cancel. So, it was just Cathy and I on Saturday. And our first experience with Blaze Pizza.

Blaze Pizza prides itself on exceptional quality pizzas that are fast-fired (3 minutes!) and cooked to perfection. It starts with made-from-scratch dough and then topped with either some of their classic toppings…or you can build your own. Whatever you like from there healthful, artisinal ingredients. It’s up to you. And then, they are placed in a hot oven…3 minutes later, you receive your pizza, crust thin and perfectly crisped…and you’re ready to dig in. That’s Blaze Pizza.

So, when Cathy and I stepped inside, I was expecting the usual song and dance. Order a gluten-free pizza and watch that pre-made crust get unwrapped and settled onto a tray to help keep cross-contamination to a minimum. But…that’s not what happened. We ordered the gluten-free pizza (extra $2.00 for gluten-free crust) and immediately the cashier asked if it was a preference or an allergy. I told them it was an allergy, that I was a Celiac, and even though I was about to ask for a glove change, he instantly said, “Would you like us to do a glove change?” I blinked. I might have stared surprised for a long second. “Um…yes, please. I was just about to ask!”

So, as he called back to the girl for the gluten-free crust he said…”GLOVE CHANGE!” The person who was working these amazing pizza crust presses (I so want one…it takes a heap of dough and presses it into a perfect 11 inch thin crust) changed her gloves and reached for the gluten-free dough. YES…DOUGH! It went onto a special tray and then into the other (and I’m assuming dedicated) pizza press. In a quick second, fresh pizza crust was settled onto a wooden plank in a special tray and set for saucing. The cashier reminded the people on the line (who were busy with a large party ahead of us) that they needed a glove change. But, instead, to make sure it happened, the girl running the pizza press, who had just changed her gloves, went ahead and asked me what sauce I wanted.

Here was where I thought I was going to have a problem. I was watching as the saucing station would ladle one of their six sauce options onto the dough and then use the ladle to move the sauce around the dough. As a Celiac, I was beyond curious as to how this was going to work and was going to ask the sauce people as my tray moved. But instead, my pizza went to the end of the line with a separate sauce station. I wanted the red sauce. So, the untouched sauce went onto my gluten-free crust. I was asked what cheese, and I ordered the vegan cheese (extra $1.00 charge) and the pizza press girl with the clean gloves loaded up the pizza with the vegan cheese. Then I added the toppings i wanted…which were red onions, roasted red peppers and mushrooms. We got a sprinkle of dried oregano over the top and it was set to go into the oven.

All together, the build-your-own pizza was $7.00 even for unlimited toppings. With the added cost of getting the gluten-free crust and the vegan cheese, the pizza ended up running $10.00. Cathy got a fountain drink and I got a bottle of water and we went to take our seat. Cathy had me save a table while she went to watch the pizza get fired.

The glove change was written on the paper that the pizza dough is placed on. Cathy watched as they paced the pizza into the oven on one side of the oven away from the other pizzas. They were constantly moving the pizzas around, but they kept mine segregated from the rest. As the pizza was about to come out, the oven person noted the glove change on my paper, so before he touched the paper or anything else, he took off his gloves, washed his hands, and put on fresh gloves. Then he moved the pizza off the silicone tray onto the paper and reached over to the far end of his station to grab a fresh set of tools (cutter, tongs) all with bright red handles, which I am assuming was for gluten-free orders because they were on the opposite end of his station. He sliced up the pizza to order, not touching any other order, pizza, or tools until he was done with my order.

I was impressed.

So…now came the moment of truth. How would this pizza (of my own creation) taste? For the record, Cathy and I decided to call our pizza creation the “Comrade Pizza” because (with the exception of the mushrooms) every ingredient was red. HA! Get it?

