Product: Nuovo Gluten-Free Basil Potato Gnocchi – $5.99+
I know…I’ve been blogging a lot lately. And even more so…I’ve been blogging a lot about gnocchi. And can you blame me? I mean…if you’ve ever had a properly cooked gnocchi, you know that there is nothing more rustic and traditional than that in Italian food. It’s one of the first pastas ever prepared by Italians…and probably my absolute favorite.
But gluten-free…that makes it difficult.
You will recall from a few blog entries prior to this one…I was at my local Earth Fare when I stumbled across (did a happy dance and a few frolicking laps of joy around the store) Nuovo Gluten-Free Gnocchi in the fridge/freezer pasta area. Fresh…gluten-free…pasta. Not just any pasta…gnocchi. *DROOL* There were three different flavors to choose from. And I decided I didn’t want to make decisions that day…I wanted gluten-free gnocchi. So all three flavors came home with me and spent a little time in my freezer.
But…when the pantry and fridge are becoming bare and you’re waiting on the next paycheck and your next CSA bin…you make do with what you have. And I happened to have some marinara in the fridge and some gnocchi in the freezer. Dinner…simply served. It only took a little bit of boiling water, some salt, and a little warm on the stove.
Nuovo Gluten-Free Basil Potato Gnocchi (boiled and drained)
I started with the classic…and moved to the next natural choice…Basil Potato Gnocchi. Just one step above Classic Potato. This one, the little potato-pasta clouds are seasoned with flecks of basil. You can see them. They look amazing. They smell amazing as they boil away in the big pot of water. Trust me…I was so happy that the sauce was warming because it helped me keep from sneaking a taste. These were coming from frozen, so they took a bit longer to float to the top water and show they were done. But when they all were floating happily at the top of a rolling boil, I switched off the stove, drained the gnocchi, and then tossed them in with the sauce. And yes…I used only one serving of sauce this time…and it still felt like too much. I have one more chance to get it right.
So…let’s discuss the Gluten-Free Basil Potato Gnocchi from Nuovo for a moment. Not only did this version smell delicious, it totally topped the Classic Potato as far as flavor goes. It’s amazing what a little basil can do. Not that the Classic Potato Gnocchi was bad, but…this one had a little more flavor…and all it had was some fresh basil chopped and added into the dough. I happen to love the smell and taste of fresh basil. Once again…these gnocchi boiled up and cooked through to that soft perfection that you want. Where you still have some give, but it almost melts in your mouth. Ahhhh…sweet gnocchi goodness. I loved the addition of basil to this version. It just gave it that added…oomph. And I liked the Classic Potato well enough. This just turned the volume up to 11. It even paired well with the marinara sauce. In fact…it was a perfect match. I was sad to gobble up the last little morsel in my bowl. I need to buy stock in these…seriously.
Let’s talk nutrition, shall we? A serving of Nuovo Gluten-Free Basil Potato Gnocchi is half of the packet. This dishes up 240 calories and 1.5 grams of fat. You also will be consuming 210 mg of sodium and 2 grams of sugar. Love how low it is in both of those. In addition, each serving provides you with 4 grams of fiber and 6 grams of protein, making you feel full and satisfied.
Not bad for a dinner, right? RIGHT! And it’s super tender, super delicious, and so versatile. Eat it with any sauce of your choice, but I highly recommend an amazing marinara. It just really meshed well. YUM!
Nuovo…I hope your gluten-free gnocchi goodness never leaves me. Because, while I know I am capable of making my own gluten-free gnocchi…sometimes it’s nice to have someone take over that task for you.
These…are amazing.
Nuovo Gluten-Free Basil Potato Gnocchi in Mezzetta Napa Valley Bistro Homemade Style Marinara
Mezzetta Napa Valley Bistro Homemade Style Marinara
Product: Mezzetta Napa Valley Bistro Homemade Style Marinara – $4.49+
We all know that I am no stranger to making my own marinara sauce for my pasta dishes. But when a deal hits…and when there just isn’t enough time and tomatoes in the world or kitchen…sometimes purchasing one from the store isn’t such a bad thing. Especially when it is made with real ingredients and promises home-style flavor.
That’s how I stumbled across Mezetta Homemade Style Marinara, part of the Napa Valley Bistro line. I was walking the aisles of my local grocery store, and a there were jars of this marinara sauce on Manager’s Special. I couldn’t pass up the discounted price, and as it is labeled gluten-free, and all ingredients were recognizable…I figured I would give it a try.
But I had to have a dish to prepare for it. And after returning from a long vacation away from home and not having all the fresh produce from my CSA bins to create meals with, I turned to my pantry, freezer, and fridge. I had some gluten-free gnocchi in the fridge, so I figured…why not pair it with this marinara. What was the worst that could happen?
The answer…nothing. No bad could come from this at all.
I got the gnocchi working in the boiling water and while they cooked, I heated up two servings (one for me and one for my roomie) in a saucepan on the stove. I loved the way this marinara sauce looked. It wasn’t too thick and you could see that sheen of olive oil as it was added to the pan. Love that healthy fat. It had little chunks of tomato throughout it and it smelled so amazing as it came to a gentle simmer on the stove. When the gnocchi was done and drained, I tossed it right into the sauce and coated each and every little pasta dumpling with the sauce. I noticed then that for gnocchi, I had made too much sauce. So the next time I made the gnocchi…I halved the sauce…and it still felt like too much.
That being said…WOW!! What great flavor. The tomatoes are the absolute star. This sauce is seasoned to perfection, has the perfect texture, isn’t too rich or too runny…it’s just right. Perfect. And I was actually surprised. Because, when I see jars of something on Manager’s Special I have to wonder what may be the reason for the dramatic price cut-back. And I had two jars of it. Now I think…YES!! I HAVE TWO JARS OF THIS!! It is jarred pasta sauce at it’s homemade finest. It tastes like homemade, which is the point. But…it is just culinary perfection in a jar. I was beyond impressed. The reason for this fantastic flavor? Mezzetta Homemade Style Marinara is made in the traditional Italian way, with wine to enhance the taste and richness. It is slow cooked in small batches with only natural ingredients. And, honestly, that can make all the difference in the world. And it did in this case.
So, let’s talk about the ingredients for a moment. This pasta sauce is simply composed of imported Italian plum tomatoes from the San Marzano region, imported olive oil, fresh onions, sea salt, fresh garlic, Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon wine, fresh basil, black pepper, oregano. The label itself declares that this product is gluten-free. I can look at the ingredients and see that, but it’s nice to have confirmation. I am more likely to buy a product that is labeled than one that is not.
Nutritionally speaking, a serving of Mezzetta Napa Valley Bistro Homemade Style Marinara is 1/2 cup. In this serving you will receive 90 calories and 5.5 grams of fat. There are 490 mg sodium and 3 grams of sugar in each serving as well. This sauce is cholesterol free. And one serving also dishes up 1 gram of fiber and 1 gram of protein.
Top off your favorite Italian dish with this amazing sauce. Trust me, the flavor profile does wonderful things to whatever it is added to. True Italian flavor right on your local grocery store shelf. Seek it out…and give it a taste. Trust me…you’ll love it.
Mezzetta Napa Valley Bistro Homemade Style Marinara over Nuovo Gluten-Free Classic Potato Gnocchi
Product: Nuovo Gluten-Free Classic Potato Gnocchi – $5.99+
Prior to my gluten-free life…I discovered the awesomeness of those delicious potato pasta pillows of awesomeness, known simply as gnocchi. I was addicted. Truly. Completely. 100% in love with these little puffs of potato and flour. There is just something so special and amazing about the way they just sort of melt against your tongue.
Gnocchi rules.
