Rice – Page 4 – 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

July 21, 2014

Product Review: Feel Good Foods Gluten Free Vegetable Dumplings

Product: Feel Good Foods Gluten Free Vegetable Dumplings – $5.99+

There are quite a few things I really miss in my life at times. Like…makes me sad and really wanting to cry kind of miss. Maybe not the way I miss my family (and I really miss my family)…but people and food have relationships too. And one of my favorite cuisines growing up was none other than Chinese food or Asian-style cuisine.

It was tradition in my family to visit my great grandmother in Winona, Minnesota, every year that we went to visit both sets of grandparents. And one thing that I always looked forward to when visiting my great grandma was…Chinese food. She always ordered in the most amazing Chinese food in town. It was always egg rolls and chow mein and rice and there was more of it than the group of us could eat…but we always gave it our best shot. It was tradition. It was one of the many highlights I experienced growing up and something I came to look forward to every time we headed over to great grandma’s house.

I haven’t had true Chinese food since I went gluten-free…three years ago. The sauces…the way things are cooked…it’s risky. And it’s a risk I no longer am willing to take. It’s sad, because Asian food is one of my favorite types of cuisine. Sure, there are places like P.F. Chang’s that offers a gluten-free menu…but the vegetarian choices are very limited…and that’s not true Chinese.

Then…along came a little miracle in my Whole Foods (and other natural food stores) freezer section. A company, known as Feel Good Foods, introduced the first (and I believe the only) gluten-free Asian dumplings and egg rolls to the market. The hardest part was choosing if I wanted egg rolls or dumplings. It was a tough decision, but I finally chose the dumplings. One of the interesting things about this company is that it was created by husband and wife duo, Chef Tryg and Vanessa Phillips. They created Feel Good Foods gluten-free frozen foods after they opened a gluten-free restaurant and were told that they needed to put their food out on the market. Their foods are non-GMO, all-natural and completely gluten-free. You see…Vanessa is a Celiac…so they take food allergies really seriously.

Cathy had some leftover rice from our treat on Friday at the local Indian restaurant. So, after work and a trip to the gym, I wanted something that was easy to prepare and wouldn’t require me to read off a recipe or attempt something new. With the rice in the fridge, I figured I could steam up some of the last of the jasmine rice in my pantry for myself and then pull the Feel Good Foods Gluten Free Vegetable Dumplings out of the freezer to prepare while my rice was cooking on the stove.

These are super easy to prepare. In a non-stick pan, add a cup of water and 1 tablespoon of oil. Bring it to a boil and add the dumplings to the pan, flat side down. Cover and reduce the heat to medium-high, leaving the dumplings in the pan until the water completely evaporates. It takes around 10-11 minutes. They are fine to eat on their own, but I served mine with rice. These even come with a fantastic dipping sauce, which I ended up just pouring over the top so that the rice could absorb it too.

I settled in for dinner and dug into my little bowl of Asian gluten-free food. I wasn’t sure what to expect…but I was very happy with what I started to eat. The dumplings were soft and tender, with a nice crust on the flat side that was on the pan. The rest of it was that doughy stickiness you associate with potstickers. Amazing. The stuffing inside the wrapper was flavorful and very much like a delicious egg roll. So it was like a dumpling with an egg roll flavor. Happy girl right here. And the dipping sauce helped add a bit of seasoning and flavor to the entire dish. I am already wanting to restock my freezer with more of these. And the egg rolls for that matter. Delicious!

The Feel Good Foods Gluten Free Vegetable Dumplings are a simple blend of ingredients. The wrapper is made from water, sweet rice flour, rice flour, potato starch, canola oil, salt, xanthan gum, and corn starch. The filling is a combination of cabbage, yellow onion, bean vermicelli, carrots, green onion, corn starch, sesame oil, and less than 2% of evaporated cany syrup, ginger, salt, black pepper, yeast extract, and shiitake mushrooms. The dipping sauce is made from water, organic tamari soy sauce, sugar, ginger juice, garlic juice, and natural flavors of garlic and black pepper. These dumplings are gluten-free and cholesterol free.

Real and recognizable ingredients. LOVE it.

As far as nutrition goes, a serving size of the Feel Good Foods Vegetable Dumplings is 4 dumplings. There are two servings per box. One serving provides you with 290 calories and 9 grams of fat. They contain 430 mg sodium and 3 grams of sugar. These contain 2 grams of fiber and 3 grams of protein. The sauce packet contains 45 calories, is completely fat free, has 10 grams of sugar, and 2 gram of protein. Not bad for a frozen package of gluten-free foods.

If I could hug both Chef Tryg and Vanessa, I totally would. Because of them, I am once again able to revisit one of my favorite cuisines…Asian. And I can’t wait to try the Vegetable Egg Rolls and replenish my freezer with the Vegetable Dumplings. These are one of my favorite frozen dishes I have had to date. It might be the nostalgia, but I definitely think it has more to do with the product itself. Taste, texture, flavor and just all around goodness.

It doesn’t get much better than this!

Chinese food is BACK in my life!

