Sandwich – Page 3 – The Celiathlete

March 30, 2015

Product Review: Glutenfreeda Gluten Free Roasted Garlic Artisan Flatbread and Pizza Crust

Product: Glutenfreeda Gluten Free Roasted Garlic Artisan Flatbread and Pizza Crust – $6.99+

If nothing else, this blog post is to remind you about how much I love pizza. Pizza is the ultimate food to me. Seriously. It satisfies every food craving I really have. Except maybe chocolate. But I’ve been cutting way back on that, except for an every-now-and-again 1 ounce dark chocolate treat.

But I digress.

Back to the pizza. Anyway, I have a myriad of gluten free pizza crust mixes that have worked and not worked in the past. I’ve tried just about every gluten-free pizza shell out there. If gluten free pizza is on the menu at a restaurant…you better believe that’s what I’m ordering. Pizza…is perfection to me. Food perfection.

It’s my go-to pre-race (half marathon or over) meal, which somehow equals out to the perfect amount of fats, carbs, and protein for me to perform at the top of my game. Trust me, I’ve tested this numerous, countless times.

So, imagine my glee when I was on a miniature shopping spree at The Raisin Rack in Columbus, Ohio, and came across the Glutenfreeda Gluten Free Artisan Flatbread and Pizza Crusts in their freezer section. I was beyond elated. Seriously. They come in four flavors, so I knew I was going to take one home with me, it was a matter of narrowing it down to which one. The Glutenfreeda Gluten Free Artisan Flatbread and Pizza Crusts come in Sun-Dried Tomato & Herbs, Roasted Garlic, Original, and Parmesan and Asiago.

I love garlic…so I went right for the Roasted Garlic flavor.

Now, I had no intention of letting these linger in my freezer for as long as they did. I swear to you. However, that being said, they did. I just had fresh produce and other, older products to work through first. That being said, yesterday was a good day. I guess the Gluten Free Pizza Bites I ate after the soccer match on Saturday got my tastebuds craving more, because both my roommate and I were really wanting pizza.

But I can’t just make any pizza, you know. I had some fresh produce that needed to be used, so I thought…Brussels sprouts on a pizza. That could rule. But what to pair it with? Vegan and gluten-free bacon. Perfect. What else? Bar-b-que sauce, of course! Add a bit of sauteed onion and it would definitely be a nice change of pace for a pizza. After all, who does Brussels sprouts on a pizza?

I DO!

And thanks to having the Glutenfreeda Gluten Free Roasted Garlic Artisan Flatbread and Pizza Crust in my freezer…I could indulge in my pizza craving without hassle or going to my grocer’s freezer section for a pre-made one. This one…this one would be all mine.

Super easy. I preheated the oven with the pizza stone and took the frozen flatbread out of the freezer, defrosting it a little in the microwave. Once the oven and stone were heated, I placed two flatbreads onto the stone and then topped it with some local barbeque sauce, some sauteed onions and Brussels sprouts, the vegan and gluten-free bacon, and then a bit of vegan cheese. Into the oven it went for about 10-12 minutes, to allow the cheese to melt and the flatbread/pizza crust to get that perfect crispness on it (I hoped).

Well…it worked. This was, perhaps, the most durable pizza crust that I can buy in a freezer section at the grocery store that I have ever had. Most gluten-free pizzas are thin and fall apart if loaded up with toppings. But because this is also a flatbread, Glutenfreeda has given it some more heft than most gluten-free crusts out on the market. And, even though it was flavored, it didn’t overpower any of the toppings that went on it. The crust toasted up beautifully and sliced into perfect triangles. If using it as a sandwich bread…I’ve heard it can be a little thick for that, but it was perfect for the pizza. And I’m totally looking forward to baking up another round of these tomorrow for dinner. I have more Brussels sprouts, after all. Glutenfreeda really impressed me with their Gluten Free Roasted Garlic Artisan Flatbread and Pizza Crust.

Let’s talk ingredients. The Glutenfreeda Gluten Free Roasted Garlic Artisan Flatbread and Pizza Crust is made from water, brown rice flour, tapioca starch, potato starch, expeller pressed canola oil (non-GMO), psyllium powder, egg whites, evaporated cane sugar, yeast, teff flour, seasoning (natural roasted garlic flavor, dehydrated garlic, hydrolyzed soy protein, spices, and salt) flax seed, salt, cultured dextrose, xanthan gum, and citric acid. It is wheat-free, cholesterol free, non-GMO, dairy-free, gluten-free, and contains no trans fats.

As for nutrition…a serving size is 1/2 of the flat bread. I was using this as my meal, so I ate the entire flatbread. As did my roomie. However, if you stick to the serving size, you will be consuming 110 calories and 3 grams of fat. You will be taking in 380 mg sodium and 0 grams of sugar. Yes…no sugar. LOVE. In addition, you will be consuming 18 grams of carbohydrates, 3 grams of fiber, and 4 grams of protein. This does make for a filling meal…but one that won’t break the calorie bank either as long as you are smart with your toppings.

I think, when I can’t pick up a pizza crust from my local gluten-free bakery, I need to find a local store that carries these. Because I was beyond impressed with how it cooked, held up, and tasted. Forget everything you think you know about frozen gluten-free pizza crusts. Pick up a package (there are 4 flatbreads per package) of Glutenfreeda Gluten Free Artisan Flatbread and Pizza Crust (in any flavor…but Roasted Garlic is YUMMY!) and see for yourself. It is amazing. You’ll see!

Gluten-Free Brussels Sprout and (Vegan) Bacon Pizza on Glutenfreeda Gluten Free Roasted Garlic Artisan Flatbread and Pizza Crust

February 10, 2015

Product Review: Amy’s Kitchen Gluten Free Sandwich Rounds

Product: Amy’s Kitchen Gluten Free Sandwich Rounds – $6.99+

Sometimes, it’s not just my pantry that keeps products for awhile. Back at the beginning of summer, I finally found a local store that carried a certain sandwich bread that I had been searching high and low for. You see, gluten-free bread has always been expensive, and since this particular bread only came with 8 pieces and was about $7.00, I really needed to make sure my budget was going to allow for it.