No argument. No disagreement. Gnocchi is tough to beat.
But when you’re gluten-free…anything in the Italian world…especially where one of the major components is flour…becomes a no-go. Off limits. Do. Not. Consume. Or else.
Sadness. Sure, I can make my own…but sometimes you just don’t want to mess with it. Let’s face it, while gnocchi rocks the culinary world of Italian food…it isn’t the easiest dish to make.
Imagine then, my elation, when I was visiting my local Earth Fare one day and spotted three varieties of gluten-free gnocchi in the refrigerator section. Seriously. Please insert happy dance and lap of joy around the store. No…that is not an exaggeration. The gnocchi is part of the gluten-free line by Nuovo Pasta. And, you better believe I grabbed all three varieties and went to store them in my freezer upon returning home from another budget-busting grocery trip. Sometimes I just can’t help myself.
Anyway…with a return from vacation and a lot going on lately, I found myself without much fresh produce to create dishes…but I did have marinara sauce in the pantry and gnocchi in the freezer. Dinner problem…solved.
For the first taste of Nuovo Gluten-Free Gnocchi…I decided to go with the classic – Potato Gnocchi.
If you screw up the original…there isn’t much hope for the rest, right? Right!
Nuovo Gluten-Free Classic Potato Gnocchi (boiled and drained)
First of all, this is such an easy meal to make. Boil water according to package instructions (and yes…do salt the water), add the gnocchi and cook until they float. Drain. Enjoy! It truly is that easy. And it all gets done within 10 minutes if you get your water boiling in good time. So, while I was waiting on the water to boil, I began to heat up a new marinara sauce I was trying. With that going, in went the gnocchi…watching for those potato pasta puffs to start floating. When they did and reached that perfect tenderness, I drained them, then tossed them into the marinara. I actually prepared too much marinara for the serving, but, hey…it’s all good.
I settled in with my roomie and we dug in, quite happy to have dinner without a long wait. I was so impressed with the tenderness and the texture of the gnocchi as I took my first bite. The density was just right. The texture…soft with that bit of melt-in-your-mouth goodness, yet still requiring you sink your teeth into each bite to ensure total satisfaction. Oh yes…Nuovo did good. They did really, really good with these. They have this mild flavor to them that makes them perfect to pair with any tomato sauce or even a cream sauce. Light. Fluffy. Goodness. Honestly, someone would be hard-pressed to call these out as gluten-free. You can’t tell. Not one bit. And that’s entirely the point!
So, let’s get the nitty-gritty details out of the way.
Nuovo Gluten-Free Classic Potato Gnocchi is created by combining potato flour, potato flakes, water, canola oil, salt, and rice flour. Yes…that’s really all that goes into this. Hello clean eats!!
Nutritionally speaking, a serving of Nuovo Gluten-Free Classic Potato Gnocchi is 1/2 of the little plastic pack that it comes in. That’s around 4.5 ounces. This serving gives you 240 calories and 1 gram of fat. Your serving of this gluten-free gnocchi provides a scant 220 mg sodium and 2 grams of sugar. In addition, you will be provided with 4 grams of fiber and 6 grams of protein. So, just just made from real ingredients but really good for you too. These are very impressive nutritional stats.
I fell in love with the lightness of Nuovo Gluten-Free Classic Potato Gnocchi, as well as the mild flavor. It’s so versatile and so delicious. And even better…so easy to prepare. No one would know it was gluten-free unless you told them. How’s that for impressive?
If you can find Nuovo Gluten-Free Classic Potato Gnocchi at your local grocery store or health food store…buy it and try it for yourself. You will not be disappointed.
Nuovo Gluten-Free Classic Potato Gnocchi in Mezetta Napa Valley Bistro Homemade Style Marinara
It’s an important day. And not just because it’s International Talk Like A Pirate Day.
It’s important…because it’s my birthday.
And this year I was turning the big double 3. Yes. I don’t mind my birthday or getting older. It’s one of my favorite days…even though most of the time I do nothing really to commemorate it. But this year…I decided to enjoy the delicious offerings of two of my favorite, local, gluten-free businesses, both of whom went above and beyond to make the occasion more than special.
It all started on the day before my birthday when my roommate and I took a longer lunch from the office and headed down to Frankfort Avenue in Louisville, Kentucky to pick up the birthday cake we ordered from Annie May’s Sweet Café. Now…by now most of you know that my local running store nicknamed me Wonder Woman last year. It’s stuck. And I mean…stuck! I get called Wonder Woman more than I care to admit. It’s flattering. I love it. Wouldn’t change it for the world.
Well, back when Annie May’s Sweet Café started showing off some of their custom cakes they were making, I told them they were definitely doing a special cake for my birthday this year. They replied on their Facebook page…”How about a Wonder Woman cake?” (See…my reputation precedes me). I was totally all about it. They actually made a simple birthday cake for me last year too (strawberry cake with a vegan chocolate ganache), which is how I found out about them…and how they won me over in the first place (that and the apple cider donuts we bought when we picked up the cake…just sayin’.). The cake was amazing. So, naturally, as it is my belief that no matter how much you love to cook and bake…you should never have to make your own birthday cake…we hit them up again this year. And, per their suggestion via their Facebook page months and months ago…I thought…I think I should have a Wonder Woman cake.
As we are in Annie May’s Sweet Café every Saturday morning if we are in town for their delicious breakfast offerings…that Saturday we went ahead and placed the cake order (and a soft pretzel order for Soft Pretzel Wednesday) to pick up on Wednesday around lunch time. My roommate asked what kind of cake I wanted. I’m not big on cake…and I like simple. So…this year I went with a vegan vanilla cake with vegan vanilla icing. And yes…WONDER WOMAN!
On Wednesday, when we showed up to pick it up, I was blown away. Kenna does the cake decorating and she did fantastic. I made sure I told Annie May that whenever possible (and I told Kenna when I saw her the following Saturday morning!). Seriously…I couldn’t have been happier with the way it turned out. The Wonder Woman logo was PERFECTION!! I mean, Kenna nailed it!! And the cake…SO delicious. The flavors were vibrant. The icing was sweet and meshed well with the vegan vanilla cake layers. Four layers…of cake-y goodness. And this from a girl who isn’t big on frosting or cake. How about that? I was SO happy with this cake. It was a 6-inch round cake that we got 12 good-sized portions from. I was in sugar-rush heaven. And happy to devour it all. Well, I had some help from Cathy (the roomie), Harry, and Laura.
But…here is the cake in all it’s gluten-free and vegan wonder (woman):
Honestly…I have yet to have anything I didn’t like from Annie May’s Sweet Café. So…even if you don’t have food allergies…get over there. My friend Greg (not food allergic at all) would definitely direct you to their gluten-free Double Fudge Brownies. Me? I say…their allergen-free Chocolate Chip Cookies. Or…honestly…EVERYTHING!! Support local businesses!! I will continue to support this one.
HUGE thanks going out to Annie May, Kenna, and the rest of the staff who continue to show the world (or at least the Louisville area) just how good and delicious gluten-free can be!!
But…the birthday celebrations didn’t stop with a cake. Nope. Not for 33. Not ever.
Very randomly, about two weeks out from my birthday, I went over to the Facebook page of my favorite local (and gluten-free) food truck, Sweet ‘N’ Savory, and commented that I would love them forever if around my birthday, at one of their outings, if they could offer a Crepe Suzette, as it has always been one of my favorite types of crepes. I was told that they would be happy to cater a private event for me, featuring a 3-course meal, for only $20/person. I needed to make sure that I would have a decent enough crowd for them, and started asking my closest friends if anyone was interested. Most everyone I knew was free on the Sunday, September 22, and said they would be happy to come and celebrate with good eats. I was thrilled. And I went ahead and set it up with Richard and Ashley, the fantastic owners of the food truck.
