Zena’s Gluten Free Homestyle Chocolate Chunk Cookies
Product: Zena’s Gluten Free Homestyle Chocolate Chunk Cookies – $5.49+
Cookie Monster is back with a vengeance.
My good friend, Jenn, knows me and knows that I love to try new gluten-free cookies. So, for my birthday, in my little bag of delicious birthday goodness, she provided me with three kinds I hadn’t tried before. Just after heading to New York City…and just before leaving for Walt Disney World…my roommate and I broke into the second brand she provided for me to try.
This time…it was Zena’s Gluten Free Homestyle Chocolate Chunk Cookies.
I had never heard of this brand before, so I was a little excited to try it.
Okay…a lot.
Why? Two words: Chocolate Chunk!
HELLO!!
Do you see where this is headed? Because who doesn’t love a good chocolate chip cookie, right? It’s the most basic of drop cookies out there. It’s a classic. It’s the go-to cookie of choice. I mean, you’ve reached for a cookie before and bit into it thinking it was chocolate chip only to be disappointed that it was oatmeal raisin, right? It’s happened to all of us. There is something that is so simple, yet so magical and incredibly comforting about a chocolate chip cookie.
But these weren’t just chocolate chips, yeah? These were…chocolate chunks!
The Zena’s Gluten Free Homestyle Chocolate Chunk Cookies come in a box containing 8 individually wrapped cookies. Open box…open wrapper…enjoy. Simple and satisfying.
The thing was…I wasn’t completely sold on these at first bite. Here’s why:
The Zena’s Gluten Free Homestyle Chocolate Chunk Cookies were…bland. If you didn’t happen to get a bite with the sweet chocolate chunks in it, then the cookie itself couldn’t carry it as a delicious dessert. While I found the cookies to be a great soft texture, the sweetness was just…wrong. The base of the cookie should be able to stand alone, but this was seriously lacking unless you got a bit of the chocolate in that bite. And, unfortunately, the chocolate chunks weren’t scattered well throughout each cookie. A lot of times, these chunks were just focused in the center, making it seem like the cookies were scooped and…whoops…forgot the chocolate part. They weren’t bad…we enjoyed them enough to eat the entire box (not in one sitting, but over the course of four days, HA!), but they aren’t a cookie we would actively seek out again.
As for the science of things, the Zena’s Gluten Free Homestyle Chocolate Chunk Cookies are made from soy flour, palm oil, dark chocolate chunks, sugar, brown sugar, canola oil, potato starch, egg whites (frozen), natural flavors, soy lecithin, xanthan gum, baking soda, cream of tartar, ammonium bicarbonate, Ganaden BC30, and salt. I admit, I had to look up what Ganaden BC30 was…and it is a natural probiotic. These cookies are gluten-free, wheat-free, dairy-free, nut-free, and are kosher. They are also cholesterol free!
Now, let’s look at the nutritional value of the Zena’s Gluten Free Homestyle Chocolate Chunk Cookies. They are…cookies…so don’t expect great things here. A serving size is one cookie. This cookie will provide you with 130 calories and 8 grams of fat. One cookie will also give you 70 mg sodium and 9 grams of sugar. You will also be taking in 1 gram of fiber and 3 grams of protein. Not bad for a cookie, but there are other cookies I’d rather have over these.
So, while Zena’s Gluten Free Homestyle Chocolate Chunk Cookies weren’t bad…they weren’t great either. They made a good enough dessert for the few days I was home between the New York City Marathon and the Walt Disney World Wine & Dine Half Marathon…but they won’t be a brand that I rush out to purchase again.
Restaurant: Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria – Epcot – Disney World
It was Epcot Day! YAY! I love Epcot Day. I don’t know why…because so much of it features the World Showcase…which during the Food & Wine Festival…features foods from all over the world. Even the regular pavilions that are standard in the showcase don’t offer much for a gluten-free vegetarian. But I still love Epcot Day.
Since we were in Epcot, on our final night, we wanted to go somewhere in the park for dinner. It took a little bit of back and forth, but we finally decided on Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria. It had gluten-free pasta on the menu, so we were good. Something I could eat. Which, definitely was important on Epcot Day…as our morning actually started at the Magic Kingdom…where we at Dole Whip for breakfast. Pictures were taken for proof. I am not ashamed.
But…let’s fast forward.
The entire day was spent doing a few rides and exploring the World Showcase. My friend, Jenn, was having a difficult time on the last day. Her feet…her poor feet…had blisters in places I didn’t know one could get blisters. It was a slower moving day, but I was fine with that. Take in the showcase. Stop and watch the new Lumberjack Show. I miss Off Kilter though…I’m not going to lie. Cathy snagged a lunch in Morocco (she had to have her lamb shawarma!), while Jenn and I toddled over to Brazil for the (naturally gluten-free) Pao de Queijo (Brazilian Cheese Bread). I later had one of my protein bars and half of a clementine (Jenn had the other half) because dinner reservations weren’t until 7:45 p.m. Late.
But, we made use of our time…checking out different things along the way, resting when Jenn needed to get off her feet, exploring the different countries, and shopping. Of course. We got in line for the Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros at the Mexican Pavilion…and that sort of ate up (see what I did there?) the rest of the evening down time before food. It was a bit of a stroll back to Italy in Epcot…but Jenn was a trooper…and she got there.
I went up to the hostess desk in the very crowded lobby and let her know we were there for our reservation. She asked me some questions, it was hard to hear her over the din of the lobby. But we got it worked out. And, of course, my food allergy thing. So, there was a short wait…but after about 5 or so minutes, the lobby was emptying and we were up next. The really nice hostess took us all the way to the back for a table with a bench and two chairs. Cathy and I sidled up on the bench. Jenn took the chair this time.
We. Were. Starving.
I perused the menu and noted that, yes, gluten-free pasta was the only option for me. The downside…none of the listed pasta dishes on the menu were vegetarian. Yikes. As I was just starting to look at the menu, the customer liaison came over to speak to me about my food allergy. He noted the gluten-free and pointed out that they do not have gluten-free pizza but any of the pasta can be done gluten-free. And then he was off.
Which left our poor waiter to be the one who would have to seriously help me out. Not that he minded. And as I am the tricky one…I ordered first. And my first statement was…
“Well, I am a gluten-free vegetarian…so…”
He came over to my side of the table to look at the pasta dishes. “Gluten-free…it’s easy,” he said. “The vegetarian…” He looked at all the pasta options again and finally said, “I tell you what…we will have the chef prepare some mushrooms and vegetables with our marinara sauce.”
Works for me. Order in.
Jenn opted for the Lasagne Verde, which is a white lasagna that is stuffed with spinach, parmesan, ricotta, and a besciamella sauce ($22.00). Cathy went for her go-to when we first go to an Italian restaurant…the Spaghetti e Polpettine, which contained hand-crafted veal meatballs in a tomato sauce ($21.00). I have to say, I usually giggle a little when Jenn orders something with cooked spinach or vegetables in it…because most of those veggies get tossed to the side of the plate. But…she is Italian…and she knows her Italian food.