And so, it was because I finally had it within my clutches, I purchased a box of Amy’s Kitchen Gluten Free Sandwich Rounds.

Amy’s Kitchen and I are BFFs. For real. Her gluten-free products are amazing. All of her products are vegetarian…with a good chunk of them being vegan as well. How’s that for amazing, eh? I haven’t met a product from Amy’s Kitchen that I haven’t fallen in love with. And, for awhile, I was stashing her frozen meals and canned soups/chili in my freezer and/or pantry. When I moved to more of a clean diet, I went for more natural foods rather than frozen and processed. But Amy’s still had a place in my heart…and when anything called for vegetarian chili or the like…it is her brand that I turn to.

So, when I saw online awhile (like years!) that Amy’s Kitchen had created gluten-free Sandwich Rounds (I assumed these were like Sandwich Thins), I went on the hunt. When I came up empty handed, I just sort of gave up on it. Until Earth Fare opened up in my area…and lo and behold…there on the shelf…the Sandwich Rounds. No conversation or budget stopped me from putting that in my shopping basket and bringing them home. Into my freezer. And…there they sat. For a long while. I just kept buying loaves of bread. I didn’t even think about these again until I was reorganizing my freezer and starting to work through the items inside. And when I rediscovered them…I had an idea of how to use them.

Veggie burgers.

Because I had been craving. So, I picked up some of my favorite gluten-free veggie burgers from the store on Sunday (Franklin Farms is the brand, in case you were wondering…delicious and low calorie!). And this morning, I pulled the box Amy’s Gluten Free Sandwich Rounds out of the freezer and removed two of the flat breads to thaw while I was at work.

And this was my only disappointment with this product. I thought that these would be a lot like the Sandwich Thins I used to eat when I was eating horribly unhealthy “diet” bread. Those were thin little bread rounds that were sliced in half. These looked like small three-inch pizza crusts more than sandwich bread. And…in order to actually make a sandwich (or in my case a burger), I would have to double the bread. One piece is just that…one piece. No way to slice it in half to make a sandwich you can pick up. So, forget about that burger…it now became and open-faced sandwich tonight.

So, yeah…I was already a little disappointed. But, after I slid the Amy’s Kitchen Gluten Free Sandwich Rounds into the oven to toast slightly while the burgers cooked and the mushrooms and onions were marinating in bar-b-que sauce. As those finished up, I removed the now warmed thin bread rounds from the oven and began to put together the open faced sandwiches…trying not to be too disappointed that in order to make an entire burger, I’d have to double my calories and everything else. So…this would have to do. A little BBQ sauce on the round, then the veggie patty, melted vegan cheese, and then the barbeque onions and mushrooms to top it off. I served it with a side of Zapp’s New Orleans Style Voodoo Kettle Chips (which are totally amazing!).

Settling into dinner with an open-faced burger instead of an actual burger was a bit of a let-down. But…after I took my fork and knife and sliced into everything and gave it all a taste…all was forgiven. The Amy’s Gluten Free Sandwich Rounds are totally amazing. In fact, they taste like mini pizza crusts. So, now I kind of want to do little individual pizzas and use these as the base. They are amazing. And they even held up to the sauce, the burger, the toppings…without getting soggy and falling apart. Color me impressed. The disappointment for not being able to pick up my dinner faded. The taste, texture, and all-around goodness of this product made up for it in spades. Holy cow!

Let’s look at the ingredients! Amy’s Kitchen Gluten Free Sandwich Rounds are true to Amy’s Kitchen form. Using only ingredients that are recognizable. No fake stuff here. These little sandwich rounds are made from organic rice flour, filtered water, organic sunflower seed meal, organic tapioca starch, organic potatoes, organic extra virgin olive oil, organic agave nectar, sea salt, yeast, and organic rice bran extract. These little sandwich rounds are gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, vegan, cholesterol free, and kosher. Love it.

A serving of Amy’s Kitchen Gluten Free Sandwich Rounds is (sadly) one round. This one round piece of bread will provide you with 90 calories and 4 grams of fat. This serving will also give you only 135 mg sodium and 1 gram of sugar. You will also be taking in 1 gram fiber and 2 grams of protein. So, they aren’t very filling, but it’s nice not to have a calorie-laden burger/sandwich. I only wish these could have been split so that I could have picked up my burger instead of having to go all fine-dining on it with a fork and knife.

I am not kidding…Amy’s Kitchen Gluten Free Sandwich Rounds are fantastic. If you happen to find these in your store, I recommend the splurge. Make an open face sandwich…or if you don’t mind 180 calories and 8 grams of fat in one sitting…make a full one. For me…I think mini pizzas are up next. What started off initially as disappointment transformed into nothing but pure joy. This product is truly amazing. I love them!

An Open-Faced BBQ Mushroom & Onion Veggie Burger on an Amy's Kitchen Gluten Free Sandwich Round — An Open-Faced BBQ Mushroom & Onion Veggie Burger on an Amy’s Kitchen Gluten Free Sandwich Round

January 22, 2015

Product Review: Sandwich Petals Gluten Free Agave Grain Flatbread

Product: Sandwich Petals Gluten Free Agave Grain Flatbread – $3.99+

Sometimes…the world is made for more than just gluten-free sandwich bread. The problem is…not only is a good and delicious gluten free sandwich bread sometimes hard to come by…so is an alternative. For some, gluten-free isn’t just a dietary choice, it is a necessity. No cheating allowed or bad things happen. Very, very bad things.

Back before my initial diagnosis, however, I had found a new love for making wraps. Yes…wraps. And one of the best options out on the market were these low-calorie wraps called…Sandwich Thins. Ah, the days of making sandwiches and pizzas and other things using Flat-Out Sandwich Wraps. I loved them. I used them a lot. But, when I was diagnosed as a Celiac, at first I refused to spend an ungodly amount of money on sandwich bread…and when I finally decided I couldn’t live my life without sandwiches…I had to find a good one to use. When I narrowed that down to a few different brands to choose from (since one would usually be on sale at some point at one of the 9 stores I would visit)…I resigned myself that if I wanted anything apart from regular sandwiches…I’d have to use gluten-free corn tortillas. And that…just seemed wrong.