They found a location, at Louisville’s The Beer Store in NULU. This turned out to be a perfect setting as they had a patio for seating and the side door was opened so we could trek out to the food truck to place our orders, return our plates, and all that good stuff. Guests could also imbibe in beers of any kind (SO MANY) or sodas or water…or whatever else they could find inside. It was a hit. I ended up having 10 of the 12 guests show up to the shindig, so that wasn’t bad at all. Very pleased. Although totally missed the ones who were unable to make it.
It was a very diverse crowd, but they all came hungry and they all socialized and blended well. YAY!!
So, what did Sweet ‘N’ Savory cook up for my special day? An amazing menu that every guest raved about and devoured. No one left hungry. In fact, we were all completely stuffed. But it was a good kind of stuffed. Trust me.
The menu, as I mentioned, was 3 courses: appetizer, entree, dessert (like Chopped…but without the surprise basket of ingredients!).
For the appetizer round, Sweet ‘N’ Savory prepared two of my favorite gluten-free vegetarian crepes: Caprese and Veggie Caponata. You could either get one large one of your choice, or one of each in a mini-crepe form. I totally forgot to take a picture of mine, but I went with one of each in the mini-form. What a way to start out. Everyone raved about them…especially the Veggie Caponata. That seemed to be the crowd favorite (and mine as well!!). It was the perfect way to start off the feast that day. We were given plates and a ticket and when we were done with the appetizer, all we needed to do was walk the plates and ticket back out to the truck, hand them over, and they would get to work on the entree.
The entree…is super special. Awhile back, Sweet ‘N’ Savory took part in a food truck event called Cluster Trucked. Each truck served up food that wasn’t their normal fare. For the event, Sweet ‘N’ Savory did gluten-free ravioli. And I fell in love with them all over again. For my event, they were dishing up two different varieties of ravoili. Once again, you could either get a full serving of one version, or split the difference and try both. The options: Butternut Squash, Ricotta, and Sage Ravioli topped with a Brown-Butter Sage Sauce or Four-Cheese Ravioli topped with a Red-Pepper Cream Sauce. When I was at Cluster Trucked, I had the Four-Cheese with Red Pepper Cream Sauce. I am in LOVE with that red-pepper cream sauce. I want to beg for the recipe. Seriously. But at my party, I was all about the Butternut Squash, Ricotta and Sage Ravioli with the Brown-Butter Sage Sauce. They had told me all about this one prior to the event and that was all I wanted. Observe:
Sweet ‘N’ Savory’s Gluten-Free Butternut Squash, Ricotta and Sage Ravioli with a Brown Butter Sage Sauce
I made a fantastic choice. The ravioli was so rich and creamy. The pasta itself was melt-in-your-mouth good. The sauce…so much flavor. The filling…it doesn’t get better than butternut squash (a personal favorite) with ricotta and sage. Honestly. I fell in love with the way this entire dish just danced across my taste buds. Savory. Rich. Delicious. I was in food heaven. I think I might have hoovered this up and licked the plate. It’s possible. For real. For being a gluten-free crepe food truck, they totally rock the ravioli. That is NO joke!
Following the dinner portion of the meal…naturally is something that hits that sweet tooth. And, per my request, Sweet ‘N’ Savory offered up a Crepe Suzette. What is a Crepe Suzette? It’s a crepe with sugar that has Grand Marnier poured over it, and then is ignited. Flaming food! The alcohol in the liqueur evaporates and what emerges is a thick, caramelized sauce. I first had a Crepe Suzette in Denver, Colorado a couple years back and I fell in love with it. So it was nice that they took an extra step to provide this for me at my request. Along with the crepe, they offered some of their famous and delicious gluten-free gelato…either (my personal favorite) Salted Caramel or Vanilla.
They attempted to light the crepes tableside, but the wind wasn’t cooperating. Points for trying!! That being said…CREPE SUZETTE FTW!! There is a reason this is one of my favorite sweet crepes to devour…er…eat. It’s sweet…it has brilliant flavor to it…and it’s still light. So it isn’t too much. I, naturally, paired mine with the Salted Caramel gelato. Best choice ever!! It paired so well with the Crepe Suzette. So, while this is not something that usually graces their menu, I was so glad when they offered this just for my little event. Heaven was in the form an amazing dessert crepe that day. Topped off with delicious gelato. YUM!
Sweet ‘N’ Savory’s Gluten-Free Crepe Suzette
I am eternally grateful for both Annie May’s Sweet Café and Sweet ‘N’ Savory Food Truck for helping to make my birthday so special this year. Everything they gave me was awesome. And no one would have guessed any of it was gluten-free. Because these places make food that is just that amazing. No one was disappointed and everyone commented on how good everything was.
Birthday win. Done with a little local flair.
And check out these beautiful people who came out to celebrate and enjoy good food, good conversation, and good times. I love them all!
Me & My Gang (from left and looping around to right): Kelsie, Cathy, Harry, Harold, Michael, Judi, Natalie, Me, Justin (Not pictured: Greg (he’s taking the photo) and Maureen (who hid from the camera))
I dedicate this entry to, honestly, the best meal I have ever consumed in my life. No joke. Sorry mom…but it’s true. Never before have I been treated to such an exciting and taste-defying tasting menu, all of it done by the chef’s whim. And yes…all of it done to suit any food allergies at the table. For me…being a gluten-free vegetarian. For my friend Tawn…no shrimp.
What am I talking about?
Disneyland.
Napa Rose.
Chef’s Table.
OMGTHEFOODWASAWESOME!
Okay…now that I got that out of my system…kind of…let me explain…
You see, Disneyland has a lot of nice treasures inside its gates. And, after running the Disneyland Half Marathon, Indy wanted to treat all of us, plus her hubby and her dad, to a nice meal out…which would be our Christmas and Birthday gifts. She chose Napa Rose at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa as the scene of this adventure. After a long day, the four ladies got all dressed up and met up with Evan (Indy’s hubby) for a ride over to the restaurant. Her dad was staying there so he’d meet us there.
A few drinks in the lounge and two Joey Fatone (from *NSYNC) sightings later, we were making our way to the Dessert Counter and being seated, napkins placed on our laps, and about to be treated to one of the finest, most epic, amazing meals of our lives…complete with wine tasting. All of this…completely at the whim of the chef.
So…let’s get started:
Amuse-Bouche: Plum with Grape Relish and Gluten-Free Flatbread
Amuse-Bouche: Plum with Grape Relish and Vegan & Gluten-Free Flatbread
The rest of the counter was treated to a Panna Cotta with Great Relish…but not this girl. The chef kept is simple, elegant, and instead of the panna cotta, served me up an amazing warm Plum with Grape Relish on top. The plum was sweet, pairing beautifully with the slightly sour tones of the chopped grapes. It was the perfect way to wake up the palate and prepare it for the rest of what was to come that night.
In addition, while the rest of the counter got to share this large basket of various breads, a basket of vegan and gluten-free flatbread was delivered to me. This bread had a fresh herbiness to it. It was crispy, yet still soft. And when it was fresh and warm…there was nothing like it in the world. It was a nice change from the gluten-free rolls I am so used to getting. It’s not everyday this girl gets to indulge in flatbread. And indulge I did. Because I just couldn’t stop eating it!!