We waited for a bit…no gluten-free rolls or any bread at all at the table. We watched a woman at the table next to us devour an entire pizza on her own, while her dining companions watched her. And as she was taking her last few bites, their food arrived. It was weird. We couldn’t figure out if they were just there to watch her eat (like some crazy Disney World food challenge or something)…but…who knows. She then got to watch all of them eat so…turn around is fair play…or something?
But, soon our attention turned to our own food as our dishes arrived and were delivered before us.
Pasta with Veggies in Red Sauce
I have to say, my bowl of pasta was beautiful. A good helping of marinara sauce (which would have been awesome with a gluten-free bread product of some type!) with a variety of vegetables cooked in. I spotted zucchini, tomatoes, peppers and mushrooms immediately. And the gluten-free pasta was fusilli…so twisty and perfect for capturing delicious sauce. I will call this dish…”Pasta for the strange gluten-free vegetarian at the table in the back.” Or…more simply…Pasta and Veggies in Red Sauce ($22.00).
Now, this is the second Italian restaurant I have visited at Disney World. Normally we just head over to Hollywood Studios and enjoy our food (complete with gluten-free dinner rolls and gluten-free dessert!) at Mama Melrose’s. But since were were in Epcot…we figured it would be easier to eat there than park hop.
I sort of wish we park hopped…
It’s not that Via Napoli was bad. It wasn’t. The food was actually quite good. It was just…average though. The pasta in my dish was actually cooked to perfection. A lot of gluten-free pastas, especially when crafted from rice flours, tend to get gummy and fall apart. These were a perfect al dente and held up to the marinara and the vegetables. But…there was a lot of pasta in that dish and I ended up picking out the veggies at the end and leaving the noodles alone. I ate about 3/4 of the dish…and that was it. I was done. The marinara had a lot of flavor to it. And the vegetables were a nice touch and I appreciate the chef at Via Napoli for doing that to accommodate my dietary needs. I just…had better. Elsewhere.
Jenn enjoyed her lasagna…after she picked out most of the spinach. And Cathy made sure to eat all of her meatballs. They were much smaller than what she normally gets in a spaghetti and meatball dish, so she appreciated that too. But she too had to soldier on and leave some of her pasta noodles behind.
No dessert here for us…we had plans. Cathy wanted her chocolate cannoli from one of the gelato carts in the World Showcase, and I headed to France to get some Salted Caramel Gelato from an ice cream shop there. Yummy!
So, as it stands, Via Napoli put out good food. I can’t think of anywhere at Disney where I have had bad food. It’s just…Mama Melrose’s had more options for me…and a bit more to offer. So next time…I think I’ll return to Mama Melrose’s. But, thank you, Via Napoli, for the fine cuisine. A little taste of Italy never goes wrong with me.
Be Our Guest – Fantastyland – Magic Kingdom, Orlando, Florida
Restaurant: Be Our Guest – Fantasyland – Magic Kingdom, Disney World
It’s probably one of the hardest reservations to get at Disney World at this time. One of the newest restaurants at the theme park itself, Magic Kingdom opened the Be Our Guest Restaurant in Fantasyland. And yes, just as the name suggests, the basic theme of this restaurant is Beauty and the Beast.This means, should I ever take my neice Kaytlynn to Disney World…this is where we would eat!
We didn’t get the much coveted dinner reservation, however, my Disney Travel Agent and friend, Karen, managed to snag a spot for a lunch reservation. She added it to our Fast Passes and we were good to go for Sunday lunch.
We had big dinner plans that evening at The Wave, so we opted for a “dessert first” approach to our reservation. In other words…forget the real food…give us something sweet!
One of the reasons I had wanted to get into Be Our Guest was the fact that they had…
…wait for it…
…a GLUTEN-FREE CREAM PUFF!!!!
*cough*
Sorry…I get excited sometimes when it comes to things I love but haven’t been able to eat in years.
The rumors were true, however, so once we got into the Fast Pass line and were ushered up the walk to the restaurant, the hostess handed us each a menu and we perused it. I knew what I was getting. Cathy was torn between getting soup or getting a dessert. As Jenn and I were getting desserts and had declared it “dessert first” day…she eventually let go of the soup thought and went with her choice for a dessert. No duplicates. Actually, normally with the three of us…little duplication ever happens.
We stood in line in this amazing Great Hall, with suits of armor and screens that showed images of the items available on the menu. When we got up to the host, he directed us to stand inside and await the help of someone else, who would then direct us to one of the pay stations. We had wanted to charge these to our cards, but were sent to a kiosk thing instead of the cashier. When we questioned it, we were told it would take a card. Jenn was first…and she wasn’t given any option except her Fast Pass. So…onto the bracelet it went. Cathy and I played around with it, and we did find where we could charge it to a card…except it automatically made us use the Fast Pass. So…yeah…that was confusing, convoluted, and just chaotic.
From there, we turned over our menus and were told to take a seat at any of the tables in any of the rooms. This involved a little bit of investigation. The main room you enter was packed. There was a darker room near the back, that had more of a tavern feel to it. But…it was also packed. So, we moved to the more ballroom-ish room. Plenty of seating in there. We pulled up a booth (and chair) at one of the tables at the back. I was facing the rotating statue of Belle and The Beast dancing. Absolutely…gorgeous.
Cathy and Jenn both got “Adult Cold Fountain Beverages” (aka: SODA!) ($2.99), so while they went to retrieve their drinks from the fountains at the other side of the room, I sat and manned the table. While they were gone, a man came over to check our receipts and wrote down something on a pad. I’m assuming this is how they eventually figure out where to bring our food, instead of playing a game of Marco Polo with each and every customer. They returned and I got up to get my drink. I don’t do soda anymore…so I opted for an “Adult Hot Beverage” (aka: coffee, tea, hot cocoa) ($2.39), and had to go retrieve a cup to get some coffee. Caffeine was necessary. The coffee in this room was out of order, but I was told to just go around the corner to the other room as they have coffee there. So…I did.
Brewed hot coffee. Not fancy. Very basic. But…served it’s purpose.
Finally, we were settled in and taking in the entire place. And then, this gorgeous cart rolled up and Jenn was given her dessert. Yes…just Jenn. She ordered the Éclair à l’Orange ($4.19), which was an éclair with a custard filling with zested orange and finished off with chocolate ganache. Jenn loves chocolate and orange together…so this was a definite win. She was kind enough to wait for Cathy and I to receive our treats before she dove in.
And they did…about 5 minutes later.
Cathy went for the obvious Cathy choice…the Lemon Meringue Cupcake ($4.19). This is a vanilla sponge cake with a lemon custard filling and flamed meringue icing. It just screamed Cathy because…it was lemon. And she loves lemon.
As for me…I went with the item on the menu that I wanted to begin with. It is gluten-free. It has no added sugar. It, my dearest friends, is the Lemon – Raspberry Cream Puff ($4.19). It is exactly what it sounds like. A pastry that is filled with lemon custard and topped off with raspberries. Gorgeous.