Since then, however, a few companies, including Rudi’s Gluten-Free and Udi’s Gluten-Free have released tortillas and wraps that make great substitutes. But, they just weren’t the same as my Flat-Out Sandwich Wraps from my past. It was sad for this gluten-free foodie, for sure.

But then, I took a journey to Boulder, Colorado and just happened to be killing time on a Sunday morning, waiting for some stores to open, perusing the aisles of a local natural food store. I wasn’t planning on shopping for food items. After all, these had to make the journey back to Indiana with me. But, alas…when I’m not looking is when I find something. And this time, this something was – SANDWICH PETALS! In three flavors, even. These reminded me so much (in shape and feel) of the Flat-Out Sandwich Wraps I had given up…that I had to have them. So, all three flavors were purchased and made the journey home. The Spinach Garlic flavor was the first to disappear.

This time…as I was making a simple vegetable wrap for dinner, I opted for the “original” version…the Agave Grain flavor of Sandwich Petals.

Sandwich Petals are aptly named because, well, they are shaped like a flower petal. Or a football. Or, perhaps, a combination of the two. Regardless, they are oblong, narrower at the top and slightly wider around the middle. They are easy enough to prepare too. Just prep your filling, and then wrap a single Gluten Free Agave Grain Sandwich Petal in damp paper towels. Microwave for 30 seconds. And you’re good to go. When you first take the petals out of the resealable package, they are rather stiff and stale feeling. But when you warm them up in the damp paper towel, they do get slightly more pliable and flexible. Enough that you can roll them up and make them functional to say the least. So…it would do. I warmed mine up, gave each petal a schmear of sun-dried tomato hummus, then packed it with kale, spinach, greens, yellow peppers, sliced onion, carrots, and a bit of avocado. Do not attempt to actually be able to roll these up into a wrap if you do fill it like an actual wrap should be filled. That doesn’t work with these wraps. But, you can go “taco-style” with them. It will be messy…but it works. And that’s exactly how it was for the past two nights.

The Gluten Free Agave Grain Sandwich Petals were actually sweet. Which…was weird when paired with the vegetables. At least I thought so. A little bit of sweetness is fine, but this was an odd sweetness that just didn’t work in tandem with the rest of the insides. This one, as I found out this morning when I paired this wrap instead with a banana, some melted peanut butter, and a bit of gluten-free chocolate chip granola, worked best as a dessert base, or wrap for something with a bit more sweetness. While not off-putting, it was just…different. But, ah well. If you warm up the Agave Grain Sandwich Petal and don’t build and consume your wrap immediately, leave it within the damp paper towel…or your wrap does stiffen up and harden back up a little. While it still is good, it’s just not as nice as a soft and pliable wrap that sandwich wraps are associated with. These were good…but not “knock-my-socks-off” fantastic. I don’t know if I would seek out this particular flavor again…unless wanting to make a sweet wrap or something that included cinnamon and sugar and chocolate and all that stuff. The sweetness just seems to work better with that sort of a filling. Not bad. But…not my favorite either. I reserve the right to be a bit picky when it comes to the short supply of gluten-free options out there. Wow me! That’s how you win me.

Hummus and Veggie Wrap made with Sandwich Petals Gluten Free Agave Grain Flatbread

The Gluten Free Agave Grain Sandwich Petals are gluten free, dairy free, soy free, nut free, egg free, non-GMO, and diabetic smart. These flatbreads are made with 10 gluten free ancient grains, contain omega 3’s, prebiotics (which aid in a healthy digestive system – very important for Celiacs, indeed!), are versatile, don’t have to be frozen, are virtually allergen free, and are heart healthy! The Gluten Free Agave Grain Sandwich Petals are made from GluTenFree Gluten-Free Proprietary blend of milled and whole grains (including: corn, flax, sesame, buckwheat, brown rice, sorghum, millet, quinoa, teff, and amaranth), water, organic agave nectar, tapioca starch, raisin juice, molasses, short chain fructooligosaccharides, xanthan gum, dicalcium phosphate, sodium bicarbonate, fumaric acid, sodium propionate, and sorbic acid. I know…those last few sound rather…processed, yes? Yeah…I agree. But…gluten-free flatbreads/wraps are important to at least try! Even if you’re trying to do more clean eating.

As far as nutrition goes, a serving of the Gluten Free Agave Grain Sandwich Petals is 1 wrap. This 1 petal will provide you with 100 calories and only 1 gram of fat. Theses petals do not have any trans fat or cholesterol. One of these wraps will give you 120 mg sodium and 3 grams of sugar. Considering these are sweeter than the other version I tried, I think that’s not a bad number on the sugar. One of these wraps will also serve up 3 grams of fiber and 2 grams of protein. So, yes…they are filling, but they won’t leave you feeling like a glutton or as though you have eaten too much. Even when stuffed full of whatever fillings you want, be it sweet, savory, a protein, or just vegetables.

I have yet to find Sandwich Petals anywhere in the stores I live near or in this area of the country. However, if you are curious about them, you can order them on the Sandwich Petals page…here! I was certainly a bigger fan of the Spinach Garlic version of these gluten-free tortillas, but the Agave Grain version wasn’t too bad itself. If these were readily available in my area, I would definitely consider using them in other ways. If you like a kick of sweetness in each bite…or are looking for a dessert wrap of some sort, this would be the wrap for you. These wraps, I will say, do not distract from whatever filling you do put inside, though. Even if it has a sweetness in the aftertaste. I love having different options when I’m preparing a sandwich without making a standard sandwich with gluten-free bread. While the Gluten Free Agave Grain Sandwich Wraps were not my favorite of the two versions (of three) that I have tried…they weren’t horrible either. Just choose your use wisely with these. To me…until this morning’s breakfast creation…these ones just fell a bit…flat.

Breakfast Banana, Peanut Butter, and Granola Wrap using Sandwich Petals Agave Grain Flatbread

January 21, 2015

Restaurant Review: Brown Dog Deli, Charleston, South Carolina

Restaurant: Brown Dog Deli, Charleston, South Carolina

The Brown Dog Deli is definitely one of Charleston, South Carolina’s little gems. It’s definitely not your average deli…but it is serving up some fantastic food.

And if that doesn’t sound like an intro to Diner’s, Drive-In’s and Dives…I don’t know what does!