Feel Good Foods Gluten Free Vegetable Dumplings and Dipping Sauce

July 21, 2014

Product Review: Freedom Foods Cocoa Crunch Cereal

Product: Freedom Foods Cocoa Crunch Cereal – $5.99+

Many of you know, because I make it no secret, that there are certain things in life that I love. Certain foods that I fall in love with and make a staple in my pantry, refrigerator, or even my freezer. Well, that holds true for products made by the Australian company, Freedom Foods. Freedom Foods makes a variety of products, although only a few items are available in the United States at the moment…and most of these include cereals, which, for the record, are made in a dedicated and specially built allergen-free facility in the Riverina region of New South Wales, in Australia. As Freedom Foods was specifically developed to make allergen-free foods, they test every batch made in their facilities, to the most stringent levels possible, leaving no doubt that the Freedom Foods products you pick up will be free of the allergens that are necessary to avoid.

LOVE THAT!

Because we live in a world where it’s not enough to just be health conscious. Now we have to be allergen conscious too. With the growing number of food allergies and intolerances, it is nice to find a company that really proves that it is dedicated to creating products that are safe to consume. Freedom Foods has been around for over 20 years, making great-tasting and nutritious allergen-free food. I can attest to this, as I am a huge fan of the products I have had from them thus far. All of their products adhere to the strict guidelines laid out by Australia’s food industry, meaning all their products are non-GMO. They even test for GMOs just to make sure.

One of my favorite products, mind you, is the Tropico’s cereal, which is a gluten-free version of Froot Loops, but made without artificial colors, ingredients, partially hydrogenated crap…you know…all that bad stuff that Kellogg’s puts into their cereals and people consume freely. I am a cereal girl. I start most of my mornings with a small bowl. A serving. And yes…I do measure. You knew that already though, right?

Well, in my July Cuisine Cube, I had a special surprise waiting for me inside. Because when I opened up the box, I saw that bright red top of a cereal box that meant…it had to be Freedom Foods. I thought for a moment that they just restocked me on my Tropico’s (which my parents mail to me every few weeks so I never run out – as it is impossible to find them around here anymore!). But I was wrong. The box of cereal that awaited me when I pulled it out of the Cuisine Cube was…one I had never seen in the wild before. Not when stores around here carried it…and not at the store that carries the brand in Birmingham, Alabama…where I think my parents buy them out of Tropico’s.

The cereal was Freedom Foods Cocoa Crunch Cereal…and it’s basically a chocolate version of Rice Krispies. Chocolate puffed rice cereal? I’m down with that. We all know I’m a chocolate fiend as it is. Give it to me for breakfast and you just won my morning. As I just ran out of Tropico’s…it looked like Monday was going to start with a bit of chocolate. So, I poured myself a serving of the Cocoa Crunch, topped it with a splash of unsweetened almond milk, and settled in to get something more in my stomach (I had a small bite of something before I went for my run, but I still had spin class to contend with…so…fuel, baby, fuel!).

I have had my fair share of puffed rice cereals in the chocolate form before. Envirokidz (Koala Crisp) and Mom’s Best (Crispy Cocoa Rice) both do gluten-free puffed rice cereal. And both are really delicious. So…when I took a bite of this cereal, I was hoping it would live up to those two at least.

It came as no surprise that…it did.

Freedom Foods Cocoa Crunch is a chocolaty bowl of goodness and rightness in the morning. Chocolate can make anything better. Even a good morning can be improved on with a hint of chocolate. What makes this cereal really unique, though, is that these chocolate puffs of rice are flavored and colored with natural ingredients and are lower in sodium and sugar than comparable kids cereals. And…the flavor really is great. I don’t want a cereal to be too sweet, because it feels like it’s just a bunch of sugar. And this one strikes a nice balance of rich chocolate without that overkill on sweetness. It was crunchy, and stayed crunchy, as I ate it. And analyzed each bite…which I tend to do each time I try a new cereal. It was decadent without being too much. And, the best part is…the chocolate milk left in the bowl at the end of it. Recovery fuel at its finest! This cereal is total chocolate love without the excess sugar and sodium that other kids cereals have inside.

So…let’s get down to the comparisons and the nitty-gritty of the ingredients and nutritional information, yes?

Freedom Foods Cocoa Crunch Cereal contains the following ingredients: gluten-free flour mix (rice, non-GMO corn, wholegrain sorghum flour), cane sugar, chocolate syrup, psyllium, cocoa powder, salt, palm oil, natural chocolate flavor, and…wait for it…vitamins (niacin, thiamine, folic acid). This cereal is free from gluten, wheat, nuts, soy, eggs, and GMO ingredients.

As for the nutritional information, this isn’t too bad for a gluten-free chocolate-based cereal. Honestly. A serving of Freedom Foods Cocoa Crunch Cereal is 1 cup (Envirokidz Koala Crunch is 3/4 cup and Mom’s Best is 3/4 cup). This serving will give you 130 calories and .5 grams of fat (Envirokidz – 110 calories; 1 gram fat; Mom’s – 120 calories; 1 gram fat). This serving will also dish you up 85 mg sodium and only 7.5 grams of sugar (Envirokidz – 100 mg sodium; 11 grams sugar; Mom’s – 150 mg sodium and 13 grams sugar). And finally, you will be taking in 3.5 grams of fiber and 2 grams of protein (Envirokidz – 2 grams fiber; 2 grams protein; Mom’s – 0 grams of fiber; 1 gram protein). So, Freedom Foods might have a few more calories than the other gluten-free puffed rice cereals out there, but it definitely has them beat on everything else. And you know what? That makes me really happy. The small amount of sugar that is inside a chocolate cereal from Freedom Foods just wow’s me. Honestly. I am beyond impressed.