I wanted to dig right in, so I took a hot slice of pizza, immediately noting the beautiful, crisp, and charred crust. My mouth was watering. And with one bite…I knew…I was now in love. My God…what a difference a crust made from fresh dough makes. This was phenomenal. I loved hearing that crisp crust crunch with each bite, without it tasting manufactured. Those cracker crusts often just taste…bland. This had flavor. This was crusted to perfection. This was…pizza magic. Seriously good pizza. This was also the best I had ever seen the Daiya vegan cheese melt into an ooey-gooey mass of cheese goodness on a pizza. Seriously. It looked like real cheese.

Not only was I impressed with the pizza at Blaze Pizza, I was more than impressed with the care that the employees and the owners put into keeping those who have a gluten allergy as safe as they can. Honestly, I went in there a bit nervous about my meal…but my fears were immediately put to rest. I would, with confidence, return to Blaze Pizza again and enjoy another fantastic pizza. And I intend to do that. Because I still have to get some pizza with my friend Harry.

Maybe this week. I might be craving…already.

Thank you, Blaze Pizza…for the fantastic experience. I swear…I will be back!

The “Comrade Pizza” from Blaze Pizza in Louisville (gluten-free crust, red sauce, vegan cheese, roasted red peppers, red onions, mushrooms)

August 13, 2014

Product Review: My Dad’s Cookies Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Biscotti

Product: My Dad’s Cookies Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Biscotti – $7.99+

If there was one thing I grew to love when I worked at the coffee shop, it was biscotti. Nothing can top the taste of a crisp, crunchy cookie dunked in something like coffee or tea or even hot chocolate. Absolutely…delish.

So, when my roommate and I were out at our new grocery store (the one that carries the My Dad’s Cookies products), we had a plan to pick up the lemon cookies…

…but they still didn’t have any in stock. As the lemon cookies were the ones that the roomie wanted to try…I told her to pick whatever she was interested in trying for dessert. She wasted no time in choosing the My Dad’s Cookies Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Biscotti.

Sweet.

So, tonight we opened them up for dessert. And to make it official, I brewed up a bit of decaf coffee for dipping purposes. Yeah…this was going to be good.

Settling in with an episode of Chopped, we ate our dinner (gluten-free pasta with homemade marinara and gluten-free focaccia bread, in case you were wondering!) and then I went to clean up a little and grab dessert. Nothing is easier than opening the little plastic container of My Dad’s Cookies Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Biscotti. I poured two cups of coffee…and then grabbed a serving of the cookies.

Dessert was served.

My roommate tucked in first. I asked what she thought and she said, “It’s yummy!” That’s always a good sign. That means she really does like it and isn’t just trying to be polite. So, that was a positive note to start on! I settled in and picked up one of the cookies, giving it a dunk into my freshly brewed coffee…and took a bite.

These…are not traditional type biscotti. They are smaller than normal biscotti, and while crisp, they get really soft immediately upon dipping…so don’t let it linger too long. These are more chopped up chocolate chip cookies than chocolate chip biscotti…but I won’t complain. The flavor is divine. The overall vanilla flavor with the sweet chocolate chips scattered…oh…so good. They had a nice crunch to them when they weren’t dipped in the coffee, but got quite soft when they hit the liquid. The flavor profile is amazing, especially if you love chocolate chip cookies…and I do.

As far as ingredients go, these aren’t too bad. The My Dad’s Cookie Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Biscotti are made from a gluten-free flour blend (brown rice, potato starch, tapioca flour, and xanthan gum), sugar, organic palm oil, egg, chocolate chips, chocolate liquor, brown sugar, natural vanilla extract, agave, cream of tartar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.

As far as the nutrition information goes, this is rather good. A serving of the My Dad’s Cookies Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Biscotti is 4 of the cookies. This serving provides 150 calories and 7 grams of fat. In addition, they serve up 15 mg cholesterol, 40 mg sodium, and 12 grams of sugar. Finally, you will be consuming 1 gram of fiber and 1 gram of protein. Not filling…but delicious.