But let’s face it…I don’t sugarcoat things. And when I am told over and over again by my Charleston regulars, Amanda and Richie, that I must go eat at the Brown Dog Deli…well you bet your sweet tennis balls and Nylabones that I do. HA. Dog references FTW. Don’t you love it when I laugh at my own jokes?

With this in mind, and packed schedule on Saturday, we made the decision to hit up the Brown Dog Deli on Sunday morning/afternoon for an early lunch of sorts. And after wandering around downtown, hitting up the market, shopping, and just taking in some of the history and beauty of Charleston, we were ready to sit down to a light-ish lunch. We were doing dinner out that night, so we wanted to hit this up early. Naturally, this means we got there at noon. HAHA! But, it was okay.

This funky little diner is located on Broad Street in downtown Charleston, and everyone seems to love it. When we arrived, at around noon on-the-dot, we were greeted by a server and led to a booth. The place had a few other people in there, but it wasn’t hopping. Our server, Meredith, came over to get our drink orders. And Cathy went ahead and gave her the heads up on my food allergies and dietary restrictions. She immediately came back with the fact that they had gluten-free bread and wraps and that they had a separate vegetarian/vegan menu. She retrieved that for me and then filled our drink orders.

I originally was just going to get the Gluten-Free Hummus and Veggies Wrap ($6.95), which would have been a wrap made with roasted red pepper hummus, cucumbers, carrots, tomatoes, red onions, feta, sprouts and spinach. It sounded really good…but the more I looked over the menu and the more my friends were talking about all the different things they were getting (and with the sort-of exception of Cathy…it was something you could only get at this restaurant). So, I ended up changing my mind.

As it was Amanda got what she always gets at the Brown Dog Deli…the Mesquite Turkey Croissant Sandwich ($7.95), which is made up of brie cheese, applewood-smoked bacon, sprouts, red onions, and cranberry-pepper jelly, served on a croissant. It is her favorite thing on the menu. Richie’s favorite sandwich was no longer on the menu, so he decided to try something very different, the Apple “Butter” Jeans Sandwich ($7.95), which is composed of warm melted brie, sliced Granny Smith apples, local apple butter, fresh arugula, mesquite smoked turkey, honey ham, and prosciutto, served on a panini-pressed local French baguette.

Cathy really was interested in the chili that was being offered that day, so she decided she was going to do a cup of that. It was the Southwest Beef and Beer Chili ($3.95) and she opted to pair it with a Build-Your-Own Grilled Cheese ($5.95), selecting Yellow Cheddar, White American Mozzarella, and Goats Cheese as her three cheeses for the sandwich, and choosing to have all of that toasted up on Sourdough Bread.

As for me…I ditched the Hummus and Veggies Wrap and thought to do something I hadn’t seen on a menu anywhere else. I opted for the Gluten-Free Portobello Philly Sandwich…light on the cheese ($6.95). This sandwich was made up of marinated portobello mushrooms, sautéed with peppers and onions, Boar’s Head Vermont yellow cheddar and white American cheese. They had Udi’s bread, which they toasted up to help keep it from immediately falling apart with the wet ingredients.

There was no shortage of things to discuss while we waited on food, but when it arrived, I was so excited. Like I said, this restaurant came highly recommended…and it was now packed with a line waiting to get in. We had good timing. And when food did arrive at our table, I was definitely ready to dig into my sandwich.

So how was the Gluten Free Portobello Philly? It was fantastic. The marinated mushrooms gave this sandwich a “meaty” texture. And the onions and peppers were cooked to perfection…keeping them flavorful and crisp, but also cooking them down so they weren’t raw. They were fantastic. The bread did start to fall apart, but that’s the nature of gluten-free bread. Especially Udi’s. But, with that aside, they were good about keeping the cheese light, and it probably would have been just as fantastic without it on the sandwich. I thought everything was seasoned perfectly.

And I was not alone. Clean plates…that is what we left at the Brown Dog Deli. Cathy loved her soup, and would dip her sandwich into the thick and spicy soup. She raved about the creaminess of the cheeses in her sandwich and how they all, surprisingly, worked when put together. And Amanda and Richie both loved what they ordered. Especially Richie…who had to get something he had never had before. Lunch was later than planned, but a total success. And then, we all purchased matching shirts from the Brown Dog Deli as well.

SO. MUCH. LOVE.

Anyway…if I were to point out one restaurant to anyone wanting to eat the local fare in Charleston, South Carolina…this is the place I would send them. They work with dietary restrictions, they are careful, they create great food…and you will not regret any wait you might have to get a seat inside. It’s worth it.

Brown Dog Deli…I’m coming back next time I’m in that fine city. I can’t wait to try something else!

Brown Dog Deli's Gluten Free Portobello Philly Sandwich — Brown Dog Deli’s Gluten Free Portobello Philly Sandwich

November 24, 2014

Product Review: Jovial Gluten Free Brown Rice Tagliatelle

Product: Jovial Gluten Free Brown Rice Tagliatelle – $5.49+

Sometimes I get big ideas and then wait awhile to actually try them out. When I first spotted the words “traditional egg pasta” on a box of gluten-free tagliatelle from Jovial…I thought immediately of soup.

What?

You don’t immediately think soup?

The reason I thought of soup was, as I was growing up, my mom would make a homemade Chicken Noodle Soup, which required an egg noodle in the recipe. So…this immediately sparked that in my memory. So, I told myself that I could easily make my mom’s recipe…but make it vegetarian. After all, I had one last package of Beyond Meat “Chicken” in the freezer, and for some reason, I think I was mentally saving it to make soup. So…the perfect opportunity presented itself for sure. The only big change was I didn’t make the stock myself. I couldn’t. I wasn’t using real chicken. So, instead…I picked up a couple of the Imagine Vegetarian No Chicken Broth and adjusted the recipe from there.

It worked out brilliantly in the end.

But…that’s not what I’m here to talk about. I am here to discuss the use of the Jovial Gluten Free Brown Rice Tagliatelle. The pasta is actually the last thing that gets added to the soup. Not only does this help to thicken the broth a little bit, but it also brings a heartiness to the dish. I love a good, comforting bowl of soup. And as we were in the low teens temperature-wise last week…this was the ideal food to have on hand. And my roomie and I ate it…three days in a row.