First Course: Cauliflower Tower
Cauliflower Tower
What…you may ask…is a Cauliflower Tower. Simply what it sounds like. Cauliflower…in a tower. But…it is really so much more than that. In fact, while the base of this dish was, in fact, a cauliflower mash, it was blended with couscous, raisins, pistachios, and was drizzled with a blood orange sauce. I love cauliflower, so using it as a base for this meal was sheer brilliance. The couscous gave it a bit more body. Toss in the sweet raisins with the salty nature and crunch of the pistachios and you have a meal made in heaven. Seriously. Angels eat this when they picnic on the clouds. I swear. The blood orange sauce just sealed the deal. It gave this savory dish a little zing. It was fantastic. Down to the very last bite. If this was any indication of what was left to come, I was all in. I didn’t record the type of wine any of my meals were paired with…but I loved them. All of them.
Second Course: Grilled Peach Salad with Green Beans and a Peach Yogurt Sauce
Grilled Peach Salad with Green Beans and a Peach Yogurt Sauce
The usual version of this dish is served with roasted duck. But, being that I was the sole vegetarian at the table, the chef made one with duck, which Indy received, and made mine without it. But this made me want to grill peaches ALL the time. ALL the peaches. And then consume ALL the peaches with ALL the food that I could think would pair well with them. I will say this…I never would have paired peaches with green beans. But…this worked. This worked remarkably well. The peaches had this rich sweetness to them, the green beans were cooked perfectly, so they had that crispiness to them. And that yogurt sauce just tied everything together. This was fantastic. I could have eaten plate after plate of this and been one happy girl. But more goodness was still ahead.
Third Course: Heirloom Tomatoes with Golden Tomato Essence with Fava Beans and Parmesan
Heirloom Tomatoes with Golden Tomato Essence with Fava Beans and Parmesan
I do believe either Tawn or Cathy made the Silence of the Lambs reference when I was served this beautiful, rainbow dish. I mean, the colors on this dish just popped. The sweet tomato essence was what really made this dish so savory. The beautiful heirloom tomatoes were ripe, gorgeous, juicy and the flavors danced across my taste buds with the first bite. The fava beans added a little body…and some texture. And to top it all off…shaved Parmesan cheese, which gave the dish that big of salty seasoning that just brought it all together in the end. Rich, succulent…and fantastic. Each dish was topping the last…
Fourth Course: Chef’s Creation – Vegetarian Mushroom and Tomato Plate
Chef’s Creation – Vegetarian Mushroom and Tomato Plate
Be jealous. Because the chef made this one specifically for me. His gluten-free, vegetarian diner. What exactly was it? Savory goodness, that’s what it was. Honestly…this was fantastic. From the first bite he reigned me in with perfectly cooked mushrooms, beautifully seasoned and topped with gorgeous heirloom tomatoes and greens. I wanted to hoover this dish so much, but I sat there like the lady I am and ate it like the sophisticated foodie I see on television and dream about becoming. No…really. I savored this dish. Every bite of it. And I never wanted it to end. But…my fork fell onto the last slice and soon it too was gone.
Dessert:Meyer Lemon Crème Brûlée with Blueberries and Mint
Meyer Lemon Crème Brûlée with Blueberries and Mint
Without even knowing anything about me save for my food allergies and preferences, the chef sent out the most perfect dessert for me. It involved lemon and blueberries…and that pairing is, by far, one of my absolute favorites. So, without even knowing it…the chef capped off the perfect evening with the perfect dessert. His Meyer Lemon Crème Brûlée with Blueberries and Mint was a stunning plate to start with. The crust on the crème brûlée was brilliant. And that lemon flavor was just enough without overpowering the entire dessert. Toss in the blueberries (one of my favorite berries) and the hint of mint and I was in a delicious, tasty food coma. Seriously. I dug right into this dessert and savored it as long as I could. I even ate the drizzle of chocolate letters around the plate wishing me an early happy birthday. Yes…I enjoyed it…for real…down to the very last bit. But, I’m a dessert girl…and this was one hell of a dessert.
My hat is off to Indy, for this fantastic food experience. If I were to choose my last meal on Earth…it would be this. I would want to be at Napa Rose…at the Chef’s Counter…once again receiving the dishes of his choosing for me. I loved being surprised and not knowing what to expect when my plate was carried out and placed in front of me. The company was the best I could ever be with at this venue. The food was outstanding. I’ve been spoiled. No other meal has come close to equaling this one…and I am starting to wonder if one ever will.
My food hat is off to the chef of Napa Rose…the food that is served there…the wine it is paired with (SO GOOD!)…and the good friends I shared the experience with. If any of you find yourself at Disneyland…do try to experience this for yourself. It isn’t cheap…I can tell you that…but the food and the experience is worth every dollar you put towards this meal. I promise.
Between Disneyland and the little out-of-the-way places that we ducked into for food and anything else…I was well-fed and felt very safe in my food choices while visiting friends in California. In fact, Indy and her hubby, Evan, even went out to Whole Foods and picked up gluten-free cookies and some gluten-free crackers for me to have while staying with them. They are, honestly, the best. Nice to have people take my food allergies and everything else in stride and not totally panic. Best hosts…EVER!
So, I spent a total of three days at Disneyland and then one full day seeing bits and pieces of California. All the while…taking in food and enjoying every single bite. I’m breaking this posting down into two separate posts because…well…the dinner I had at Napa Rose needs its own little post. Honestly. Because it was the best meal I have ever had. (Sorry, Mom…but it’s true!).
So…I guess we’ll start at the very beginning…
Flo’s V8 Cafe – Cars Land – Disney California Adventure Park
Flo’s V8 Café, Cars Land, Disney’s California Adventure Park
You know…I give Disney props. Both theme parks on each coast do their best to work with people with specific diets and specific food allergies. And this was incredibly clear when I sat down to eat a “light” lunch (I was getting pizza later that evening) while out and about in California Adventure on Saturday. I hadn’t yet made it to the race expo, but I knew I needed a small bite to get through until it was time to eat my required pre-race gluten-free pizza. We were in Cars Land at the moment, so we stepped into Flo’s V8 Café and took a look at the menu board. When we got up to the register, my traveling party (Cathy, Indy & Tawn) all decided they were going to eat elsewhere…which made me not want to eat here…but…I wasn’t sure what there would be outside that would be nutritious and still filling. At the register, I mentioned that I was a gluten-free vegetarian so the cashier went to go and retrieve the chef. The chef came out a couple of moments later and I reiterated that I was a gluten-free vegetarian. She said it wasn’t a problem and mentioned the items I could get, including the Citrus Turkey Salad, sans turkey. Actually, none of it sounded like anything I wanted…the side dishes were just…eh…meh. And the salad was…well…a salad. But, I needed something…so I said I would give the Citrus Turkey Salad ($11.49), no turkey, a go!
I paid the cashier and took the receipt up to the counter. And my salad came up…gluten-free roll…but…UGH…the turkey had been placed on the salad. I mentioned that my salad wasn’t supposed to have turkey on it, so the worker at the counter sent it back to the kitchen and spoke with the chef. It took a few minutes, but my new salad came up, gluten-free roll, little dish of dressing, GODZILLA-sized salad, which was a basic mix of mixed greens, carrots, cucumbers, and yellow peppers. It came with a citrus-tarragon dressing. And trust me…this salad was HUGE. I knew I wouldn’t be able to finish it. But, if anything was certain, I was going to devour that roll. The roll, by the way, looks like the Udi’s gluten-free rolls I can buy at specialty stores around here. I think they were Udi’s. I loved the roll. I loved it to pieces…and pieces…and pieces until it was all gone.
The salad itself was fresh and crisp. And the dressing made a nice flavor addition to the raw vegetables. It was…a general salad, just taken to extreme proportion. I ate about 3/4 of it before I called it quits. It was just a lot of food. The vegetables were fresh and crisp, the dressing was served on the side instead of just being poured over the salad, and perhaps drowning the vegetables. It was good. But…let’s face it…it’s a salad I could have made at home for a lot cheaper.