I have become a big fan of the My Dad’s Cookies brand. Everything I have tried has been amazing and delicious. You’d never guess these were gluten-free. Not one bit. Amazing and delicious…another fantastic treat.

Get yourself some of this biscotti and get to dipping. You will also fall in love.

August 11, 2014

Product Review: So Delicious Dairy Free No Sugar Added Mint Chip Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert

Product: So Delicious Dairy Free No Sugar Added Mint Chip Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert – $6.99+

Life’s been tough these past few weeks. Lots of setbacks and a lot of negativity…of my own…to myself. I’m trying to stay positive, but sometimes…it’s freakin’ hard, you know? But…if there is one thing I have learned over the years…ice cream makes everything better! Everything!

And with that being said, I was fortunate enough to receive a special delivery of the So Delicious Dairy Free coconut milk frozen desserts a couple weeks back and have been working my way through these delicious frosty treats. Tonight, I rounded up this journey through ice cream heaven with the final product stocked in my freezer…

The So Delicious Dairy Free No Sugar Added Mint Chip Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert.

So, being completely honest here…mint chip is one of my guilty pleasure favorite things in Ice Cream Land. Growing up, it was always my dad’s favorite flavor and we often had it stocked in our freezer. You’d think I’d grow tired of it, but I didn’t…and I still haven’t. In fact, if you put a bit of hot fudge over a good mint chip ice cream…you get something akin to that of the Thin Mint Girl Scout Cookies. Seriously. Trust me. I haven’t been able to eat Girl Scout Cookies for three years now, and that is one of the best ways to satisfy the craving when it hits.

Except…that pesky lactose intolerance thing. While I have been known to take a supplement to help me digest dairy…it doesn’t always work or help. So, I’m usually very cautious when approaching real ice cream. But, now I can have my mint chip and eat it too…without worry.

So Delicious Dairy Free came out with a new version of their Mint Chip Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert. Yes. This one…with no added sugars. And I know what you are thinking. You are wondering how ice cream without the addition of a crap-ton-load of sugar (that’s really a degree of measurement, trust me!) would work…or taste for that matter. Well, because of So Delicious’ generosity…I can tell you!

I made a very light, but delicious dinner tonight (breakfast for dinner!) and thought to round it off with a taste of the ice cream. I had pulled it from the freezer as I was settling into my dinner, just to let it thaw a little. Non-dairy ice creams usually need 5-10 minutes of thaw time to make them scoopable. Even more-so when they don’t have all that added sugar. It was the perfect amount of time because after my roomie and I polished off our breakfast…er…dinner…we were ready for that palate cleansing dessert. And the ice cream was now ready and at that perfect consistency for scooping without being too soft and soupy. Seriously!

There is a science to ice cream scooping and I think I have mastered it!

Anyway, I got out my 1/2 cup measure and dished us each up a complete serving. I even drizzled a bit of hot fudge over it, as I had just enough left in the fridge for tonight’s dessert. So, with the So Delicious Dairy Free No Sugar Added Mint Chip Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert now in bowls, I carried her dessert over and then went back to retrieve mine. She took a bite…immediately noting the mint flavor. I asked what she thought…and while she preferred the vanilla (and who doesn’t?!), she loved the flavor.

My turn to be the judge. And on first bite I was in love. The So Delicious Dairy Free No Sugar Added Mint Chip Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert has a great texture to begin with. It’s creamy, without being runny or heavy. It has this lightness to it. This variety has a great minty flavor to it, that is not too strong and is complimented by the swirls of chocolate throughout the pint. I love that the chocolate is swirled in and not actual chips. This makes the consistency of the frozen dessert work even more. The chocolate itself was delicious…sweet without being too much. Honestly, if you kept it a secret, no one would guess that there was no sugar added to this flavor. Not at all. Absolutely minty fresh and delicious!

With all my food blogs, I try to inform my readers as to what makes up a product and the nutrition information that accompanies it. So Delicious Dairy Free is very open about what they put into their products and display all nutritional information on their Web site. Nothing to hide. Love that.