Jovial Gluten Free Brown Rice Tagliatelle (uncooked)

Jovial Gluten Free Brown Rice Tagliatelle was the ideal and perfect noodle for this soup. It is a thin, but longer noodle. Sort of like fettuccine, but different. Did you follow that? HA! It cooked perfectly in the broth with my not-chicken “meat” and my carrots. These noodles absorbed the flavors of the broth and the items cooking in it. And, for the first time, the fake chicken didn’t taste…fake. That was more the broth than the noodle…but that’s an observation I thought I should share. Anyway…Jovial actually managed to make a brown rice noodle that didn’t turn gummy and didn’t fall apart when it cooked. I loved how these noodles held their shape and were so prominent throughout the soup. What’s the point of having a “chicken” noodle soup if the noodles don’t hold up? They really did bring the dish up to where it needed to be. And, even on a reheat, they were perfect. Three days in a row…noodle perfection.

I was beyond impressed. I would purchase these again in a heartbeat to use in other dishes, including pasta dishes with a simple sauce. They went above and beyond my expectations.

Let’s discuss the ingredients that go into Jovial’s Gluten Free Brown Rice Pasta, shall we? These shelf-stable noodles are made from organic brown rice flour and organic eggs. Yes…they really are made from only two ingredients. In addition to being gluten-free, these noodles are also free of casein, tree nuts and peanuts. These are also certified kosher.

As for nutritional information, as far as pasta goes, this is right in line with even the regular stuff. A serving of Jovial Gluten Free Brown Rice Tagliatelle is 2 ounces of pasta. There are 4 servings in the package. A serving will deliver 210 calories and 3 grams of fat. One serving will also provide you with 40 mg cholesterol, 15 mg sodium, and no sugar at all! You will also be taking in 2 grams of fiber and 5 grams of protein. So, yes…these will make you feel full. Trust me. I made vegan grilled cheese sandwiches to eat with them and I was stuffed at the end of my bowl of soup and sandwich.

Another win for Jovial in the gluten-free pasta. Seriously continuing to fall in love with this brand when it comes to my pastas. Great noodles that are easy to cook and use…and don’t fall apart like some other brown rice pastas. That is definitely a win!

Gluten Free and Vegan “Chicken” Noodle Soup made with Jovial Gluten Free Brown Rice Tagliatelle

August 27, 2014

Recipe: Gluten Free Avocado Bruschetta with Green Sauce

Ah, Martha Stewart. I have to hand it to you! You always come through for me in a pinch. Always.

You see, I’m running short on time and have quite a few things left from my CSA bin delivery. Yes. I know. I don’t even eat out that often anymore. Once a week…generally on the weekend…and it’s usually always at Annie May’s Sweet Café on Saturday morning.

But…with my bin ingredients needing some attention, I noted this morning that my avocado was now ripe. Not just ripe…but at that perfect creamy ripeness. So…I scrapped my original plan to make Maple Roasted Brussels Sprouts and instead thought about what I could do with the ingredients I have in my fridge and pantry…that I could use avocado with.

I puzzled it out for much of the day…until I found this recipe. It’s one of Martha Stewart’s. And yes…it is sheer perfection. The only thing I did differently was I used kale in my sauce instead of parsley…because I have plenty of kale to use! HA! Oh, and I used slices of gluten-free sandwich bread instead of the crispy French bread that you would normally use to make bruschetta.

Trust me…you’ll eat this up as fast as Cathy and I did tonight!

Recipe: Gluten Free Avocado Bruschetta with Green Sauce

Servings: 4
Time: Prep 10 minutes; Bake 10 minutes

Ingredients:

2 ripe Hass avocados, pitted and peeled
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
8 slices gluten-free sandwich bread, toasted
1 small clove garlic, peeled
6 leaves of kale, trimmed
3/4 cup packed basil leaves
5 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
1-1/2 teaspoons red-wine vinegar
Salt and freshly ground pepper

Directions:

Place the garlic in a food processor, and pulse.

Add the kale, basil, 5 tablespoons olive oil, vinegar, and salt and pepper to taste; puree.

Set the sauce aside.

Cut the avocados into 1/2-inch chunks. Toss with the lemon juice and remaining 2 teaspoons olive oil.

Spread a scant tablespoon of the green sauce on each slice of bread.

Arrange the avocado chunks on the bread, sprinkle with a pinch of ground pepper.

Serve immediately.

~*~*~

This dinner was so simple and yet…so fantastic all at once. It really wasn’t hard to make at all. When toasting the bread is what takes up most of your time, you’re doing it right. Seriously…this was a flavor haven of sheer recipe awesomeness. The avocado was smooth, creamy, and soft. The sauce had this great flavor to it…without being overly oily. Think of it as a sort of kale and basil pesto. What that ended up doing was really bringing this amazing earthy and light flavor to the dish itself.

One bite…and you’ll be hooked. I added a sprinkle of red chili flakes to mine…because a little hit of heat is an amazing thing. I sort of want to make it all over again. YUM!

August 26, 2014

Product Review: Schär Gluten Free Multigrain Bread

Product: Schär Gluten Free Multigrain Bread – $4.99+

For all those different gluten-free bread needs, I often turn Schär. Not only has Schär put out a variety of bread products on the market, they make sure that the products that they do put out are up to their high standards. This is why when I need sandwich rolls or ciabatta or even baguettes…I head to the gluten-free bread section and pull one of these products off the shelf. Yes. Not frozen. I get so tired of having to thaw out my bread…but without preservatives and the like, gluten-free products don’t keep for long if they aren’t refrigerated.

Schär specializes in the development and production of foods for people with special dietary needs, with a goal of becoming a leader in that field. They have very much established themselves as a leader in the gluten-free foods out on the market. They are certainly one brand that I never hesitate to purchase, even if I’ve never tried the product. And since Schär guarantees the highest safety standards in the manufacturing of their products, you can rest assured that you won’t have any contamination from their products. They aim to produce quality and delicious products that ensure the consumer a balanced nutrition and quality of life through their restrictive diet.