Redd Rocket’s Pizza Port – Tomorrowland – Disneyland Park
Redd Rocket’s Pizza Port, Tomorrowland, Disneyland Park
It was the evening before the Disneyland Half Marathon, and Indy and I were in desperate need of some carbs. And it is a requirement…I mean one of those dead-set superstitious athlete requirements for me to eat gluten-free pizza the night before a big race. It has to happen. If it doesn’t happen…I make it happen. Somehow.
Indy knew that this was a must coming into the trip, so she asked around at Disneyland about good places to get a gluten-free pizza. She was directed to Redd Rocket’s Pizza Port, which is a cafeteria-style, quick service joint in Tomorrowland. We got there just before a flood of people and we spoke to one of the people manning the counters about gluten-free and vegetarian options. She said she would go and fetch the chef. I ended up standing there for around 10-15 minutes waiting on the chef, long enough for a couple of employees to ask if I needed help. Indy and Tawn had already gotten their pastas and were now waiting with me. Cathy was waiting because we weren’t sure if this was going to be a personal pizza or one we’d need to split. You just never know.
After the wait continued, I told Indy and Tawn to go and pay and eat while their food was still hot. I didn’t want them to settle in with cold pasta. Gross! So, they finally agreed, and just after they walked away…the chef finally emerged to talk to me. I told him that I was a gluten-free vegetarian, and he said I had two options…a gluten-free personal cheese pizza…or gluten-free rice noodles with a tomato marinara. Night before the race…it has to be pizza. So, I put in my order for gluten-free cheese pizza ($8.99). I was told it would take 10 minutes so to go ahead and pay and then come back to the counter in about 10 minutes. I did just that, grabbed some plastic dinnerware, napkins, and some crushed red pepper packets and went to join my friends. Cathy had gotten one of the pizza slices and some breadsticks and joined them in eating. And I watched them eat for about 5 minutes as it took me awhile to pay. When 10 minutes was up, I got up from my table and made my way back to the counter to, hopefully, get my food. But my pizza wasn’t up yet. There was a group of four ahead of me. And that took about 5 minutes for them to get their gluten-free pizzas served to them. Then…it took another 3-5 minutes waiting on mine. By now Indy and Cathy were done eating. When my pizza was sliced and finally put on a plate…I went to rejoin my friends and only Tawn was still nomming on her pasta.
The pizza was nothing to write home about. It was the same gluten-free cheese pizza I ended up getting while at Disney World in February. Just a small, personal-size pizza on a gluten-free crust (at least the crust was fluffy), with tomato sauce and cheese. It was…okay. I mean, I have definitely had worse…but I have most definitely had better. I seasoned it with some red pepper flakes and just wolfed it down. At that point I was starving and we had World of Color Fast Passes and the clock was ticking. Nothing to write home about. Just…pizza. Eh. Not impressed.
Hungry Bear Restaurant – Critter Country – Disneyland Park
Hungry Bear Restaurant, Critter Country, Disneyland Park
It was the afternoon after I ran 13.1 miles through Disneyland and Anaheim, California. It was just three of us. Indy, who also ran, said she needed to rest and recover. Poor thing. So this meant our new guide for the day was the great, the epic, TAWN!! And she knew all the places to hit. We had a busy and very stressful morning…between race logistics, running, cheering, and finishing…then heading out to the park…
We rode rides and soon we knew we needed to eat something small before we hit the hotel early to rotate through showers and start getting ready for the most epic meal of our lives…courtesy of Indy. But…that gets it’s own post. For now…we focus on what I ate for “lunch” the day of the Disneyland Half Marathon.
I had heard tales and rumors that Hungry Bear Restaurant did gluten-free sweet potato fries. Sweet potato fries are one of my most favorite things in the world. Honestly. Sure, fries probably aren’t the best recovery meal…but they were what I wanted. That was it. It was all I needed. Tawn walked me over to Hungry Bear and I headed up to go place my order. I reached the cashier and told her I heard they could do gluten-free sweet potato fries. She confirmed this and said she’d go and get the chef.
The chef emerged a few minutes later and said that fries could certainly be done gluten-free. I said that was all I wanted and went ahead and put in the order – gluten-free sweet potato fries ($3.99). I was sent up to the counter and I passed off the receipt and was told it would be a few minutes. I politely stepped aside, knowing this would be the case. But a few minutes turned into 5. Then 10. Soon the staff was shouting back to the kitchen about the gluten-free sweet potato fries because it had been on order for 15 minutes. The manager came out to apologize to me, saying that there had been a mix-up in the kitchen and it would be a few more minutes. He offered me a free dessert, but none of their desserts were gluten-free so I passed. After just over 20 minutes, my one little serving of sweet potato fries came up and I snagged them, went to grab some ketchup and finally went back down to meet Tawn. She had been waiting a long time. We had left Cathy at a table with her lunch, and it was long gone by the time we returned. Tawn went off to find herself something to eat and I finally dug in.
To their credit…the sweet potato fries were perfect. Crispy on the outside, soft in the center. Warm. Hot. Seasoned well. And just what I wanted. They were phenomenal. Definitely better than the oven baked ones that I make at home. I mean, I love making my own, but there is something so fantastic about sweet potato strips that are literally fried to perfection, seasoned well, and served up piping hot and fresh. So, while I think I aged a little standing in line waiting on an order the kitchen at Hungry Bear Restaurant forgot about…it was well worth the wait.
Tiki Juice Bar – Adventureland – Disneyland Park
Tiki Juice Bar, Adventureland, Disneyland Park
DOLE. WHIP. Need I say more? Let me say it one more time. DOLE WHIP! I love Dole Whip and ended up coming to the Tiki Juice Bar twice during my 3-day stay in Disneyland.
The second time I contemplated getting a Dole Whip Float…but wasn’t sure I had enough money for one. So, both times I ended up getting the standard Soft Serve Dole Whip ($3.69). LOVE.
It’s pineapple goodness in a cup. One that I will always take time to indulge in whenever I roam at Disney. Yeah…Dole Whip is an experience. One that shouldn’t be missed. EVER!
Carnation Café – Main Street, U.S.A. – Disneyland Park
Carnation Café, Main Street, U.S.A., Disneyland Park
The only other request that I made for while the four of us were all at Disneyland was simple. I needed gluten-free Mickey waffles in my life. So, Indy, as always being the rockstar, sought out a place that served them. She’s awesome like that. So, after a late night and an early morning (for me…as I went running for 7 miles for my marathon training), we headed into Disneyland for our last meal together as a group of four. Tawn was leaving that afternoon to head back to Fresno.
We arrived at Carnation Café just ahead of our reservation time. We were asked if we wanted to sit outside or inside. It was such a gorgeous morning that day that we chose to sit outside, as long as we were somewhere shady. The hostess found us the perfect spot and we all settled in and started to look at the menu.
When our waitress came over to the table, she explained that we actually had a different server, but he was on his break so she’d be taking care of us until he returned. We went ahead and told her that I couldn’t have gluten, something they were already aware of because Indy mentioned this when she made the reservation. Of course none of this was an issue. She said she’d go to get the chef and he would go over some options with me. He did emerge a few minutes later and asked what I was interested in having for breakfast. I gave him the hopeful eyes…Mickey waffles? He said he wasn’t sure they could make gluten-free Mickey waffles due to the surface they were cooked on…but he might be able to do regular pancakes (not Mickey shaped). But he said he’d go double check. He returned after everyone else placed their orders and said that he could make me gluten-free mini Mickey waffles safely. I was a happy girl, because I really, really wanted Mickey waffles while at Disneyland. Dreams really do come true.