That being said, the So Delicious Dairy Free No Sugar Added Mint Chip Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert is made from organic coconut milk, guar gum, chocolate flake, vegetable glycerin, chicory root extract, erythritol, natural flavors, sea salt, locust bean gum, guar gum, carrageenan, and monk fruit extract. I am assuming that the mint flavor comes from some of those “natural flavors” as I don’t see it listed anywhere in the ingredients. This flavor of ice cream from So Delicious is dairy free, vegan, gluten free, kosher, made with organic and non-GMO ingredients. WOOT!

As for nutrition, a serving size of the So Delicious Dairy Free No Sugar Added Mint Chip Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert is 1/2 cup. In this serving, you will be taking in 120 calories and 11 grams of fat. Again, with all things made with coconut milk, do not panic over that fat count. Coconut milk is a bit fattier…but it’s that healthy fat that’s actually good for you. So, turn that frown upside down! A serving will also 65 mg sodium and only 1 gram of sugar. Yes…that’s it. And I swear, you’d never know that this dessert is virtually sugar free. Seriously! And, finally, you will be taking in 10 grams of filling fiber and 1 gram of protein.

Delicious! Honestly, the So Delicious Dairy Free No Sugar Added Mint Chip Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert tastes fantastic. I found it well balanced, very creamy, and a delight on the tongue. So Delicious continues to live up to its name…and continues to make me one happy lactose-intolerant Celiac. Their products cater to me and I continue to eat (or drink) them up. Budget be damned…sometimes you just need to treat yourself to something you love or know you’ll love. For me…that’s a So Delicious Dairy Free product.

Never fails.

A serving of So Delicious Dairy Free No Sugar Added Mint Chip Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert

August 11, 2014

Product Review: Schär Gluten Free Cinnamon Raisin Bagels

Product: Schär Gluten Free Cinnamon Raisin Babels – $6.99+

You can take the girl out of New York, but you can’t take the New York out of the girl. And by that I mean my extreme love of pizza, bagels, and the like. Especially bagels. They were a favorite breakfast item of mine growing up and continued to remain that way up until my Celiac diagnosis. When I had to go gluten-free, there were a few gluten-free bagels out on the market…but nothing that was so close to being a real bagel that I had to continue to buy them. I was mightily unimpressed by most of the ones I tried.

Until Udi’s. And then Katz Gluten Free.

And now…my third-in-line…

Schär.

I am no stranger to Schär’s products. In fact, I have pretty much enjoyed every product of theirs that I have gotten my hands onto and sank my teeth into. There are a few companies that I do not hesitate to purchase something from them, even if untested, because they have built up a trust. And I trust Schär. And that’s why, when I was out looking for something to have for breakfast…I jumped at the chance to try Schär’s new gluten-free bagels. Even better…they were something I had been craving for months now…

GLUTEN FREE CINNAMON RAISIN BAGELS!!

Sold! They were popped into my shopping basket (they were on the list…just not this brand specifically) and I made my way to the register before I was tempted by more gluten-free goodies while out on my tight grocery budget. And with that, I was heading home with my new find from the freezer section. I tossed them into my freezer (they specifically say to keep frozen…unlike most of Schär’s products, which are shelf-stable) and let them sit there for a week because I made homemade Gluten-Free Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls…and I was churning through those first. But I was craving a bagel and today felt like a good day for a bagel. After all…I had to go swimming this morning. If that doesn’t earn a bagel, I don’t know what does!

So, this morning before heading to the pool, I took out the Schär Gluten Free Cinnamon Raisin Bagels and removed two of them, placing them in a giant Ziploc bag and letting them sit on the counter to thaw while I was swimming some laps. When I came home, I turned on my oven and prepped a baking sheet so I could get a toast on these bagels. I did see where it said they were best enjoyed without toasting and just at room temperature…but who doesn’t toast a bagel?! Hmm? That’s just inhuman! So…I went to take my shower as the oven preheated and upon stepping back into the kitchen, the oven was ready and I tossed the tray into the oven to let the bagels toast.