In the past, I have often used Schär Gluten Free Baguettes, Ciabatta Rolls, Sandwich Rolls, Cinnamon Raisin Bagels, Table Crackers, and even some of their sweets, like their Chocolate Hazelnut Bars.

So, when my roomie and I spotted a loaf of the Schär Gluten Free Multigrain Bread at Wal-Mart on sale, we couldn’t pass up that deal. So…we purchased it. And I was already coming up with ideas for sandwiches and the like. I was excited to try it. Honestly. I had my usual brand (Rudi’s Gluten-Free Multigrain Bread) already open, so I didn’t immediately break into my loaf from Schär. Until last night.

You see, last night the Series 8 premier of Doctor Who was playing at my local movie theater. I wanted to keep dinner light and easy so we could get out the door and get to the theater in time. So, I opted to make one of my vegan gluten-free grilled cheese sandwiches. Yummy. I try to enhance the sandwich by adding items to it. No time to get really creative, so I sliced up the rest of a tomato and added it to the sandwiches. I spread Earth Balance onto the slices of bread, put the cheese and tomato on and placed it in the skillet to toast.

The first thing I noticed about the Schär Gluten Free Multigrain Bread was that the slices are very small. If you are familiar with Udi’s Gluten-Free Bread…then think about slices about that size. I’ve grown used to this when I branch away from my standard bread…so…I won’t hold it against Schär. It toasted up nicely on my skillet and the vegan cheese melted as well as vegan cheese can melt. Once each side was toasted, I served up one sandwich to my roommate and one for myself.

Gluten-Free and Vegan Grilled Cheese Sandwich using Schär Gluten Free Multigrain Bread

She took the first bite and I asked her what she thought of the Schär Gluten Free Multigrain Bread. She said it was “pretty good.” I think she did actually like it, but prefers our usual Rudi’s brand when it comes to sandwich bread. And…I agree. However, that’s not saying that the Schär Gluten Free Multigrain Bread isn’t good. It is. In fact, one aspect of it that I did quite enjoy was the wholesome flavor that came with each bite. It almost reminded me of wheat bread, back when I could eat it. I don’t think my sandwich was the best vehicle to test this bread out on, however.

So, tonight…I gave it another test run. And this time, I used it as a base for a Gluten Free Avocado Bruschetta with a Green Sauce (which I made from kale, fresh basil, olive oil, red wine vinegar, and some salt and pepper). Oh…oh…this was a game changer. I toasted the bread, dry, in the oven for about 10 minutes. It came out a gorgeous golden color…not burned or charred on any of the edges. Perfect. I put the Green Sauce on the bread then topped it off with the chopped avocado. My first bite…and…oh…oh yes! YES!! This was brilliant. This was what that bread was made for. And it turned out the smaller size was perfect for the amount of topping and chopped avocado that I had. Each bite had every flavor and the savoriness of the bread just elevated this dish even higher.

It was the more complex dish that truly won me over with the Schär Gluten Free Multigrain Bread.

So, let’s talk ingredients, shall we? A loaf of Schär Gluten Free Multigrain Bread is made from water, corn starch, rice flour, rice starch, soy flakes, potato starch, buckwheat flour, soy bran, rice syrup, soy protein, palm oil, psyllium seed husk (vegetable fiber), millet flakes, yeast, beet sugar syrup, sugar, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (emulsifier), apple extract, salt, calcium citrate, citric acid, tartaric acid, folic acid. This loaf of bread is gluten-free, wheat free, lactose free, dairy free and egg free. It is also cholesterol free.

As far as nutrition goes, a serving of Schär Gluten Free Multigrain Bread is 1 slice of bread. One slice of bread provides you with 80 calories and 1 gram of fat. In addition, you will be consuming 125 mg sodium and less than 1 gram of sugar. Love those stats. Finally, you will be taking in 1 gram of fiber and 2 grams of protein. The bread won’t leave you feeling full…but it won’t make you feel like you hardly ate either.

So, while it wasn’t exactly love at first bite with Schär Gluten Free Multigrain Bread, I came around. It just took a second tasting to really value the texture, flavor, and overall feel of this bread. Yes, the slices are small, and yes…it can be tough without some toasting or warming…but in the end…a definite quality product I would be proud to purchase again!

Gluten Free Avocado Bruschetta with Green Sauce using Schär Gluten Free Multigrain Bread

July 21, 2014

Recipe: Roasted Garlic, Cheddar and Chive Biscuits

This spring, my roommate and I decided to take on a new challenge. This challenge was…we were going to see if we could…possibly…grow our own herbs. We actually picked up a little kit from a local store that gave us five different herbs to grow. Sadly, the cilantro and the parsley didn’t quite survive the first wave of heat and humidity, despite our best efforts. This left us with chives, basil and oregano. So far…they’ve been doing well. The break in the hot summer weather has worked in favor for those three herbs, at least.

Well, the chives were getting a bit crazy and I was informed by the roomie that we needed to use them. And I know how she loves biscuits. Does she ever love biscuits…

So I promised her that I would make her some biscuits that included chives in some way, shape or form. I also know that she loves cheese and she loves garlic. I found a base recipe for some flaky biscuits on a blog called Whole and Heavenly Oven…and then made my own adjustments to make it work within my own diet restrictions. I will note that I didn’t roast my own garlic. I had a jar of roasted garlic in my fridge, so I used about 2 tablespoons of the garlic instead of roasting a head of garlic myself. But, roasting garlic is easy and I’ll include those instructions from the original recipe in case you don’t have the jar of roasted minced garlic like I did.

Recipe: Gluten-Free Roasted Garlic, Cheddar and Chive Biscuits

Servings: 20
Time: Prep 50 minutes; Bake 15 minutes

Ingredients:

1 small head of garlic, top cut off*
1/2 teaspoon olive oil*
4-1/2 cups flour (I used Better Batter Gluten-Free All Purpose)
4 teaspoons coconut sugar
2 tablespoons baking powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons salt
1-1/4 cups cold butter, cubed (Earth Balance is a great non-dairy option)
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (Diaya is great for a non-dairy option)
2 tablespoons fresh chives, chopped
2 cups buttermilk (I used unsweetened almond milk)*NOTE: If you are using the jarred minced roasted garlic, you don’t need these ingredients.