Between Tropico’s and Smudge…Freedom Foods is really making a name for itself in my pantry. And now…it’s striking a high note with the chocolate lover in me with this Cocoa Crunch Cereal. I can’t thank Cuisine Cube enough for introducing me to this product that I didn’t even know existed. Another great item in my latest box…another fantastic product from Freedom Foods. I am one happy food-loving girl!

A bowl of Freedom Foods Cocoa Crunch Cereal

July 21, 2014

Recipe: Broccoli Masala

Ever since I started going to my favorite (and Louisville’s most popular) Indian restaurant, one of the best dishes I have ever eaten has been their Broccoli Masala. No joke. It is amazing. It has so much depth of flavor. I always get mine done up spicy…because I love some heat with my food.

I’ve done a baked version of a Broccoli Masala before and even blogged on it…but I wanted to see if I could find a better recipe to use. And, lo and behold, I found one that would incorporate items that I already had in my apartment. I had broccoli from my last CSA bin, before having to take a couple weeks off as I was out of town. I had onion. I had cherry tomatoes. And so…this recipe from Spicy Treats just seemed ideal. I made up my mind to make it…so after I got home from work, I got busy chopping up veggies and seaming some rice on the stove top.

The rest…was just a matter of cooking. It was so easy and Cathy even preferred it to the baked one I made previously. It’s still not Shalimar’s (that would be my favorite Indian restaurant)…but it is, so far, the next best thing!

Recipe: Broccoli Masala

Servings: 2
Time: Prep 20 minutes; Cook 15 minutes

Ingredients:

1 medium sized crown of broccoli, chopped into small florets
1 big onion, sliced
1 tomato, chopped (I just sliced grape tomatoes in half)
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder
1/2-1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon curry powder
salt to taste
cilantro, finely chopped (optional)
2-3 teaspoons coconut oil
1/4 teaspoon fennel seeds

Directions:

Wash Broccoli crown, drain and chop into small florets. Chop the onion , tomato, and crush the garlic and keep ready.

Heat oil in a pan.

Add fennel seeds and when they splutter, add garlic and saute it.

Add onions and saute for 1-2 minutes or until it turn light golden brown.

Add tomato and saute until soft and mushy.

Add turmeric powder, chilli powder, cumin powder, and curry powder. Stir fry well.

Add broccoli florets. Season with enough salt and then add a dash of water. Stir fry for a minute.

Cover and cook for 2-3 minutes, or until the florets turn soft and tender. Do not over cook. The broccoli should retain that bright green color.

If you are using it, add the cilantro and stir fry for a moment.

Serve over steamed jasmine rice.

~*~*~

My roomate really dove into this dish, loving the further depth of flavor that the addition of the tomatoes and the onions made. In addition, the coconut oil made the perfect oil in which to cook the vegetables. They cooked up to perfection, and I hit the seasoning just right for my roommate (she is not one who likes spicy foods…I do). So, that was a win. If you prefer a spicier meal, add more chili powder. This delicious and nutritious meal is a great and fun way to enjoy Indian food in the comfort of your home. Simple to make…and delicious too.

And now I’m craving…

June 23, 2014

Recipe: Vegetarian West African Peanut Soup

I admit it. I’m a girl from the North, so when my CSA bin arrived with collard greens inside…I had NO clue what to do with them. None. And while I lived in Birmingham, Alabama for six years…I was never one for southern-style cooking. Just ask any of my friends and co-workers. I was not having any of it. So…collard greens had me stumped.

So, I did what any good Northern girl would do when staring at collard greens and trying to figure out a good way to use them before they went bad (because we waste NOTHING!). I hit up Pinterest. And…much to my delight, found a soup recipe (and I love soup!) that incorporated collard greens and pretty much (save for a red onion and an extra box of organic veggie broth) everything I already had in my pantry. Seriously! So…I figured I would give it a try.

Let me tell you…this soup is so easy to make. One pot. That’s all you need. I used my Dutch oven to cook everything up and it was just…easy. And smelled really good. I know…some of you might wonder how these ingredients all come together. Like…tomato paste and peanut butter…but it works. Just trust me. If you like Pad Thai…you’ll appreciate this soup. That’s what it smells and tastes like…minus the noodles and chicken and all that stuff. I got this recipe from Cookie + Kate…and it was a flavor sensation of pure perfection.

Recipe: Vegetarian West African Peanut Soup

Servings: 6-8
Time: Prep 10 minutes; Cook 35 minutes

Ingredients:

6 cups low sodium vegetable broth
1 medium red onion, chopped
2 tablespoons peeled and minced fresh ginger
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon salt
1 bunch collard greens (or kale), ribs removed and leaves chopped into 1-inch strips
3/4 cup unsalted peanut butter (chunky or smooth…I used chunky so I wouldn’t have to buy peanuts to garnish)
1/2 cup tomato paste
Hot sauce, like Sriracha
1/4 cup roughly chopped peanuts, for garnish (optional)

Directions:

In a medium Dutch oven or stock pot, bring the broth to a boil.