With all of our sweet treats now present, we dove in.
Be Our Guest’s Éclair à l’Orange
Let’s start with Jenn. Jenn loved the Éclair à l’Orange. She said it was perfectly orange-y. In fact, it managed to be smooth and light, not heavy like some cream-filled pastries (especially eclairs) tend to be. Her only stipulation…it could have been bigger.
Be Our Guest’s Lemon Meringue Cupcake
Cathy’s Lemon Meringue Cupcake looked like a little, personal, lemon meringue pie. She used her fork to dive in, the cake portion completely encased in this gorgeous paper. It was small…she said almost like two biter. And it wasn’t knock-you-over lemony, but definitely had that bright citrus flavor in each bite. In fact, when I asked her to describe it, all she could say was…”It was lemony!” Uh…yeah…the name tells me that. So…there you have it. It’s lemony!
Now onto the Lemon-Raspberry Cream Puff. I admit. I heard rumors of the gluten-free cream puff and knew…just knew…it had to be mine. So…here it was…this little dough puff in front of me. I took my fork and cut through the crusty pastry, watching it flake away to give way to the gorgeous, yellow, lemon cream inside. I paired it with the cream and raspberries on top…and we’re talking a heavenly, sinful dessert. I loved that this also had no additional sugar in it. I’ve been trying to cut back on the amount of sugar I consume, which isn’t easy because of natural sugars in things I love…like fruits. But, I don’t really count natural sugars. Still, I didn’t think this really needed any additional sugar. It was light…fluffy, and just a dreamy dessert for a girl who last had a cream puff when this gluten-free journey began…and I cheated. And suffered. And that was the end of that. This…was huge to me. I have to agree with both Jenn and Cathy though…the dessert was small. Which is fine…but I just thought for close to $5, there would be a little bit more. Other than that…we devoured the delectable, delicious desserts, and raved about them the entire time.
Be Our Guest’s Lemon – Raspberry Cream Puff (GLUTEN-FREE!!)
Dessert first…achieved.
Being a grown-up is awesome! HA!
So, while I thought the ambiance of the restaurant was killer…like being in the film Beauty and the Beast…it was really chaotic, really loud, and a bit…of a mess when it came to ordering and checking out. But, it was a great way to dine and I am thrilled my friend Karen managed to snag us lunch reservations. The atmosphere at this restaurant is hard to top. But, in a way…it was like eating at a 5 star cafeteria. If you know what I mean.
I was definitely happy to have the chance to dine at Be Our Guest…and I thank them for offering one of the most amazing and fantastic gluten-free desserts I have had in awhile.
Me, dressed as Venellope von Schweetz, at the staging area of the Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon – Orlando, Florida
Race: Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon
Place: Walt Disney World, Orlando, Florida
Date: November 8, 2014
Time:1:50:09
I’m starting to think I angered the running gods somewhere along the way this year.
Seriously.
Because before I go any further, let me start with these two words for you:
BROKEN TOE!
You read that right. My first night at Disney World this time around…and what do I do? I BREAK A FREAKIN’ TOE! And you know, broken toe stories never really are a good story…because they always just happen randomly and in such a stupid and simple manner. For me…climbing into the shower at my resort. No joke. Jammed it on the tub. Yeah…
So…running gods and goddesses…whatever it is…I apologize. Please, please show me some mercy from here on out…
*COUGH*
That being said…not even a week removed from the New York City Marathon and I find myself up in Columbus, Ohio. Yes…this journey starts in Columbus, because my roomie and I were taking our good friend, Jenn, with us to Walt Disney World this time around. And, believe it or not, it was cheaper to drive up to Columbus and fly out of there on Friday morning than it was to do it from Louisville. Worked out in the end. The three of us could now travel together. YAY!! But…this also meant a very early morning after a night spent on the road to get there. We didn’t get in too late, but we didn’t want to stay up too late either, as our ride would be coming in between 4:15 a.m. and 4:20 a.m. Friday morning. Our flight out was at 6:30 a.m. Early flight…nonstop…meant…in to Disney early. WOOT! Jenn’s dad came and got us, drove us to the Columbus Airport, and dropped us off. Cathy and I checked our bags…Jenn carried hers on…and we went through security. Our first stop…Starbucks. Caffeine was needed for sure at this hour. And I had a tall soy salted caramel mocha calling my name. With coffees in hand, we settled in at our gate and just started discussing the plans for that day.
And…it ran smoothly. We boarded the plane on time and were in the air without any sort of delay. This was a new thing for me. And, believe it or not, our flight team got us in to Orlando a full 20 minutes early. HELLO! This is my happy dance. Cathy went to get the rental car while Jenn and I waited for luggage. The bags came through really quickly, actually, so Jenn and I headed out the way we were directed for rental cars and ended up at the Enterprise kiosk outside. Cathy was inside. Figures. So, she had to come to us. The representative took us out to the midsize cars and pointed out the Prius, as we are accustomed to Toyota vehicles as both Jenn and I own Toyotas. We were sold. Hello amazing as mileage!! Car acquired, we were now setting out to make our required Publix stop, to pick up some fruit, snacks, and some water. Jenn and I also replenished our protein bar stores. I am glad we did this, because I ate my way through all of mine this trip. After that, we headed to the resort and got checked in at…where else?…Port Orleans Riverside.
Yes. Again. Why change up the resort when we love this one so much. I mean…it’s one of my favorite Disney Princess’ place…Tiana, of course! And I know the layout and the rooms (or so I thought, HA!). We got our room…which was…a maze to find. Opposite end of the elevator, all the way around by the pool…second floor. We just had to do some exploring to find it. But, heh, we managed. We settled into the room for a moment…Jenn cooling off by the air conditioner, while I got out my tiara (requirement at Disney…because they call me Princess if I wear it…and I LOVE being called Princess). I had to get my waiver in order to pick up my race packet at the expo. And we grabbed a snack prior to heading out for the day.
First up…the expo. And thankfully, the resorts on Disney property run shuttles to the event. The expo was held at the ESPN Wild World of Sports Complex. Just like it normally is. Well, it was for the Dopey Challenge anyway. Love this venue. It’s really easy to navigate now…but at first it was slightly confusing.
The most amazing thing happened with this race though. In New York City, I met running legend Kathrine Switzer. When she ran the Boston Marathon, she was the now famous Bib 261. Well, my bib number at the Disney Wine & Dine was…261. Having this race bib number has been a dream of mine…Disney Magic made it happen! I love surprises like that. As I was one of the lower numbers, I had virtually no line to stand in. This is usually the case with Disney races for me. I was going to be in Corral A, which anyone with the numbers between 21-500 will be in. They gave me my commemorative pin, which I ordered ahead of time, and then sent me across the way to the actual expo, where I would pick up my t-shirt.