Instructions:

If you are roasting your own garlic, preheat the oven to 400°F. Place garlic in a small baking dish and drizzle with olive oil. Cover with foil and bake for 35-40 minutes, or until garlic is soft. Cool slightly then finely chop. Set aside.

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

Using a pastry cutter, or your fingers, work in cold butter, shredded cheese, chives, and chopped roasted garlic until crumbly.

Pour buttermilk over all and gently stir until a shaggy clump of dough forms.

Turn dough onto a floured surface and gently knead until dough is smooth.

Pat dough into a 3/4 in circle. Using a biscuit cutter, cut out biscuit shapes and place on parchment paper-lined baking sheets. Keep doing this until all the dough is used up.

Bake biscuits at 400°F for 15-18 minutes, or until lightly golden. Cool on wire cooling racks.

Store biscuits in an airtight container at room temperature up to 3 days.

~*~*~

Much to my delight (and I admit…surprise), what emerged were these golden, flaky, amazing biscuits. My roommate had one hot from the oven and she raved about the flavors. These will be part of our breakfast lineup this week for certain. I already scrambled up eggs and placed between a sliced biscuit with some greens for breakfast this morning. HUGE win on the breakfast front. I will definitely be making these again!

July 13, 2014

Product Review: Sandwich Petals Gluten Free Spinach Garlic Flatbread

Product: Sandwich Petals Gluten Free Spinach Garlic Flatbread – $3.99+

It has been a sad, sad time for me. A long while back, my local Whole Foods stopped carrying the LivWell brand products. These products not only had amazing English Muffins…but also…the only gluten-free pita bread I have ever seen in my gluten-free life. So, with that gone, I literally had to make sandwiches. Like with gluten-free bread…or gluten-free hamburger buns…or well…that’s about all.

And…I learned to live with that. Sure, there were times I convinced myself that I was going to make some sort of flatbread on my own. But nothing ever came of that. Lately, my gluten-free bread baking has been more disastrous than successful, so I honestly think I’m just scared to screw something up again.

But then I took a trip out to Colorado. And on that journey, my roommate and I drove up to Boulder, Colorado for a day. It’s tradition. We always do it. And while in Boulder, we stopped into a natural food store and just planned on perusing the aisles to kill off some time. It was Sunday, so we were waiting on some stores to open. And, with no intention of purchasing anything…we of course spotted something that we had never seen in our area before.

Sandwich Petals.

Thank those Flat-Out Sandwich Wraps out on the market…and make them gluten-free. That’s basically what these are. And that was something I had never heard of or seen before. So…I grabbed one of each type that were on the shelf and purchased them…without hesitation. Because…it might be the only way I ever get to try these.

Well, after a long journey to Detroit and back, it was World Cup Finals time and I had a few options out for dinner. My roommate chose the previously blogged about gluten-free and vegan SoL Cuisine Organic Falafel. I asked her what she wanted those on…either Amy’s Organic Gluten-Free Sandwich Thins or the Sandwich Petals in the pantry.

She chose the Sandwich Petals. And I asked her which flavor…she went to the pantry and pulled out the Spinach Garlic Sandwich Petals…because they were on top. HA! Good way to make a decision, yes?

So…there it was. I cooked up the Organic Falafel on the stovetop, and as it was finishing up the falafel, I pulled out the Sandwich Petals and looked at how to prepare them. Easy enough…either stove top or microwave. I went microwave for ease and simplicity. My top few petals were a bit torn, but they rode back to Louisville, Kentucky, in my carry-on. So…the fact that they were still in tact for the most part was a miracle. I wrapped up one of the Sandwich Petals Gluten Free Spinach Garlic Flatbreads in damp paper towels and gave them a little warming in the microwave for 30 seconds. I unwrapped each one and topped with some Organic Tahini Sauce from SoL Cuisine and then some greens and finally…the SoL Cuisine Falafel. I then folded over the Sandwich Petal and dinner was served.

The Sandwich Petals Gluten Free Spinach Garlic Flatbread was the perfect way to serve these up…when gluten-free pita bread is no longer available. Seriously. While it did get a little messy because stuff would fall out of the edges…they were packed with flavor and really sturdy. Unfortunately, since my petals were slightly torn to begin with, the mess factor was a little elevated. But, it didn’t take away from the fact that these flatbreads are made to stand up to fillings of all sorts. The Spinach Garlic flavor was not overpowering, so it didn’t detract at all from the falafel…but it added a nice bit of flavor to the entirety of the dish. I hope I can find these around here because I will be sad when I use up all three varieties that are in my pantry.

For the record, the Sandwich Petals Gluten Free Flatbreads come in Spinach Garlic, Red Chili, and Original.

As far as ingredients go, the Sandwich Petals Gluten Free Spinach Garlic Flatbread is made from a gluten-free blend of whole and milled grains (corn, flax, sesame, buckwheat, brown rice, sorghum, millet, quinoa, teff, and amaranth), water, tapioca starch, a flavor base (consisting of spinach, garlic, basil, parsley purees and extracts, salt, canola oil, and spices), raisin juice, organic agave nectar, molasses, short chain frutooligosaccharides, xanthan gum, dicalcium phosphate, sodium bicarbonate, fumaric acid, sodium propionate, and sorbic acid. Sandwich Petals are gluten-free, carbohydrate nutritionally deliberate (with less than 24 grams per petal), virtually allergen free (contains no dairy, egg, peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish, soy, or wheat), are low glycemic (diabetic and diet friendly), contain heart healthy omega 3s, are prebiotic (and helps aid in digestive system health), do not need to be refrigerated and…are really convenient.

As for the nutritional aspect of the Sandwich Petals Gluten Free Spinach Garlic Flatbread, a serving is one petal. This one petal will serve you up 100 calories and 1 gram of fat. One petal will also provide you with 120 mg sodium and only 3 grams of sugar. That is really fantastic. And finally, you will be taking in 3 grams of fiber and 2 grams of protein, so it’s enough to fill you up without making you feel overstuffed. Love it.