Add the onion, ginger, garlic and salt. Cook on medium-low heat for 20 minutes.

In a medium-sized, heat-safe mixing bowl, combine the peanut butter and tomato paste, then transfer 1 to 2 cups of the hot stock to the bowl. Whisk the mixture together until smooth, then pour the peanut mixture back into the soup and mix well.

Stir in the collard greens and season the soup with hot sauce to taste.

Simmer for about 15 more minutes on medium-low heat, stirring often.

Serve over cooked brown rice if you’d like, and top with a sprinkle of chopped peanuts.

~*~*~

Like I said…it’s like liquid Pad Thai. And I love Pad Thai. It sounds odd…but trust me…the flavors are there. You can make it as mild or as spicy as you want. I kept mine near the middle, because while I love spicy foods, my roommate is a “heat wimp” (her words). So…I found the happy medium there. This soup is just delicious and honestly…couldn’t be easier to make. It didn’t take much time to get the ingredients ready and then you just let it cook, stirring every now and again. I do recommend using chunky peanut butter. It is just awesome.

So…if you are looking for a different soup to try…totally give this one a shot. I promise…you’ll like it. You might even love it…like me.

June 11, 2014

Product Review: Aldi liveGfree Gluten Free Southwest Veggie Stuffed Sandwiches

Product: Aldi liveGfree Gluten Free Southwest Veggie Stuffed Sandwiches – $2.69

For those of you, who, like me, were diagnosed with Celiac later than life…raise your hand if you remember the simplicity, the ease, and the not-really-so-tasty-but-you-thought-it-was days of yore when you could pull something called a Hot Pocket out of the freezer, slide it into a little heat envelope thingy, and nuke the hell out of it…the filling oozing out of the edges and baking to that microwave safe, dish.

Mmmmm…

Yeah…those were the days.

There was, honestly, a time when those were my lunch. Every. Single. Day.

Sometimes dinner.

Those were the days I lived out of my freezer.

Like…I sort of am now because I hit a low point in my life and went on a buying spree of things I didn’t really need…but at the time, apparently had to have…in my freezer…which I had emptied out of processed foods and is now packed full of them once again. This is what happens when a runner sprains her ankle. She falls off that wagon.

That being said…simplicity and ease shouldn’t be eliminated completely. And while I don’t like dining on processed foods, they do play their part.

As I mentioned, Aldi put out a test line of gluten-free products, branded as liveGfree, and spanning everything from cookies to crackers to snack bars to frozen meals to ready-made frozen pancakes (2 flavors even!) to…things like baking mixes. Yes…Aldi has jumped on the bandwagon and has offered those of us who must eat gluten-free a more affordable option than what we get at all the grocery stores and natural food stores where we have to shop.

I won’t lie…I pretty much snagged one of everything when I went into Aldi. Thankfully, I took a stroll around the store and found more items in the freezer section. YAY!! Jackpot. Because in among them were the liveGfree Gluten Free Southwest Veggie Stuffed Sandwiches. Yeah…happiness can be achieved with stuffed sandwiches…because they really don’t exist in the gluten-free world. Well, Glutenfreeda makes a version of them, but none of theirs are also vegetarian. BOOO! So the fact that Aldi’s liveGfree brand has a vegetarian option…hell yeah…that was coming home with me. This was meeting my freezer.

And, as I was going running with my friend Natalie yesterday…I needed a simple dinner to heat up so I could change, slather on some sunscreen, and head through the mess of Louisville traffic to her apartment. We wanted to do something out-of-the-box instead of our normal Monday run. And it meant some ice cream at the end of it (I had Fudgesicle sorbet!). So, I really had nothing already prepared…so I opened up my freezer and spotted the liveGfree Gluten Free Southwest Veggie Stuffed Sandwiches.

Perfect.

I got out some plates, pulled the stuffed sandwiches out of the box, slid them into the sleeve, put them in the microwave for just over 2 minutes…and gave them their quick nuking.

Dinner was served…conveniently speedily.

But was it any good? Well, I served up Cathy first and she was delicately nipping at the sandwich while mine was heating. I asked her how it was. She did the high-pitched, “It’s…okeedokey.” That means…eh….not so good. So, I asked her to elaborate. She found the crust to be dry and the filling to be spicy. She’s a spice wimp. I can’t remember (because it has literally been ages) if Hot Pocket’s crusts were dry to the taste…so I can’t really compare as far as that is concerned. When mine finished up it’s cookery in the microwave, I dumped it onto my plate, cut it in half, took a picture, and then took a bite.

Yes…the crust was definitely dry. In fact…it was distractingly dry. I felt that the stuffing was lacking. I loved the spice and I loved the brown rice and black bean combination, but it was seriously lacking. I felt it wasn’t truly “stuffed,” if you know what I mean. And while rice and beans are great fillers…and filling…these are Soutwest Veggie sandwiches. And I found the veggies to be really lacking on the inside. It was mostly rice and beans. Bummer. Actually, so far…of all the items I’ve tried from the liveGfree brand, this is the one I am least likely to purchase again.