I avoided the vendors upon entering and made my way over to the area in the back for my t-shirts. Not too many people were in line for a women’s small either, so I stepped up and handed my bib over to the lady at the counter. She looked at it as she tore the t-shirt tab off and said, “WOW! You’re the lowest number I’ve seen…how fast can you run a half marathon?” I told her my fastest time and she asked if I was going to try to beat it here. I told her, in my mind, I’d love to, but I had just run a marathon on Sunday, so it wasn’t likely. The body was still recovering. I said I intended to have some fun and just enjoy it. And take pictures with characters this time around. Next time… She laughed and handed me my shirt. Time to shop!
I really intended not to purchase anything. Just look. But…heh…that didn’t work out as planned. I didn’t get a BondiBand here either, for the record. My mojo is off. My usual customs aren’t happening. ACK! But I didn’t see a booth, honestly. Cathy found me the race specific equivalent though in the Official Merchandise area…so we went with that. It would do. One thing I did do, however, was visit the Garmin booth and ended up getting a watch I could wear so I didn’t have to wear my Garmin running watch if I needed to know what time it was. After all, I was at Disney World and I was NOT going to live on my cell phone. Nope! This was vacation! With that purchase…I said I wasn’t allowed to spend any more money…so I avoided the Newton booth and tried to ignore all the cute running clothes. I made it out of there with only that purchase and a wine glass (Disney Wine & Dine…get it!) from Official Merchandise. I did well!
We wrapped things up and took the shuttle back to our resort to drop off our bags. Then…with no pausing, we were back out and this time hopping the regular shuttle bus to take us to Animal Kingdom, our park of choice for our first day there. We had things planned…like Jenn and I were going to ride Expedition Everest, the roller coaster there in Animal Kingdom. We did. And it was epic fun. It was nice to have a ride buddy this time around, as Cathy refuses to do any of those rides…because she somehow became less fun at amusement parks between when we first went to Disney in February 2013…to today. BUT…before any attractions or rides…we needed more coffee…and a snack. So…I hit up the allergy friendly Gardens Kiosk in the park for some hummus and vegetables and Cathy and Jenn grabbed some fries at a restaurant there. We noshed and then…went to grab the infamous COFFEE!! You see, Animal Kingdom has this one place that serves up this fantastic iced coffee in either a French Vanilla or Mocha flavor. I have always done, and will always do, the French Vanilla. But it tastes like a light milkshake. Seriously. It is the best thing ever. My favorite coffee at any Disney park. And…I might be addicted to it. With coffee now acquired and caffeine hitting the system…we had the roller coaster to do and the Kilimanjaro Safari. LOVE dong the safari at Animal Kingdom because the guides are fun, the animals are RIGHT THERE…and it’s just a nice way to relax and see some wild animals. LOVED it. While there, we also did the “It’s Tough To Be A Bug” show and rode on Dinosaur. By the time we wrapped things up, we were running just a tiny bit late to the shuttle to get to the Animal Kingdom Lodge…home of our traditional first meal at Disney World feast…Sanaa.
Sanaa is African food that sort of borrows from the flavors of India. Can you see why I love eating here so much? After talking with the chef, I ended up getting the Vegetarian Sampler, which is Basmati Rice and the choice of two of five of their vegetarian entrees. I went with the Chickpea Wat and the Seasonal Greens and Tomatoes. It was…beyond fantastic as always. For the record, Cathy ordered the Lamb Shank and Jenn got the Slow Cooked Dinner Sampler, which was Basmati Rice with a choice of two of the five plate offerings. She went with Butter Chicken and Goan Seafood Curry. We ended up splitting the dessert…as usual…we ordered the Seasonal Kulfi, which was pumpkin this time. And it was delicious. The couple next to us made conversation with us the entire time, and he ended up getting the trio of desserts, which included the kulfi that we were raving about. He took a bite and his wife said, “That was your sex face.” Hilarity ensued. Anyway, with dinner wrapped up, we had a full day and we knew the race was the following night, so we headed back to the resort to take our turn through the shower and get some much needed sleep.
Broken toe…*sigh*
And this…is where it all went down. I was first up to shower, so I went into the bathroom and got the water going. And as I was climbing into the bathtub…BAM…jammed my foot on the edge of the tub. Hard. And bad. I doubled over for about a minute before toughing it up and finishing the shower. After I was dressed, I hobbled out and pointed to my foot. “I think I broke a toe!” Cathy and Jenn looked up at me with big eyes and Cathy said, “SERIOUSLY!?” It was confirmed the next morning…when I woke up to find it swollen and a pretty shade of black-ish purple.
*SIGH*
Being proactive, we decided to use the athletic tape that we brought with us (because my feet are delicate things and I apparently need to wrap the hell out of them these days) and Cathy taped my broken toe (the 4th one)…to the middle toe. And that was how I managed to get through a full day at Hollywood Studios. For real. Being that the race started at 10 p.m., today was going to be a bit strange for me…because…I had to eat backwards. I also was not going to be having gluten-free pizza prior to this race. Night races…they screw everything up. So, we were having a character breakfast at Cape May (Minnie Mouse, Goofy, and Donald, FTW!). And this was going to be our biggest meal of the day. Honestly. The chef came out to talk to me and she ended up making me GLUTEN FREE MICKEY WAFFLES!! These are a requirement when I go to Disney World and Disneyland. I have to have them at least once. I paired that up with scrambled eggs for protein and a big heaping bowl of fruit. Because…it was there and really delicious! And that was breakfast. Off to Hollywood Studios. Cathy had somehow managed to get the times wrong for the fast passes we had for both the Aerosmith Rock ‘N Roller Coaster and the Tower of Terror. But, we begged and pleaded and after being treated like children, Jenn and I were allowed on our thrill rides that Cathy refuses to even try. We also did Star Tours (always fun!) and Muppet Vision 3-D. LOVE THE MUPPETS. We had some time, so we headed over to The Magic of Disney Animation and sat in on one of the drawing classes, where we were taught how to draw Donald Duck this time. This made me happy…I hadn’t done a Donald Duck before. My lunch was my protein bar and a clementine, which I ate on the go. And after we wrapped up everything…we went back to the hotel, because I had a race to get dressed for…and to get to…broken toe or not.
I actually took the tape off my toes for the race, fearing blisters. We also had weather moving in (even though I was told on numerous occasions that Orlando didn’t have rain for months!). So…yeah…there was that. I was dressing up as Vanellope von Schweetz from Wreck it Ralph this time around. Why? Because Vanellope is awesome. HA! A co-worker of mine even sewed the top for me and it looked fantastic. I was pretty excited about the costume. Not so happy with my toe. And definitely not happy about the impending rain. But, you just suck it up cupcake and get it done. Right? Right! So, I got dressed, and went ahead and ate my cereal (treating my dinner as how I would eat on a race morning…because I was eating backwards all day!). Cathy put all the little candy bits in my hair and I packed a set of dry clothes (but not shoes) for after the race…just in case. The best part about Wine & Dine is the after party in Epcot. You get to try foods and drinks from different countries. And included in the race bag is a $10 gift card to put towards those purchases and samples. So, dinner for Cathy and Jenn was going to be tasting around the world. For me…probably a protein bar because there isn’t too much there for a gluten-free vegetarian. But…I figured I would take in the experience.