I went ahead and ordered gluten-free Mickey waffles ($10.49) with fresh fruit instead of the sausage or bacon side…since I am vegetarian. They were happy to make that substitution for me. I also had this with fresh brewed Joffrey’s Coffee ($2.99).
The coffee was really good. Not too bitter. I sweetened it with real sugar…as my coconut sugar was left back in Indiana. After a short wait…out came our food. Only Tawn and I kept with the plan to get waffles. Indy ended up getting the Huevos Rancheros and Cathy got the All-American Breakfast.
My mini waffles were…delicious. Definitely not the golden crispy goodness that Tawn got out of her Mickey head waffle. But…the miniature Mickey waffles tasted amazing. I poured a little pure maple syrup over them and dug right in. I was given four Mickey waffle heads and ate all four of them without any shame or guilt. The fruit was gone in a flash. I am a fruit monster. They were able to accommodate me and get me the item on the menu that I truly wanted. Carnation Café was made of win.
So were the waffles…for the record. Epic…gluten-free…WIN!
Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar – Disneyland Resort Area – Disneyland Hotel
Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar, Disneyland Resort Area, Disneyland Hotel
Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar is like no other bar you have ever experienced. The food they serve is unique bar food. The drinks they serve are fun. The manner in which some drinks are served are SUPER fun and invoke chanting and lights flashing, ships going down, all of that. It’s a place you have to go to grab a drink. And, as this was our final day in Disneyland…we chose to do just that.
Food choices, for me, were rather limited. But, Indy was telling me about this amazing Green Papaya Salad ($?.??) that they served. We inquired with the bar tender about the ingredients and he went to check with the chef to see whether it was gluten-free and vegetarian. Turns out…it was. So, while Cathy and Indy split the Panko-Crusted Chinese Long Beans, I was served up a refreshing and quite delicious Green Papaya Salad.
No trip to Trader Sam’s is complete without having one of their famous drinks. As I’m always iffy and careful with alcohol…I decided to go with one of the non-alcoholic beverage specials served at the bar. My choice of Sam’s No Booze Brews was the Jungle River Sunset ($4.49) which is a mix of orange juice, falernum, and hibiscus grenadine, all topped off with soda water. And, yes…I ate my garnish.
Boardwalk Pizza & Pasta – Paradise Pier – Disney California Adventure Park
Boardwalk Pizza & Pasta, Paradise Pier, Disney California Adventure Park
It was getting late and our plan to see Fantasmic that night was about to be put into action. That being said, our appetizers from Trader Sam’s were long gone and we were definitely ready to eat some food. We ended up coming to Boardwalk Pizza and Pasta…because we were just really wanting Italian or something. Because originally I was going to get something else, but when they kept mentioning the pizza and pasta place…it just sounded better.
So, we entered Boardwalk Pizza & Pasta and it was another counter service sort of thing. I went up and mentioned that I was a gluten-free vegetarian and they sent for the chef. He was out in no time. Honestly. And when I told him I was a gluten-free vegetarian, he immediately mentioned the two standbys that the Italian restaurants have on hand at Disneyland…a personal-size gluten-free cheese pizza or rice noodles with a tomato marinara sauce. I’ve done the pizza. It’s the same as always…and not really worth the repeat. So, I went with the Gluten-Free Rice Pasta with the Tomato Marinara ($9.49). He said it would take about 10 minutes. And when he went back behind the counter, he immediately changed his gloves to start preparing my food. I breathed a sigh of relief. Cathy ordered a regular Spaghetti With Meatballs and Indy went with the Five Cheese Ravioli. They were both made to order, but Cathy’s came up way ahead of ours. We sent her outside to get us a seat. About 5 minutes later, my spaghetti arrived. And this serving was HUGE. We’re talking the King Kong of spaghetti dishes. Holy crap!! I figured I’d get maybe halfway through it and be done. Indy’s was the last to come up…so she was the last to join us at the table. Cathy had already started eating…I was just starting…so we had timing. At least none of us were left without food when all was said and done.
The rice pasta was really al dente. Not bad…but not as soft as normally rice pasta would be. The tomato sauce was rich and delicious and really made the dish, in my opinion. The spaghetti really would have been lackluster and disappointing without it. I sprinkled a bit of crushed red pepper onto the pasta to give it that slight kick that I like. Me and spicy food make for a loving relationship. Honestly. I like it hot. So, the spaghetti, like the quick service pizza, was…just okay. Nothing to really write home about…or go on any longer in this blog.
Indy’s Egg Scramble of Awesome
Indy’s Egg Scramble of Awesome
When you have fresh ingredients in your garden…what happens? You make your husband and your friends one of the most epic egg scrambles ever. Honestly…this was amazing. So delicious. So yummy. I still think about it. That’s why a homemade dish is being put into my blog. None of you, unless you also know Indy, will be able to taste this dish. None of you will get to enjoy it for the low cost of FREE…at her kitchen table…while drinking fresh and really delicious coffee. It’s just not going to happen.
She cooked and diced and sauteed potatoes in coconut oil, added fresh vegetables from her garden, and then scrambled up some eggs. Simple…but highly, highly delicious. One of my favorite breakfasts I’ve ever consumed. And it was filling. Perfect way to start off a day that took us to many glorious sandy locations!
The Local Peasant – Sherman Oaks, California
The Local Peasant, Sherman Oaks, California
This gastropub has no sign hanging up outside. There is no neon flashing the name of the pub. This is one of those places that if you didn’t know it was there, you would walk right on past it. Thankfully, it turned up on Find Me Gluten Free…and it just happens to be one of Indy and Evan’s favorite dining spots in their area. And I picked it. All by myself!
It was our last night in Los Angeles, and it was also Indy’s birthday. So, we went out to eat…although she told me to find somewhere. I was mainly focused on finding Cathy a place to have some fish and chips, so I focused on that first. The menu for The Local Peasant had not only vegan options marked, but also gluten-free options marked. And my requirement to eat something with avocado while in California would definitely be fulfilled.
It was a special night, so I went against my usual abstaining from alcohol for training purposes…mostly because it was Indy’s birthday and we were celebrating. But, they also had Green’s Quest Gluten-Free Triple Ale ($15.00). I’m not a beer drinker…at all…but it was a celebration. And, besides, Micky Dolenz of The Monkees was at the table next to ours. I needed something to take the fangirl edge off.
Where there is beer…there is also food. Our waitress just happened to also be gluten-free (in fact, her entire family is)…so she was a huge help. But…as I said…I had my heart set on something with avocado in it. I had to eat avocado while in California. It had to happen. So, when it came to dinner, my choice was obvious…the Edamame Vegetable Salad ($11.00). Why was that obvious? Because this salad was composed of edamame, corn, jicama, green beans, roasted peppers, avocado, toasted pepitas, and cashews with a rosemary and ginger vinaigrette.
It sounded like no salad I have had anywhere else. It had avocado on it, and really…it just sounded awesome. When it arrived, it was in a huge bowl…and I happily dug in. The vegetables were so fresh and awesome. I loved the texture the cashews and pepitas gave the entire dish. The green beans still had that nice, fresh crispness to them. The edamame is always one of my favorite things…and it was super good. Loved the depth the roasted peppers gave. The avocado, however, gave it this amazing creaminess. It was topped off with that really flavorful vinaigrette that really just brought everything together. It was the meal I needed to have. It was the last thing I would eat in California. It was…fantastic.
I’d go back to this gastropub in a heartbeat. And I hope to…the next time I find myself in California!