So, let’s talk ingredients. The crust and filling of the liveGfree Gluten Free Southwest Veggie Stuffed Sandwich is made from gluten-free millet flour, water, gluten substitute (rice flour, corn starch, maltodextrin, pea fiber, guar gum), brown rice, salsa (diced tomatoes, tomato puree, salt, diced jalapeno peppers, diced Anaheim peppers, dehydrated onions, spices, dehydrated garlic and citric acid), water, black beans, roasted corn, green chilies, pepper jack cheese with jalapeno peppers, sugar, honey, soybean oil, xanthan gum, dry yeast, deli seasoning, baking powder, baking soda, salt pasteurized dried egg yolks, low moistere part skim mozzarella cheese, southwest style seasonings (spices, red chili pepper, paprika, salt, garlic powder, citric acid, modified food starch (NOOOO!), and cornmeal. As for the topical ingredients, these include BBQ seasoning, fructose, paprika and paprika extract, tomato powder, natural smoke flavor, and spice. These are gluten-free, nut-free, and wheat-free.

Nutritionally speaking, a serving size is one of the two included stuffed sandwiches. This stuffed sandwich will provide you with 270 calories and 6 grams of fat. You will also be taking in 2 grams of saturated fat, 5 mg cholesterol, 440 mg sodium, and 8 grams of sugar. Not impressed. And, you will also be taking in 5 grams of filling fiber and 7 grams of protein. These, surprisingly, were filling…but they just weren’t all that good. LOVED the spice…but it just lacked…flavor.

While I know some of my gluten-free friends have raved about these, I wasn’t as high on them, nor as impressed. I don’t think I’ll spend my money on these again in the near future. I was underwhlemed and a bit disappointed, since these had really gotten me pretty excited when I saw them in the freezer at my local Aldi. A bit of a letdown…but…I am glad I at least tried it.

Aldi liveGfree Gluten Free Southwest Veggie Stuffed Sandwich (not so stuffed...as you can see) — Aldi liveGfree Gluten Free Southwest Veggie Stuffed Sandwich (not so stuffed…as you can see)

May 6, 2014

Product Review: Lundberg Family Farms Organic Roasted Red Pepper Brown Rice Pasta and Sauce Mix

Product: Lundberg Family Farms Organic Roasted Red Pepper Brown Rice Pasta and Sauce Mix – $5.99+

Lundberg Family Farms…is, quite honestly, one of my most trusted brands for gluten-free goodness. I love the brown rice cakes. I love the gluten-free risottos, the gluten-free rice blends…even their brown rice pasta. So, a little while ago, I heard about their latest addition to their gluten-free food line-up. Brown rice pasta and sauce mixes.

I saw an ad in one of the gluten-free magazines I subscribe to and immediately went on the hunt. Sadly, at the time (and maybe still), nowhere in my area carried these delightful little boxes of pasta and sauce goodness. I was beyond disappointed.

Leave it to Columbus, Ohio. My friend Jenn took me to a natural food store there, called The Raisin Rack. It was there that I found, on one of the numerous shelves of gluten-free products, these boxes of brown rice with their own cooking sauce from Lundberg Farms. See this happy face? Yeah, I made sure I grabbed one of them. Not to get ahead of myself, but I should have grabbed one of each flavor.

As it was, I selected the Lundberg Family Farms Organic Roasted Red Pepper Brown Rice Pasta and Sauce Mix. Why? Because roasted red pepper is awesome! I’m on a roasted red pepper kick as it is…so…yeah…it was the winner. I took this home and waited for the right opportunity to cook it up. It came the night before a big trip to Colorado. With all the produce used up, I needed something fast and efficient for dinner. I went to the pantry and perused for a moment before snatching this box from the shelf and giving it a chance to wow me with an easy meal.

Lundberg Family Farms made this meal from organic rotini pasta and a flavorful sauce that is cooked up with water and the mix included in the box. When it cooks up, the spiralized brown rice pasta cooks in the water and as it sits, each noodle is blanketed in a rich and creamy sauce, all blended with amazing herbs, spices and vegetables. And yes…it actually does work out like that.

Settling in for dinner was as easy as making it. I handed a bowl of the pasta to my roomie and then settled in with mine. She dug in and actually seemed quite happy with it. I wasn’t sure how she’d like it. The sauce wasn’t a thick sauce, but it wasn’t watered down either. I just know that she likes…sauce. And she actually did like this sauce, because it does coat every noodle quite beautifully.

And the flavor is really good. I was concerned that the noodles might be bland, but they weren’t. They cooked up to a perfect al dente and then soaked in that sauce as it sat off the heat for a few minutes. All of that brought this fantastic flavor…of roasted red pepper and garlic and onion…with the right amount of seasoning from herbs and spices. It was creamy without the unhealthy cream. It was full of flavor with simple, basic ingredients. In other words…it was amazing and fantastic and delicious.