So, I grabbed the banana we purchased at the grocery store when we got there on Friday and we headed out to the shuttle to take us to the start of the race, which would be near the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. The staging area was mostly in the grass, and it started to sprinkle a bit. The first thing we did was head to information to figure out the best way for Cathy and Jenn to get from the start to the finish. They were told, especially since I was a Corral A runner, that they needed to leave and get a shuttle before I started the race. So…after dancing around and helping me put a garbage bag over my head to keep my body warm as the wind picked up and the weather started to roll in…they gave me hugs…I was told that the “power of Dean compels me” and not to “pants my poop.” TRADITION! And they were gone. So…I just sort of plopped myself down somewhere and tried to stay warm. I ate my banana. I watched people expend a lot of energy by jumping and dancing…and it was fun!! But soon…it was time to get in those corrals. And I made the short hike from the staging area to the corrals, moving all the way up to Corral A.
One thing I loved was seeing so many people in this corral in costume. Disney race or not, a lot of times the higher up corrals don’t get into the Disney spirit. I have always and will always costume for Disney races. They are Disney races. If you run Disney for time, you’re missing the point! I stayed in the black garbage bag until after the wheelchair racers were sent off. The elite runners and Corral A were then moved up to the start line. I shed it then…and that’s when it started to rain. Lightly at first. So, when they sent us off with the fireworks and all…it was like a spring shower. But soon after that first mile, where I met a fellow runner who had just done New York City in that horrible, awful, crazy wind…the rain started to pick up. And then…it was just…a downpour.
The first three miles of this race are done on the highway…and this race also embraces the most hills of any Disney race I have run yet at Disney World. But…after New York City…these didn’t seem too bad. Not really. After the 5K mark, we come into Animal Kingdom. Running through the parks is the best part because you get to have the park employees cheer you on. That and this is normally a key place to snap pictures with characters. The problem was…with the downpour…many of the characters weren’t out. BUMMER! But, you go on. We run around the Tree of Life just after Mile 4 and then duck outside of the park before hitting 5 Miles.
The rain was relentless and my shoes were full of water. The good thing was, my feet were so cold and numb that I couldn’t tell if my toe was hurting or not at this point. But, I knew it was hindering me. There just comes a point where you just can’t do anything about it…so you just stop worrying about it. The next few miles were back on the roads, part of the path we ran for the Disney World Marathon. I recognized it. I was about halfway through and running down the street parallel to those just getting started. On the opposite side of the highway…the later corrals were just getting underway. And we got a lot of cheers from them as we went on.
It’s around Mile 10 that we get filtered into Hollywood Studios. Great park to run through. It was decorated for Christmas and everything was lit up. This has great scenes to run past and the support there is nothing but phenomenal from the cast members. Honestly. Despite running in the shadow of the Tower of Terror and through the various lots that they feature, my absolute favorite part of Hollywood Studios involved disco balls and the Costuming Tunnel in the Backlot. Honestly…I loved looking through the windows, while disco balls are sending lights everywhere in this small tunnel, and seeing people pressing and prepping the costumes for the following day. It was spectacular. I wanted to stop and linger…because…well…it was dry in there…and…IT WAS FLIPPIN’ COOL! But, I was nearing the end of the race and the after party and two very soggy spectators awaited my arrival at that finish line.
Onward.
Out of Hollywood Studios and onto the slick and slippery boardwalk, which runs past the Disney Yacht Club and Disney Beach Club Resorts. Even with the hard rain and cool air, people staying there still came out to cheer. I love the vibe I get at every Disney race. But the electricity through these last two miles was fantastic. Honestly.
From the Boardwalk we took a turn through Epcot, past the giant ball, and out into the parking lot. I know this finish area well, trust me. Around the corner and BAM…there was the finish line. I pressed hard to that finish line, ignoring my foot and toe, just wanting to get over that mat. And I cleared it, soaking wet and dripping with rain and pure determination and stubbornness. Broken toe…check. Half marathon…check. BEAST MODE, BABY!
As I recieved my medal and my mylar blanket, I saw Cathy and Jenn waving to me from the bleachers. They were as wet as I was. They started down while I got the finisher’s photo, some water, and, of course, the goodie box that RunDisney hands you at the end of every race, filled with goodies like Skittles, Clif Bars, Craisins, Fruit Snacks, and Tortilla Chips with a Cheese spread. I wasn’t ready for food. What I was ready for was getting out of the chute and meeting up with my friends. I sipped on some water and went to where I was directed to exit.
There they were. Cathy came up to me and gave me a hug. Jenn came over to do the same and said, “You can tell I love you…” LOL!! I really do have amazing friends. And I give a lot of props and love to the spectators and volunteers who stood or sat out in that downpour for as long as they did.
But now…it was time to check out the after party, which meant an uncrowded spin around the World Showcase with some tasting portions of food at the different country booths and kiosks. But first…I was freezing…and I wanted hot tea. We got that immediately and set out to see what each country had to offer. If something sounded good…devour. If not…move on. I probably should have changed clothes, but at that point, it was still raining, so I didn’t see the point.
Cathy tried foods from 7 countries: Mexico, Singapore, China, Brazil, Belgium, France, Canada. Jenn tried food from China, Brazil, and France. Me…I had tea. And after stopping at France, I decided I REALLY needed to be in dry clothes. I was shaking more than walking. And since it was just an intermittent drizzle, I figured it was the best time to get out of my cold, wet costume and into my long pants and running jacket.
Me, in dry clothes, after walking the World Showcase and enjoying the after party at Epcot after the Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon
BEST FEELING EVER!
I was dry and now…warm. I also ate one of my protein bars to help with recovery. And we finished up the World Showcase that night and called it a morning. Because by the time we got on the shuttle and returned to the hotel, it was 2:35 a.m. And we all still had to shower. I went first, making it quick. Then Jenn. Then Cathy. We didn’t have any reason to be up early the following morning, so we slept in until 9:30-ish. It was Magic Kingdom day that day…which meant Dole Whip for dessert that night. We ended up having Dole Whip for breakfast the following morning before hitting up Epcot on our last day there.
I even randomly was found by my friend Michele, who also did the half marathon. She found me in Morocco of all places. HA! And we ended up talking about a lot of things for awhile, before she and her group moved on to try more foods from the showcase, and we went to continue on around the other way, killing time before dinner that night.
So, my official results for the Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon are that I finished with an official time of 1:50:09. ON A BROKEN TOE! IN THE POURING RAIN! I was 418/11,941 overall. I was the 97/7928 woman to cross the finish line. And I was 15/1442 in my division to finish. Disney Magic. Had to be. Not my best half marathon by a long shot, but given the circumstances…just…amazing to me.
Now, really, I need to show some mercy on my poor foot and toe. Time to heal.
Once again, Disney…you were expensive…but totally worth every bit of money I poured into you for those 4 days I was there. Despite not having the characters out on the course for much of the race, I have every desire to come back and do this one again. This time…without the downpour and preferably without the broken toe.
Disney…as always…you are my happy place. Thanks for another great race (and another great reason to dress up in costume to run!).