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So…there it is. What I ate in California. I didn’t blog about the fries from In-N-Out Burger…because I did that back in 2011. But I did go there…and their frier is dedicated to just potatoes and makes their fries completely safe for me to eat. Part 2 will be all about the fantastic dinner that Indy treated our party to at Napa Rose. Trust me…that was a dining experience I wish I could relive over and over again. But you’ll read about that in the next blog…
Can pizza be a vegetable? I mean…it’s normally made with tomato sauce…but tomato is a fruit. You can put vegetables on pizza (and I often do)…but it’s still…pizza right? Probably. In most cases. But thanks to Garden Lites…pizza is now a vegetable. For real.
Last year, I discovered and worked my way through the flavors of Garden Lites Souffles that were currently out on the market. Since then, more have been added and a few of those new flavors have actually been sitting in my freezer since I finally spotted them at the grocery store…MONTHS ago. Why hadn’t I pulled them out sooner? No clue. But that changed tonight. And, given the expiration dates, the first souffle to get sampled by my roomie and I was…Pizza.
Yes. Pizza Souffle. Hey, there have been stranger things in life. The “crust” isn’t a heavy dough like you would get in a normal pizza. Remember…this is a souffle. Therefore, cauliflower and brown rice make up the base, lending that crust-like flavor to the souffle itself. So…that cauliflower crust pizza that keeps turning up on Pinterest isn’t so new after all, eh? HA! Anyway, bound together with egg whites and topped off with tomato sauce and melty, gooey Mozzarella cheese and you have quite an interesting take on a souffle. And pizza for that matter.
Cooking this up is simple. Three minutes with the plastic wrap still on. Let it sit for a minute. Then remove the plastic and heat on 50% power for another minute. Enjoy. My roommate and I actually had ice cream for lunch (HAHA!), so we split this for dinner. But we both found that the smell and flavor was reminiscent of cafeteria pizza or pasta. You know…it has that lingering sweetness in the sauce that you just breathe in and it takes you back to grade school or…in the case of my roommate…some mess hall with some army thing-a-ma-jig. (Technical term!)
Garden Lites Pizza Souffle (cooked)
You know what? The flavor and taste sort of reminded me of cafeteria spaghetti too. Not saying that is a bad thing. I mean, whenever spaghetti day at school (from 1st grade through 12th grade) rolled around, you better believe that was the tray I grabbed from the lunch lady. Spaghetti was always my favorite thing to eat growing up (and still is now, although rice and corn noodles are now my noodle of choice due to the whole Celiac thing). Cafeteria food isn’t always the best tasting…but it is decent. It’s good. And that’s how I felt about this. It was like…eating a mix of my high school’s spaghetti and pizza. The sauce was very sweet, seasoned well, but sweet. More sweet than I usually like a tomato sauce. The cheese was a gooey mass on top, which I’m okay with. At least it was melty and gooey. Most packaged items don’t get to that point. Especially when nuked in the microwave. I don’t mind the cauliflower and rice base at all. It was actually a nice, crumbly texture that worked. The sauce was just…okay though. Thankfully the sauce and cheese weren’t heavy on the dish at all. In fact, there wasn’t too much of either of them. A nice balance that worked.
Let’s talk ingredients and nutrition now…
The Garden Lites Pizza Souffle is made from cauliflower, pasteruized egg whites, onion, low-fat milk, brown rice, crushed tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, red pepper, green pepper, corn starch, tomato paste, a natural spice mix (dehydrated onion, spices, corn starch, natural flavors, tomato powder, potassium chloride, autolyzed yeast extract), evaporated cane juice, canola oil, sea salt, lemon juice, garlic, basil, oregano, pepper, and a blend of locust bean gum, gaur gum, and xanthan gum. This souffle is gluten-free, soy-free, and nut-free.
As for the nutritional aspect of the Pizza Souffle…one serving, which is the entire bowl, will provide you with 200 calories and 4 grams of fat. That is AWESOME for a meal. That is awesome for pizza! That’s just awesome! It does contain 650 mg of sodium and 6 sugars. But you also do get 3 grams of fiber and a whopping 12 grams of protein. So, you won’t feel like you need to eat more on top of this little souffle dish. I mean, I filled up on ice cream and was only mildly hungry when I heated this up for my roomie and I…and I still felt full after eating just half of the dish.
It isn’t one of my favorites, but I would eat it again. Honestly. It wasn’t bad…but it wasn’t knock me off my seat delicious either. I love the healthy take on the traditional pizza and the use of cauliflower and brown rice as the base. It’s ingenious. And it works well. If anything, I only wish the sauce tasted more fresh and less fake-sweet. Aside from that…totally devourable in every way.
You know…up until I started on my new 70/30 Clean Eating plan my sports nutritionist has put me on…I never would have thought twice about enjoying the basically guilt-free products put out by Walden Farms. I mean…I’ve had quite a few salad dressings from their extensive line-up that I have quite enjoyed. And, a couple weeks ago, a bottle of their Balsamic Salad Dressing just happened to wind up on Manager’s Special at my local grocery store. I hadn’t tried this flavor yet…so I figured I’d give it a shot. If I didn’t like it, I wasn’t out much thanks to the reduced price.
So…I initially was introduced to Walden Farms by Rocco DiSpirito in his Now Eat This cookbooks. He uses the calorie free (yes…CALORIE FREE) ketchup in a few recipes as one of the ingredients. I was intrigued. I had seen a few of these Walden Farms products lurking at numerous grocery stores in my area…so…one day I decided to try one of the salad dressings. And…it really wasn’t bad at all. For the record…I have never tried the ketchup.
Anyway…a few salad dressings later…here I was with one of my favorite dressings to have when out at a restaurant. Mostly because it’s safe. Any vinaigrette is normally a safe bet when it comes to dressing up a salad. And I’ve always loved the flavor of a good Balsamic Vinaigrette.
Polishing off the lettuce, tomato, and green peppers from my last CSA bin, I’ve been making quite a few salads this week. Tonight, I needed a new salad dressing. So…out came the Walden Farms Balsamic Vinaigrette Salad Dressing. I tore off the seal and twisted off the cap, taking a light sniff of the bottle. It smelled just like Balsamic Vinaigrette…so that was a good sign.
I put the 2 tablespoon serving size over my salad (yes…I did measure it!) and dove in.
The flavor is authentic. It has the feel, taste, smell…everything a normal Balsamic Vinaigrette would have. Just…this one happens to have no calories (save the trace ones that are always in something you eat or drink…even those zero calorie diet sodas!). I was impressed. I was beyond impressed. It was like having a full-barrel version of this dressing…but without all the fats and calories. Delicious. Amazing. Just what my salad needed to be dressed with. It complimented every vegetable inside my bowl. Two tablespoons almost felt like too much. This was a hearty dressing…while still having that oil and vinegar consistency.
But…here is where my sports nutritionist has ruined me. As I’m feasting on this dressing, I start to wonder how a dressing that is normally made from a wine vinegar and olive oil could exist without calories. Yes…these things run through my mind. So, I turned the bottle over and took a look at the ingredients. They include: triple-filtered purified water, balsamic vinegar, white vinegar, cellulose fiber, salt, dijon mustard, lemon juice, onion powder, garlic powder, white pepper, natural flavors, natural spices, caramel color, xanthan gum, sucralose (SPLENDA!! NOOOOO!), and sodium benzoate. Yeah…first of all…SPLENDA! NO NO NO NO NO!! SPlenda is bad. And bad for you. And now I just want to dump this dressing down the drain and get something real and good and made with natural products. That’s my next problem…cellulose fiber? Sodium Benzoate? Huhwha?