Lundberg Family Farms Organic Roasted Red Pepper Pasta and Sauce Mix is made up from organic brown rice pasta, organic dried garlic, organic dried red bell peppers, organic corn starch, organic dried onion, sea salt, organic dried cane syrup, organic brown rice flour, organic mushroom extract, organic spices (parsley and pepper), organic rice concentrate, organic olive oil, and organic sesame oil. It is gluten-free and cholesterol-free. It is also kosher and vegan. Love that.

Nutritionally speaking, the Lundberg Family Farms Organic Roasted Red Pepper Pasta and Sauce Mix serves up 2 servings per box. One serving of this pasta will dish up 220 calories and 3.5 grams of fat. You will also be consuming 440 mg sodium and 3 grams of sugar. Not too bad for something in a box, right? In addition, you’ll be taking in 4 grams of fiber and 5 grams of protein. So, this will definitely make you feel full.

If you need a quick meal that can be made in one pot, making clean-up a synch, and also providing big flavor and great taste…I highly recommend Lundberg Family Farms Organic Roasted Red Pepper Pasta and Sauce Mix. It is so easy to make, cooks to perfection, and tastes great. If you can find these boxes of pasta goodness…do give them a try.

Enjoy!!

Lundberg Family Farms Organic Roasted Red Pepper Brown Rice Pasta and Sauce Mix (cooked)

March 27, 2014

Restaurant Review: Alma Cocina, Atlanta, Georgia

Restaurant: Alma Cocina, Atlanta, Georgia

So, here I was in Atlanta, Georgia…having completed a marathon earlier that morning. I spent the afternoon doing the tourist thing…scoping out the CNN Studios and just walking around and enjoying the city. Trust me…after a marathon, it’s best to keep moving. That being said…another important thing to do after running is to begin proper recovery. And part of that is nutrition.

A big part of that is nutrition, actually.

Prior to the race, my roomie and I had thought that we’d simply return to Max’s Coal Oven Pizzeria for dinner. Then we ate there…and were not impressed. At all. So, this meant new plans had to be made. And, after watching some Food Network and seeing guacamole…I was craving. Mexican. Mmmm…guacamole. Yum yum! So, I got onto my Find Me Gluten Free app and discovered that not far from the hotel was a nice Mexican joint called Alma Cocina. I pulled up the Web site, glanced at the gluten-free menu and thought…this might be a great place to try. I passed the laptop to my roommate so she could take a gander, and she agreed that Mexican sounded good. So, we made 6 p.m. reservations…and called it a night.

I marathoned. I did the tourist thing. I walked…a lot. I discovered that I was hungry…and still had an hour to go before dinner reservations. Cathy decided that we should start ambling that way because she wouldn’t feel bad walking in at 5:30 p.m. I liked her logic, so that’s what we did…killing off a bit of spare time by wandering around the block and checking out the Dragon*Con hotels. Because…why not? Around 5:30 p.m., we strolled into Alma Cocina for dinner.

We were greeted immediately upon entering. I told them that we had reservations at 6, but we were here early. They said it wasn’t a problem, and took us right to the table. We were seated and they went to check off our reservation, returning a moment later with some menus, including the gluten-free menu for me. AH! They read the reservation. YAY! I was feeling good about this already.

Alma Cocina's Gluten-Free Menu — Alma Cocina’s Gluten-Free Menu

As we looked over the menu, our server came over to get our drink orders. I was recovering…so water for me. Cathy did the same…because she’s a copy-cat. Just kidding. But…she did also get water. When he returned, I inquired as to how big the sides were. He said they were relatively big…so I pondered for a moment, but we went ahead and ordered the Gluten-Free Guacamole ($6.00) as a starter.

After leaving to put in the order, our server returned and asked me if the gluten-free was a food allergy or just a dietary choice. I told him I was a Celiac and he nodded and said, “Okay…so cross-contamination is not okay.” He hurried off. I might have arched an eyebrow at Cathy. They really do pay attention.

Alma Cocina's Gluten-Free Guacamole (served with chayote...not chips) — Alma Cocina’s Gluten-Free Guacamole (served with chayote…not chips)

Our appetizer of gluten-free guacamole came out a few minutes later. It was this little bowl of gorgeous, creamy…yet chunky, mashed avocado with all the right seasonings and additions. But…no chips. The server said that to prevent cross-contamination, the tortilla chips were replaced with chayote. I was intrigued! He then asked if we were ready to order…and at this point we were.

Cathy went ahead and ordered the Fried Avocado Tacos ($14.00), which consisted of crispy queso cotija, poblano pesto (which she says I need to make!), roasted tomato…and yes…fried avocado.

I went for the sides…because the only other option on the gluten-free menu for me would have been the Vegetarian Platter and that just sounded like too much. So, I opted for ordering the Mexican Chopped Salad ($4.00), which was a mix of jicama, chayote, red onion, ancho chile powder, and cilantro. I also ordered the Black Beans and Poblano Chili Rice ($4.00) which came with pico de gallo. Orders in…we were left to our appetizer.