Product: Lucy’s Gluten Free Maple Bliss Cookies – $4.99+
My friend Jenn knows me. She knows me very well. So, it should not come as a surprise that my friend who might be a bigger chocaholic than I would, would pack me up a delicious birthday goodie bag complete with different flavors and brands of gluten-free cookies. Cookie Monster…he has nothing on me.
Mmmm…cookies!
I have tried a couple of varieties from Dr. Lucy’s line of cookies…but not the Maple Bliss. I was unimpressed with the crispy sugar cookies, finding the bean flowers used in her flour mix a little overpowering. However, the chocolate chip cookies were really good. So, I was on the fence when I opened up the box of Lucy’s Gluten Free Maple Bliss Cookies the other night to enjoy for a light, sweet dessert.
Every day should end with dessert. Just sayin’.
So…with one hit and one miss, I bet you’re wondering about how these cookies stacked up.
Honestly…I like them! I mean, I’m not falling all over myself to praise them to the sky, but this is a very good cookie. The flavors are there…sweet maple with the added sweetness of sugar and all packaged in a crispy two-bite cookie. That’s a good blend. They were a little dry, I think…but I’m also used to soft cookies more than crunchy ones…so maybe it’s just a thing. My roommate also loves the flavor but also thinks they are a bit dry. Nothing a glass of almond milk can’t help, right? Right! While also made with that signature bean flour, the flavor isn’t as strong, probably thanks to that maple syrup shining through. Overall…I’d buy these again. And turn them into a base for S’mores. Seriously…that would be awesome. Seriously, these do strike that balance of crunchy without being just…sawdust. The natural sweetness does allow for a great amount of flavor and keeps everything in balance. If you love crunchy cookies…this is a great gluten-free option for sure. Remember though…bean flours do make things taste like…well…beans. But the sweetness helps to balance it out.
Let’s talk about what goes into the Lucy’s Gluten Free Maple Bliss Cookies, shall we? These cookies are made with Dr. Lucy’s Flour Blend (gluten-free oat, garbanzo/chickpea, potato starch, tapioca, sorghum, and fava flours), organic cane sugar, gluten-free oat flakes, soy milk, molasses, sustainable palm fruit oil, expeller pressed canola oil, olive oil, filtered water, citric acid, and flavoring from non-GMO corn, sunflower lecithin, non-dairy lactic acid, baking powder, baking soda, potassium bitartrate, vanilla extract, salt, xanthan gum, calcium carbonate, annatto, extract color, maple syrup, and cellulose gum.
It feels like a lot of ingredients and some of them do sound a bit more “chemical” than others. But…put them together and you do get a good cookie.
As for nutrition…a serving of Lucy’s Gluten Free Maple Bliss Cookies is 3 of the 2-3 bite cookies. This serving will provide you with 120 calories and 4.5 grams of fat. That, honestly, is GOOD for cookies. That actually impresses me! A serving of these cookies also provides 170 mg sodium and 9 grams of sugar. And finally…you will be taking in 1 gram of fiber and 2 grams of protein, making these a non-filling sweet treat.
Cookies are not created equally, but if you love a crunchy, crumbly cookie…and if you love the flavor of maple syrup…these are a fantastic choice. For me…they fall in the middle of the cookie scale. A great cookie for flavor…but I sort of like a bit of softness to my cookies. Like I said…these just seem dry. But overall…not bad. Not bad at all.
I admit…when it comes to snacks, I usually reach for fruit. But, the fact of the matter is…sometimes you want something salty. Something that will satisfy that need for sodium (can you tell I’m a runner?). And finding a good gluten-free chip that not only is crispy, but not oily, and still packing a flavorful punch. It can be a plain chip, but make it a damn good plain chip!
That’s all.
So, awhile back while in Columbus, Ohio, I was shopping and filling a basket at Raisin Rack (seriously…GO THERE! The gluten-free section is FANTASTIC!) when I came across the snacks. I sort of glanced over the protein/breakfast bars and didn’t see anything that caught my attention. But…something did as I walked further down, to where the crackers, chips and pretzels are found.
Glutino.
So I trust it. Great brand.
Chips.
Okay…keep going…getting warmer…
SOUR CREAM AND ONION!
Hold the phone and shut the front door!
But there it was…in that classic white packaging that I associate with Glutino. And it was screaming at me to buy it. I hadn’t had sour cream and onion chips in…what seemed like…forever. Seriously forever. Years. Ages. Eons.
In fact, I hadn’t really enjoyed a good flavored chip since going gluten-free. There are plenty of chips out there…but the nutrition facts just didn’t make them worth the bother of buying. I want to enjoy a snack and not sit there fussing over the calories and fat content. And then get mad for doing that because you have to treat yourself in life. Everyone should. Just don’t make a habit of it, right?!
So…sour cream and onion just sounded pretty freakin’ amazing, if you ask me. So, it went into the basket…and then into my car…and then into my pantry…and then…into my belly! This week, I pulled this bag out to fill in for my usual mid-morning snack (usually an apple or pear or something from my CSA bin…but we weren’t home and didn’t get one!). I slipped the bag open and immediately was hit with that classic sour cream and onion smell. I think my mouth instinctively started to water.
So, I got out the kitchen scale and measured out a serving (28 grams). Perfect serving, if you ask me. And then I put them in my little Hello Kitty (don’t judge!) lunch bag for the following day at the office. When my usual snack time rolled around (I run my life on a schedule!), I couldn’t wait to bite into them. I uncapped the container and took a moment to observe. The chips were thin-cut, and perfectly cut. They had this wavy edge to them. And they weren’t greasy, as these chips are not fried, but baked. I have ALWAYS loved baked chips. Each sliced chip had a decent amount of seasoning on it, without being overwhelming. I breathed in the delicious snack fumes and then didn’t waste any more time.
It is a damn good thing that I measure out my servings. It would be SO easy to devour the entire bag of these amazing chips. The Glutino Gluten Free Sour Cream and Onion Potato Crisps are perfect. Seriously…snack perfection. The flavors are spot on. I mean…just spot on. Perfect saltiness from the potato chip, and then the savory essence of the sour cream and onion seasoning just made this the ultimate snack chip. They are crispy, and not the least bit dry. Perfect snackage, if you ask me. And, again, I would eat all the chips if left alone with the bag, for sure.
SO GOOD!
But, let’s discuss things like ingredients and nutrition, shall we?
The Glutino Gluten Free Sour Cream and Onion Potato Crisps are made from deyhdrated potatoes, corn starch, corn oil, seasoning (reduced lactose whey, onion powder, sugar, milk powder, cultured nonfat milk, dehydrated parsley, citric acid, lactic acid, natural flavors, garlic powder, and less than 2% soybean oil, silicon dioxide and calcium silcate as a processing aid), sugar, maltodextrin, leavening, coy lecithin, baking soda, and salt.