I will point out that as I was preparing the bagels I made note of how they looked and felt. They are actually smaller than an average (New York-style) bagel, and more like the size of a doughnut. Instead of being bigger in diameter, however, they make up for it in height. Half of the bagel is nice and thin, the other half…is where you’ll find all the meatiness of the bagel…that chewy bread part that makes a bagel a bagel…toasted and crunchy on the outside with the chewy dense bread on the inside. And these bagels were definitely dense. They had a bit of heft to them, unlike Udi’s (still my favorite), where they feel quite light (which is a good thing!).

The Schär Gluten Free Cinnamon Raisin Bagels did smell amazing while they were cooking. You could get that sweet scent of cinnamon as the bagels were toasting in my oven. Mmmm…I was anticipating them finishing up…and actually kept pulling the door open to check on them, hoping for a little bit of golden doneness on the surface. It took about 10 minutes to get there…but when they did, out they came. Each half got a light coating of Tofutti Better Than Cream Cheese (vegan cream cheese FTW!) and breakfast was served!

I grabbed my coffee and my plate and tucked into the couch with my book (Heat by Bill Buford, if you were wondering) and settled in for my breakfast. First bite. Oh…yeah. There it was…that crispy outer crust with that chewy, soft inside. They were definitely denser than I like, but not bad. I rank them number three on my favorite gluten-free bagels (#1 – Udi’s; #2 – Katz Gluten Free). The cinnamon brought sweet heat that just elevated the flavor of the bagels. And the sweet raisins were a nice pairing. I had been craving cinnamon raisin…specifically in bagel form…and Schär delivered a solid, delicious version to me. I was impressed. I had a feeling it would be okay, as Schär has never let me down with one of their products, but you just never know. And being a bagel aficionado, I am rather particular about my bagels and how they feel, taste, and overall…how they cook. They have to live up to my high New Yorker standards. And these…basically did. Aside from being a little heavier than I like a bagel, they definitely delivered. And my craving has been satiated…finally.

Now, this is the part where I tell you what all goes into these bagels…and what they are free from…and then I hit you up with all that nutrition information, which no one really likes to see, but it’s important. So, stick with me here…

The Schär Gluten Free Cinnamon Raisin Bagels are made from water, corn starch, rice flour, buckwheat flour, sugar, yeast, psyllum seed husks (vegetable fiber), rice starch, canola oil, soy protein, cane sugar syrup, modified cellulose, salt, tartaric acid, calcium citrate, iron, thiamin, riboflavin and niacin. Yeah…those last few sound kind of chemically. I get that. But the Schär Gluten Free Cinnamon Raisin Bagels are gluten-free, wheat free, lactose free, egg free and diary free. They do, however, contain soy.

A serving of Schär Gluten Free Cinnamon Raisin Bagels is 1 bagel. No shock there, I know. This one delicious bagel will serve you 250 calories and 3 grams of fat. That is epically good for bagels. Trust me. One bagel will also provide you with 600 mg sodium and 11 grams of sugar. Both of those are a little higher than I like…but, again, not terrible for a bagel. These bagels are cholesterol free. And, finally, you will be getting 6 grams of filling fiber and 3 grams of protein. You will definitely feel full after a bagel. And I didn’t burn right through it either. I remained feeling full for quite a few hours after. Loved that.

I want to, once again, send out high praise, much deserved to Schär for their Gluten Free Cinnamon Raisin Bagels. Yet another amazing product to add to the lineup. I was beyond impressed with them. And, yes…the true test comes with whether I would shell out money to purchase them again. The answer is yes…oh, yes!

Schär Gluten Free Cinnamon Raisin Bagel toasted with a schmear of Tofutti Better Than Cream Cheese