The guacamole was amazing!! Seriously. It had red onion, serrano pepper, red onion, lime, cilantro…everything that I make mine with at home. And it tasted fantastic. Cathy told the waiter when he came back to see how it was that was amazing…almost as good as mine. Hee! But…what really made this a standout, believe it or not, was the chayote. No lie! The sweetness of the chayote (which, in case you haven’t googled it yet…is an edible plant that is pear shaped with a thin, green, wrinkly skin and white flesh. It is sort of like a squash…but sweet. And it can be eaten raw, cooked, mashed, baked, boiled, fried, etc.) was just what the guacamole was needing. Now, at home I eat my guacamole with tortilla chips. If I can find chayote in one of the numerous stores I shop in…that won’t happen ever again. This is above and beyond tortilla chips. This plant was made for guacamole! Between the two of us, Cathy and I made short work of the guacamole. In fact, we were just polishing it off when our entrees arrived.

Now, the chef got a little creative with my Mexican Chopped Salad. Seemed they were out of it, so he went ahead and pretty much sliced up all the components and made a version of the salad for me. It looked delicious and fresh as it was settled down in front of me. And I was beyond intrigued by my green rice and super-delicious looking black beans. Oh yeah…I was one happy marathoner.

We were left to enjoy our dinner and Cathy dove into her tacos…declaring them one of the best things she has ever eaten. And praised that poblano pesto to the roof.

I started with the Mexican Chopped Salad. It was an amazing array of textures and flavors. I loved the jicama and how it tasted when mixed with the chayote. The red onion brought a bit of bite to what, otherwise, would have been way too sweet. As it was…I got about 3/4 of the way through before calling it quits. It was delicious…but with the chayote with the guacamole…I needed some spice and some heat.

I turned my attention to the Black Beans and Pobalno Chili Rice. Oh my gluten-free gods…this was delicious. It is so simple. So basic. And yet…the flavors were awesome. I loved to scoop up some of the beans and rice together. I loved the little bit of heat that the beans had with them. I loved the sweet, with a hint of heat, rice…and how it was green. Pablano chili rice…for the total win. I was enamored with this side. I sort of wished I had ordered two of them. But, I was getting full fast. Rice and beans will definitely get that tummy full. Carbs, fiber, and protein, baby! But it was what I needed. And I polished that plate clean.

And I was full. The waiter came to take away the dishes and asked if we were interested in dessert. We passed because both of us were now quite full.

Wow…what an amazing restaurant. The atmosphere. The service. The overall experience…I would go back in a heartbeat to Alma Cocina. I felt like they were very mindful of my food allergies and took great care when it came to preparing and serving my food. LOVED every moment of our time there.

Alma Cocina's Side Orders of Mexican Chopped Salad (left) and Black Beans and Poblano Chili Rice (right) — Alma Cocina’s Side Orders of Mexican Chopped Salad (left) and Black Beans and Poblano Chili Rice (right)

March 1, 2014

Product Review: Urbāne Grain Three Cheese and Mushroom Whole Grain Quinoa Blend

Product: Urbāne Grain Three Cheese and Mushroom Whole Grain Quinoa Blend – $4.99

Quinoa. I love quinoa. I cook with it often. And I have used it as a hot cereal in the morning as well as a side…and even baked it in casseroles. I’ve also supplemented it for rice-based meals, as quinoa has a much better nutrition profile than rice.

Even better…it tastes great.

One day, while hitting up the (seriously) nine grocery stores I shop at every week, my roommate decided to splurge a little and had me pick out one of the new products we hadn’t seen elsewhere before. I noticed some black pouches on a shelf with clearly labeled “gluten-free” markings on them. They were quinoa dishes, that were also touted to be all natural and restaurant quality. Since I am a quinoa whore…I desperately wanted to try one of the variety of flavors. So, I pointed to them and my roommate told me to pick a flavor. As I am less picky than her I told her to pick the one that sounded best to her.

Her choice?

Urbāne Grain Three Cheese and Mushroom Whole Grain Quinoa Blend.

Sounds good, yes?

I thought so. So…we brought it home with us. And promptly let it sit in the pantry for a few months. D’oh! But…even though a bin was received today, I already had it in my mind that this quinoa meal was going to be our dinner tonight. And so…it was.

Now, I had physical therapy on my ankle right after work, so this put us home much later than normal. I didn’t take that into account this morning when I noticed the 20-25 minute cooking time on the stove and in the microwave. Ah well. I figured I could pair it with a nutritious kale salad with some fresh veggies and that would help get us through the cooking time.

So, as instructed by the package, I immediately filled a pan with 1-1/2 cups of water, 1 tablespoon of olive oil, then added the contents of the pouch. I gave it a stir and set it on medium-high heat, letting it come up to a boil. Once there, I covered it, took the heat down to low and let it simmer for about 25 minutes. The entire time it was cooking, and the couple of times I lifted the lid to give it a stir, the dish itself smelled fantastic.

Like…macaroni and cheese.

I’m okay with that.

Anyway, after it cooked and the liquid was mostly gone, I removed it from the heat and let it sit, still covered, for five minutes. After that, I gave it a quick fork fluffing and dished it up. Dinner…was finally served.