Now for that nutritional information…
A serving of Glutino Gluten Free Sour Cream and Onion Potato Crisps is 1 ounce (28 grams)…or about 12 crisps. This one serving will provide you with 110 calories and 2.5 grams of fat. Don’t you love baked chips? I always have! This serving also gives you 270 mg sodium and 2 grams of sugar. You will also be receiving 1 gram of fiber and 2 grams of protein. These chips are cholesterol free as well.
For me, while not a common snack, chips are a great salty treat. And these mix the salty and savory flavor of sour cream and onion. It was a favorite flavor growing up…and the tradition continues. Glutino…you’ve rocked my snack life. Again.
Okay…here’s the awful truth. The moment I pulled this box down from my pantry this morning and looked at the cover I said a silent prayer. Seriously. I had to. I was really concerned that, sort of like the last flaky cereal I ate (sorry Freedom Foods…I love you but…NO!), these would taste like cardboard. There is nothing worse, especially in this day and age, than getting a gluten-free product and having it taste like…a box. It just shouldn’t happen.
So, with much trepidation, I opened up the box and scooped out a serving of the cereal. I snagged a couple of the flakes…just ready to get angry at myself for risking my morning cereal tradition with a new flavor, despite being made by a company I trust. It didn’t work out for me with Freedom Foods (and I love all the other stuff I tried of theirs…just not that one cereal!)…so I begin to doubt ALL the brand names now.
This…is the life of a Celiac…who is still taking risks and trying new stuff. I mean, hey, I can’t just stick with the classics. Well, I could, but what fun would that be.
Nature’s Path has an entire line of organic cereals and a good number of them are gluten-free. I’ve treated myself to many of their Envirokidz cereals in the past, as well as these “adult” cereals…you know…the ones with actual flakes from ancient grains and no cute animals on the box. I guess sometimes I do need to act my age. HA! Anyway…this was one of the ones that was on sale when I was out shopping for cereal…and it intrigued me at the time. The sale price, I guess…more than anything. I am a girl on a tight budget…sometimes I see gluten-free and a sale sticker and that’s what goes in my shopping basket.
The Mesa Sunrise Flakes cereal is a naturally sweetened ceral of crunchy, golden flakes that are made from a blend of Indian corn, flax, and amaranth. Completely gluten-free. They look like speckled corn flakes, honestly. And, perhaps, that’s exactly what they are. But…upon first appearance I had that initial thought:
“Oh…these are going to taste like cardboard…and for the next week…I’ll have to choke them down.”
So, those couple of flakes I snagged from the serving I dished up in my cereal bowl were the primary test. And…
They were not just good, but really good.
First of all, the texture is great. You get this perfect crunch with each bite…so you feel like you’re eating something substantial that won’t go soggy in 30 seconds once you top off your cereal with almond milk…or whatever you like to put on your cereal. That was a huge plus. But the most surprising thing was the flavor. I thought these would be bland and dry, but they weren’t. In fact, they had this nice touch of sweetness to them, the result of sweet corn and the addition of evaporated cane juice, I’m sure. But it had this great flavor and I could tell that it would stick with me after I ate it…unlike most gluten-free cereals, which tend to be laden with sugar and less protein and fiber. I burn through those. This actually felt substantial. And healthy. And good! And being made from some great whole grains does help make this a well rounded and delicious breakfast.
Let’s talk about these ingredients for a moment, shall we? The Nature’s Path Mesa Sunrise Flakes are made with organic corn meal, organic yellow corn flower, organic evaporated cane juice, organic flax, organic buckwheat flour, organic quinoa, organic amaranth, sea salt, and tocopherols (natural vitamin E). These flakes are gluten-free and cholesterol free.
As far as nutrition goes, the Nature’s Path Organic Mesa Sunrise Flakes are a great way to start your day. Very healthy. A serving size is 3/4 cup. In this serving, you will be taking in 120 calories and only 1 gram of fat. This serving provides you with 125 mg sodium and only 4 grams of sugar. And you will be consuming 3 grams of filling fiber and 3 grams of protein. It’s a substantial and hearty cereal that is low in sugar (LOVE that!) and healthy thanks to being made from whole grains. I am in love with this cereal.
Nature’s Path has become a reliable and easy-to-find brand when I’m searching for some gluten-free options. Every cereal I have tried, both in their grown-up line and their Envirokidz line, have been outstanding. No wonder this company is thriving. If you need a healthy breakfast, I highly recommend trying the Nature’s Path Organic Mesa Sunrise Flakes. Great cereal and a great way to start your day!
Product – Candy Tree Organic Raspberry Twists – $3.19+
So…I’ve been savoring a product that I received in my first ever Cuisine Cube (May 2014)…for good reason. You see…I love sweets. No surprise. I mean, I’m all about eating healthy and all that, but I believe treats are a welcome part of life. And without treating yourself every now and again, you will go insane and be no fun at all. This is why I believe in dessert after dinner. Moderation is key, of course, but…I think your day of eating should end with a treat, be it fruit, a piece of candy, ice cream, a cookie, a brownie, or a slice of cake. You’ve earned it. Even if it’s just a bite.
Well…having just signed up for my monthly cube of gluten-free goodness, I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect. I, of course, had read about Cuisine Cube before actually choosing to sign up for the delivery service…but knew next to nothing about what would all be involved. What is involved is that, every month, a delicious box of gluten-free goodies arrives, spanning the entire spectrum of meals. One breakfast item, a snack item, a lunch item, a dinner item, a dessert item, and then…every now and again…a bonus.
In May 2014’s cube…there was a bonus. This one included…
CANDY!
Yes…I am an athlete…but I’m also a real person…and I like candy as much as my 7 nieces and nephews do. However, when I had to go gluten-free three years ago…certain candies that I loved were now off the table, as it were. One such favorite treat was…Twizzlers. Not only did Twizzlers make mouths happy throughout my childhood and…yes…even my adult life…but I loved them. Simple flavored licorice (only the red…not a fan of black licorice at all!)…fat free…chewy…delicious. Something so simple and yet…so fundamentally iconic. Makes mouths happy, indeed. But…Celiac disease happened…and Twizzlers became only a fond, distant memory.
Until…May 2014. Inside my Cuisine Cube that month was…this little pouch of little organic licorice twists. The brand was Candy Tree. I’d never heard of them before but now I wanted to marry them. Hey…sometimes it’s the little things in life that bring the most joy. I vowed I was going to eat them and relive all my Twizzler moments. I put them in my snack drawer…and thought about opening them on countless occasions and then…I just…didn’t want to. I didn’t want to fall in love with them and not be able to have them again.
But, after not really wanting to make anything for dessert tonight, and not feeling cookies (shock!)…I wanted something light. And, then I remembered the licorice twists in my drawer. The package held two servings…perfect for my roommate and I to split between us.
Candy Tree was actually founded in 1984 by two parents who were concerned with what their seven children were eating. They began to cook up lollipops, toffees, licorice and hard candies, all made with organic ingredients and using an organic corn malt as a base. They then would flavor these treats with real fruit and organic apple juice. These treats are made in Holland, with strict precautions being taken so that there is no gluten contamination. So…you are literally getting something to satisfy your licorice craving without all the bad stuff.