I really hope that my local stores start carrying these Sandwich Petals. So far, I like what I have tried and I can’t wait to see how else I can use these in recipes and with other foods. For now, they were just the bread I needed to really enjoy a tasty Mediterranean sandwich without the use of pita bread. It was the perfect substitute, allowing the filling to shine, but still being quite tasty on its own. The Sandwich Petals Gluten Free Spinach Garlic Flatbread wins in my book.

Sandwich Petals Gluten Free Spinach Garlic Flatbread with SoL Cuisine Organic Falafel with Organic Tahini Sauce

July 13, 2014

Product Review: SoL Cuisine Organic Falafel with Organic Tahini Sauce

Product: SoL Cuisine Organic Falafel with Organic Tahini Sauce – $4.99+

SoL Cuisine has been a surprise to me as far as the products they put out onto the market. For one thing, they are the only brand that offers gluten-free and vegan/vegetarian items that I can’t get otherwise. For that, I am forever in my debt to this company. Because of SoL Cuisine, I can have vegetarian breakfast sausages again. Because of SoL Cuisine, I have another option for veggie burgers. Because of SoL Cuisine, I can have vegetarian BBQ Ribs again. Because of SoL Cuisine…I can indulge in Falafel!

YES!

Falafel. That little Mediterranean cake made from chickpeas that is so awesomely yummy? Ever tried it? If not…you should. I love falafel. Always have. Because I am a huge fan of Mediterranean food as well. So, when I was grocery shopping and spotted SoL Cuisine’s Organic Falafel with Organic Tahini Sauce on closeout at my local natural food store…it was time to finally give it a try. I couldn’t argue with the price.

Unfortunately, I never really had anything in the house to use the SoL Cuisine Organic Falafel with. Normally, it would be served on pita bread…but my local Whole Foods stopped carrying the LivWell brand that had the gluten-free pita bread. So, that was sad. But, thanks to my trip to Boulder, Colorado and a stop in at one of their local natural food stores, I picked up these gluten-free sandwich petals (think Flat-Out Wraps). I picked up one of each kind of petal and brought them home with me.

And after a weekend in Detroit…where I saw Queen in concert…which was awesome. And…coming home in time to watch the World Cup Final between Germany and Argentina…I needed dinner. My breakfast was small and my lunch consisted of applesauce and a protein bar. Yeah…it was only 3:45 but I was ready for dinner for sure. I had so many options for easy meals to choose from in my pantry and freezer…so I pulled out some options and called in Cathy to help make a decision. She settled on Falafel (because we had it the longest). So I asked if I should put it on Amy’s Gluten-Free Sandwich Thins or the Sandwich Petals…and she decided on the Spinach Garlic Pesto Sandwich Petals. Hey…it was the closest thing we had to a flatbread. No pita…no problem.

SoL Cuisine Organic Falafel (cooked stove top)

So, I got a pan out and placed a touch of coconut oil in it. Then, into the pan went six (3 for each of us) of the Sol Cuisine Organic Falafel. I let them work in the pan while I put the frozen tahini sauce package into hot water to (hopefully) let it thaw before the rest of the meal was ready. Note to those of you out there about to try this product or thinking about it…thaw the sauce! Aside from that everything went very well. I cooked the Organic Falafel in the pan for about 5 minutes on one side…then flipped them over and did the same for the other side. They turned a gorgeous golden brown on the one side, so it was starting to come together. I got out the Sandwich Petals and heated up (one at a time) each flatbread, put some of the (thankfully) thawed sauce on each one, topped it with greens, then moved the now golden brown falafel over to the waiting flatbread. I topped it off with a bit more sauce, folded it over…and dinner…was served.

So, I settled in to finally really start paying attention to the second half of the World Cup final match. I carefully lifted up my Mediterranean sandwich of sorts and took a bite. I think I expected a little more of a crunch to the falafel from the stove top cooking, but, it was still quite soft. In fact, two of them started to meld together when I took another bite. But, falafel is not crunchy, but a chickpea cake of soft goodness, so this was actually what it should be like. And, honestly, I liked it. I liked it a lot. And the Organic Tahini Sauce that is included in the box is quite tasty as well. I was impressed. I found these easy to eat, and really quite delicious. I never know what it means when my roommate describes a product as “quite tasty” because she never really says anything else, so I can’t really say what her thoughts are truly on it…but she ate her Falafel Flatbread Sammie and that was enough to say that it was at least palatable to her. As for me…I devoured mine. The sandwich was a bit awkward, not really having a pocket to tuck everything into, but I made it work and in the end…it was a delicious, and quite healthy dinner.

SoL Cuisine does it again!

Let’s talk ingredients, yes? The SoL Cuisine Organic Falafel is made from organic chickpeas, organic okra, organic onion powder, organic garlic powder, wheat free tamari sauce, organic tahini, organic expeller pressed sunflower oil, organic tapioca starch, organic sesame seeds, and xanthan gum. The Organic Tahini Sauce is made from organic tahini, filtered water, organic lemon juice concentrate, sea salt, and organic garlic. This product is gluten-free, wheat-free, vegan, vegetarian, kosher, and organic.

Nutrition-wise…these aren’t a bad option at all. The serving size of SoL Cuisine Organic Falafel is three of the patties. These three patties will serve you up 110 calories and 2.5 grams of fat. You will be taking in 210 mg sodium and 1 gram of sugar. These are cholesterol free. Finally, you will be taking in 7 grams of fiber and 5 grams of protein. Filling and delicious.

So far, I have yet to really not enjoy something from SoL Cuisine. The Organic Falafel with Organic Tahini Sauce is a great and easy meal to prepare. Serve it up on flatbread or crackers…drizzle with the sauce, and enjoy every bite. This was a fantastic and unique meal to have while watching the World Cup…but it was a delicious stunner of a meal regardless.

Love!

SoL Cuisine Organic Falafel with Organic Tahini Sauce on a Gluten-Free Spinach Garlic Pesto Sandwich Petal

Chickpeas*, Okara*, Onion* & Garlic* Powder, Spice*, Wheat Free Tamari Sauce*(Water, Soybeans*, Salt), Tahini*, Expeller Pressed Sunflower Oil*, Tapioca Starch*, Sesame Seeds*, Xanthan Gum. – See more at: http://solcuisine.com/american-retail/sol-cuisine-falafel-sauce#sthash.k8FUfHIs.dpuf