And my, oh, my…this was one crazy indulgent dinner. First of all…hello quinoa. I love you. Pair that with a blend of organic millet and brown rice and you’re talking a filling little bowl of goodness. The cheeses..Romano, Cheddar, and a 12 month anged Parmesan. Amazing. It smelled as good as it tasted. And that texture was rich and creamy, with a little bit of that rice-chewy texture that is just what you need so everything isn’t just one strange texture. It was awesome. The dehydrated mushrooms softened up beautiful. And my cheese-loving roommate devoured it as quickly as I did. Really amazing. I thought it was one of the better packaged items that involved quinoa that we have picked up to date. YUM-A-LICIOUS!

Ingredient-wise…it doesn’t get much simpler than this. The Urbāne Grain Three Cheese and Mushroom Whole Grain Quinoa Blend contains parboiled brown rice, quinoa, millet, Cheddar cheese, Parmesan cheese, and Romano cheese, dehydrated mushrooms, sea salt, and dried herbs. Simple ingredients make the best meals. Even when they come in a package.

Nutritionally speaking, a serving of Urbāne Grain Three Cheese and Mushroom Whole Grain Quinoa Blend is 1/3 cup of the dry mix. There are 2.5 servings per package, which makes about 2 cups when completely cooked. A serving will provide you with 180 calories and 2.5 grams of fat. You will also be consuming 550 mg sodium, and only 1 gram of sugar. Nice! A serving also will dish you up 3 grams of fiber and 6 grams of protein, so you will feel full when you eat this. Trust me. This mix is gluten-free and cholesterol free.

I fell in love with this package of awesome quinoa goodness. The flavors were amazing. It cooked up beautifully. It was indulgent and rich and…just really amazing. I can’t say enough good things about it. They aren’t kidding when they say it is restaurant quality. I can’t wait to try the other 8 flavors out there.

Urbāne Grain Three Cheese and Mushroom Whole Grain Quinoa Blend (cooked)

February 25, 2014

Product Review: Tasty Bite Agra Peas and Greens

Product Review: Tasty Bite Agra Peas and Greens – $3.29+

There is more to my life than just pizza, ice cream, and cookies. Really, there is. And the proof is in this blog. I have an eclectic love of food, even with my dietary restrictions. I love to try different types of cuisine and often do, as long as the food can safely be made vegetarian and gluten-free. One of the easiest cuisines to navigate with this specific diet is none other than Indian food.

Now, I have my go-to Indian restaurant here in town. And I love the food. I grew up eating this type of food at my neighbor’s home…so Indian cuisine has always been one of my favorite things. I love the smell of curry. I love the taste of the spice blends. I could eat Indian food every night for the rest of my life and never grow tired of it.

It’s all about depth of flavor.

That being said, I have been without my CSA bin for two weeks now, due to being out of town. Fresh vegetables and fruits are not in my apartment currently. So…I’m pulling things out of the pantry to avoid grocery shopping and to get me through to Friday when I do get my CSA bin once again. YAY! Tonight…the final Tasty Bite meal came out of my pantry. It was time…

Tonight’s Tasty Bite was the Agra Peas and Greens. Agra Peas and Greens is basically peas in a creamy sauce of leafy greens and cashews. I’ll be honest with you…neither my roommate nor I knew what to expect from this meal. I mean, I like peas well enough, but it just wasn’t jiving with me. I think my roomie was trying to put off the inevitable…but it reached critical here in the apartment when it came to food. I don’t know why we were both expecting not to really like this meal.

Anyway, as with all Tasty Bite meals, nothing is simpler. I cooked up some jasmine rice this morning so that I could just simply reheated it when I got home to serve with the meal. Then, the little pouch of Indian food goodness is vented with a 2-inch tear and then popped into the microwave for 90 seconds. And just like that…a warm Indian meal is ready to serve. It is so easy. So, I split the rice and the contents of the package between two bowls and dinner was served…in less than five minutes.

I admit, Indian cuisine isn’t the prettiest cuisine out there, but it sure is one of the tastiest. And despite our initial reluctance to dive into this one…both Cathy and I were pleasantly surprised with how much we liked this. The peas gave the entire dish a nice hint of sweetness. It was just what was needed. This particular dish is very mild, no heat at all in each bite. I didn’t mind there not being heat this time though, because of the flavors that played across my palate. Fantastic. The sauce was awesome. I could taste the cashews. I was thrilled with this meal and savored each and every bite until my bowl was completely empty.

The Agra Peas and Greens meal from Tasty Bite is made up of water, green peas, tomatoes, onions, fenugreek greens, cashew paste, spinach, cream, watermelon seeds, sunflower oil, salt, garlic, ginger, sugar, tumeric, spices, and chilies. Put it all together and a surprisingly delightful entree emerges.

Nutritionally speaking, the Tasty Bite Agra Peas and Greens is a smart choice. Honestly. A serving is half of the pouch that it comes in. This serving will deliver 140 calories and 10 grams of fat. It seems high in the fat, but a lot of that does come from the cashews. A serving also provides 3 mg cholesterol, 410 mg sodium, and 2 grams of sugar. From a serving, you will also get 4 grams of fiber and 4 grams of protein, making it rather filling.

I love that this dish completely caught me off guard. I was so ready to not like it and found myself loving it more and more with each bite. It’s a non-spicy, easy, tasty bite…and it’s in your grocery store. Trust me…you’ll want to pick this one up and try it for yourself.

Tasty Bite Agra Peas and Greens over jasmine rice