As far as the nutrition panel reads…it’s flooded with zeros. Zero calories, zero fat, zero cholesterol, zero protein, zero fiber, but it does have 260 mg of sodium. This dressing is gluten-free, calorie-free, sugar-free, and fat-free.
But the Splenda thing is really bothersome. I just don’t like it. At all. So…fat and calories aren’t bad for you…you just have to take them in moderation. And so that is how I shall take my salad dressing.
But no longer from Walden Farms. While I appreciate their products and have enjoyed all the ones I have tried…I just can’t continue to put Splenda into my body. Not when I’m trying to better it.
Product: Lexington Pasta Gluten-Free Fusilli – $3.00 for 6 ounces
There are moments of absolute amazement when I look at some of the things my roommate has done for me since my diagnosis two years ago. Seriously. She basically eats gluten-free and vegetarian at home, all the time, Not only that, she is always on the lookout for new gluten-free items for us, not just me, to try. She is honest to a fault when I cook or bake something new, changing up a recipe to now be gluten-free. Some are definitely more successful than others.
But my entire point here is…she’s full of surprises.
This past Saturday…she totally surprised me.
You see, every Saturday I meet up with a group of runners to do our long run. This past Saturday, I was heading out with a small group aiming to hit that magic 16 mile mark. This meant Cathy was going to be left to her own devices for 2 hours or more. But this never slows her down. She always finds something to occupy her time. And on this particularly raining Saturday morning, with a fresh local coffee in hand, she stopped by the local farmers market. You see, I was in need of a giant watermelon for a recipe I was going to make that night. She was going to get one from a local vendor instead of hitting up the grocery store. But, while she was there…she spotted something else.
The words GLUTEN-FREE on a sign for Lexington Pasta. She swung by the booth and inquired. And when I finally made it back to the meeting point, a local coffeehouse, after a very long run, we returned to the car and she told me to go look in the trunk. Aside from a 10 pound watermelon waiting for me, she also had picked up fresh basil. And buried in the ice of the cooler…she had picked up two small bags of Lexington Pasta’s Gluten-Free Fusilli.
While it’s true, this handmade pasta does look more like macaroni than fusilli, I could see the small twists in the fresh and handmade pasta…giving it that corkscrew affect that you would normally associate with fusilli pasta.
That being said…I was holding a bag of gluten-free handmade fusilli!!! This was huge! This was awesome. This was so awesome I deemed Sunday night to be pasta night. I’d cook up some of my gluten-free rosemary cheddar biscuits to accompany the pasta and it would be one epic Sunday meal. Because while some products can wait…fresh, handmade gluten-free pasta is not one of those things. I had to have it as soon as humanly possible.
We got home from our day of running errands and grocery shopping and I put one of the bags of pasta into the freezer. The other went into the fridge for use on Sunday night.
Lexington Pasta Gluten-Free Fusilli (cooked & drained)
What I love about handmade, fresh pasta is how easy it is to prepare. No boiling your pasta for 12-20 minutes to get it to that perfect al dente. Nope. I went ahead and got a pot of water on the stove to boil while I prepared a small salad with some heirloom tomatoes that Cathy also picked up from the farmers market. When the water began to boil, I simply emptied the little baggie of gluten-free fusilli pasta into the water and let it go for 2-3 minutes. The pasta does come with an instruction guide on how to cook it and does warn against overcooking. I then got the sauce heated while the noodles quickly finished up. After three minutes I drained the pasta and then put it back into the pan with the marinara I had warmed up. Giving it all a toss, I was ready to plate it up. Into the bowls it went. And dinner was served. Yes…that quickly.
First of all, handmade and fresh pasta will always win. Always. Pasta that is done locally will win even more. And what really caught my attention about the gluten-free fusilli from Lexington Pasta was that it didn’t stick together or dry up immediately. It cooked to the perfect al dente in the water. Quick. It was one of the quickest pasta meals I ever prepared. I almost didn’t have time to warm the marinara. I forgot what it was like to cook with fresh pasta.
Taste…taste was spot-on. I believe Cathy mentioned that it was a rice flour noodle. It didn’t get mushy. It didn’t stick. It didn’t fall apart. In fact, each noodle held the twisty shape through the entire cooking process, the draining, and the addition of the sauce. The serving size was just right. And the noodles…light. Delicious. They have spoiled me on gluten-free pasta, honestly. Not only is this local, but it tastes fantastic. There was no weird aftertaste. No chewiness. Nothing that would be off putting. In fact, if I were to serve this to people, they would never…EVER…guess that it was gluten-free.
I sort of want to go and get more. Like…now.
I was really that impressed.
Lexington Pasta is based out of Lexington, Kentucky…which is a short car drive for me. So, when the farmers market closes for the season, I can still go and purchase this gluten-free pasta of awesomesauce from their retail location. Because I was beyond impressed with this product and find it comforting to see a local business taking strides to work with those with special dietary needs…who love pasta. You know…people like me.
Lexington Pasta…you made this Celiac one very, very happy pasta-loving girl! Thank you!
Lexington Pasta Gluten-Free Fusilli (in marinara) with Gluten-Free Rosemary Cheddar Biscuits
Every week, I receive this amazing little green bin on my doorstep that is stocked with fresh, organic, local vegetables. Depending on the week, I can churn through these fresh goodies quickly…or I struggle to use them up before the next week when another great bin arrives. This week, it was one of the slower-through-the-produce weeks as my roommate had her last wisdom tooth removed and was on soft food. But she humored me the other night…and let me use up quite a few of our veggies to create this amazing dish.
I spotted this recipe on Pinterest…and it seemed easy enough…and very, very delicious!! So, with my roomie’s permission and blessing, this is what I fixed for dinner. Of course, I tweaked it a little to use up some of the ingredients I had from my bin…but those will be noted in the recipe.
The recipe itself is taken from the blog Healthful Pursuit. As I said…I added my own fresh veggie twist on it to polish off some of the items from my bin.
1 tomato, chopped (I roasted and chopped organic beets)
Salsa (optional, I didn’t use)
Corn Tortillas (optional, I didn’t use)
Directions:
Make the taco seasoning. In a small bowl, mix together chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, red pepper flakes, oregano, paprika, cumin, salt and pepper. Store in an airtight container.
Add sliced onion and water to a medium-sized saucepan. Heat on medium-high heat for 2-3 minutes, until onions are softened.
Add chickpeas and taco seasoning and reduce heat to medium. Cook uncovered for another 2-3 minutes, until heated through.
Meanwhile, add guacamole ingredients to a small bowl and mash with a fork to combine. Set aside.
Make the cilantro lime dressing. Feed cilantro leaves through food processor tube and process until finely minced. Add lime juice and process a few seconds. Slowly pour olive oil through food processor tube and process until dressing emulsifies. Add honey, season with salt and pepper, and process a few seconds to combine.
Pile all of the salad ingredients in a bowl. Top with guacamole and taco “meat”.
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This made a lot of salad. I doubled the recipe when I made it the other night. It was filling and very, very delicious. I was very impressed with the way the flavors came together. Instead of salsa, I made a cilantro lime dressing, which really topped off all the ingredients nicely. And instead of tomatoes, I roasted up some organic beets by wrapping them in foil and putting them in a 425 degree for an hour and a half. After letting them cool, I peeled off the skins and put them in the fridge until dinner time the following day. Then I chopped them up for the salad. It added a nice earthy flavor. The lettuce was replaced with the cabbage I had in my fridge as well. It was a nice substitution that really, really worked well.
Substitute, dress it up as you like. This vegan taco salad is amazing whether you make it your own or follow the original recipe. Filling, full of great proteins, healthy fats, and great flavor.
I also made my own taco seasoning…and it was awesome!
The Celiathlete 