And…tonight…I opened up the little plastic pouch and split the Candy Tree Organic Raspberry Licorice Twists between myself and my roomie. Moment of truth.
I don’t remember much about Twizzlers, as it has been three years since I’ve had them…but I do remember them being really soft and chewy. The Candy Tree Organic Raspberry Licorice Twists…are not as soft and chewy. My roommate, who literally just had Twizzlers on Friday, said the same thing. They are a little tougher than licorice twists she’s used to…but the flavor was amazing. You would be hard pressed to believe that these organic licorice twists have no added sugar at all. None. Everything comes from the real fruits and fruit juices that help to create these. While these were a little tougher than I normally would like licorice…I just want to say…I WAS EATING LICORICE!! So, I didn’t care that they had a little bite to them. They were packed with great flavor and they were sweet without being over-the-top sugary sweet. In fact…I ate through my serving in what is probably record time. You try not having something you love for three years and then having something that is the gluten-free equivalent in your grasp and see how long it lasts. HA!
So, let’s discuss what the Candy Tree Organic Raspberry Twists are actually made from, shall we? These licorice twists are made with organic corn syrup, organic rice flour, organic rice starch, organic apple juice, organic concentrated fruit juice: raspberry (3%), organic flavor: raspberry, citric acid. This product is gluten-free, wheat-free, milk/casein free, soy free, and organic.
As far as nutrition goes, a serving size of the Candy Tree Organic Raspberry Twists is 40 grams (or 1/2 of the package). There are two servings per package. A serving will provide you with 140 calories. These are completely fat free. One serving also will give you 19 grams of your daily sugar intake. A serving has no fiber and only 1 gram of protein. So, it isn’t filling. It’s candy. A treat. Enjoy it.
So…while they weren’t the highly processed (thank goodness!) Twizzlers I grew up eating, they were very delicious. It was a very nice throwback to a candy I used to devour at every waking moment. These were a great, organic, no sugar-added treat that I would be more than happy to eat all over again. Thank you, Cuisine Cube, for introducing this fantastic candy treat to me.
There are a few traditions that I keep when I run. The first thing is…after a big race, I hit up a pub or a Mexican restaurant. Don’t ask me why or how this became “a thing” as mentioned in the previous review…it just did. But the other thing I do is treat myself to something creamy, cold, and delicious. Mainly…ice cream.
Here is the sudden caveat, however.
While I have, in the past, been able to tame the lactose intolerance by taking a lactase supplement…it hasn’t been working out so well for me in the recent weeks. Frustrating. Because I am an ice cream nut. Oh…and this is one tradition I refuse to let up on.
Before leaving for Minneapolis, Cathy was already on the hunt for a place to uphold this long-standing tradition. And so…she found Izzy’s. And what made Izzy’s Ice Cream (aside from being a local specialty ice cream shop in the Twin Cities) stand out from the other options was…they had soy ice cream flavors. YAY! No dairy to wreak havoc on my tummy. This…made me happy! So…so…so very happy!
What made the Izzy’s experience even better was, that day, I was spending the afternoon with my grandpa. Yes…the very man who got me interested in running. Cathy and I took him out to lunch at The French Meadow Bakery & Café in Minneapolis. Then, afterwards, I told him that we were going to get celebratory ice cream at Izzy’s Ice Cream. If he was interested, I’d love for him to come along. He was certainly interested! So, we made the short 10 minute drive from our lunch spot over to St. Paul. Izzy’s Ice Cream awaited…and we entered and couldn’t wait to get started.
As I was the goofy one, Cathy made me order first. I asked about the soy ice cream flavors, hoping that there was a chocolate or peanut butter option here. But, alas…my options today were either Soy Strawberry, Soy Mango, Mango Sorbet, or Strawberry Sorbet. I was just a little disappointed. A little. At least they had other options instead of just sorbets though. So, without chocolate to fulfill my craving…I opted for the best option available. Strawberry. Because I am not a fan of mango. Not really.
So…order in. On a gluten-free ice cream cone (because…yeah…they have those and…yeah…I wanted one because I never get ice cream cones!), I ordered a regular scoop of Izzy’s Soy Ice Cream ($3.75) with the Izzy Scoop (a 3/4 ounce scoop) of the Strawberry Sorbet on top. Because that’s what Izzy’s does. You get this cute little scoop atop your scoop. And it’s like…an added bonus of ice cream awesomeness. And…I GOT AN ICE CREAM CONE! I might be 34, but sometimes I want to be 5 and eat my ice cream out of an ice cream cone. Added bonus, because she knew of my gluten-free and lactose intolerance, she wrapped the scoop in paper before she dished up my ice cream. How fantastic is that?! Guaranteed not to give me a tummy ache!
Cathy ended up getting a regular scoop on a regular sugar cone of Izzy’s Lemon Custard with the Izzy Scoop of Ricotta Ice Cream ($3.75). And grandpa…grandpa went classic. Traditional. As grandpa’s tend to do! He was torn between the vanilla and the chocolate, but ended up getting a kiddie scoop of the Chocolate Ice Cream on a cake cone. Oh…and they topped it off with a little chocolate candy on top. Nice touch!
The verdict?
Really good. Really solid (as in it had good taste and texture…not that it was rock hard!) ice cream. Cathy thought the ricotta flavor was interesting, but, naturally, loved the lemon custard. Seriously, if you give this girl a choice between ice cream or custard, she’ll choose custard…which is awesome. And if there is lemon involved…she is all over that. Grandpa really enjoyed his cone of chocolate ice cream.
And my choice…was good. I loved the creamy nature of the soy strawberry ice cream. I loved tasting the real bits of strawberry inside. And the topper of strawberry sorbet made it a berry-licious treat indeed. But, even more than the ice cream, I was happy when I got to crunch and munch on the gluten free sugar cone. I love ice cream cones more than most adults should…but when you really can’t have them, you tend to appreciate them more when you can. It’s the little pleasures in life…like soy ice cream and…gluten free sugar cones at an ice cream shop.
Life was good that day. I had a great afternoon with my grandpa. We had great eats and treats. And he even loved the ice cream.
A great place to go…with spots in Minneapolis and St. Paul. You better believe I’ll be back. And maybe this time they’ll have some Soy Chocolate for me.
Izzy’s Soy Strawberry Ice Cream with an Izzy Scoop of Strawberry Sorbet on a Gluten Free Sugar Cone
Product: The Pure Pantry Gluten-Free Organic Old Fashioned Pancake and Baking Mix – $7.29+
A couple weeks ago, I was fortunate enough to be sent a free package of The Pure Pantry‘s Gluten-Free Organic Old Fashioned Pancake and Baking Mix. I was ecstatic…for quite a few reasons. For the first thing…most gluten-free baking mixes that I have tried…haven’t lived up to expectations. Secondly, the pancakes on the package looked heavenly…so, I could only imagine the awesomeness that was enclosed inside.
Included with the mix were two recipes. I had this perfect vision in my head the moment I saw one for The Pure Pantry’s Gluten-Free/Dairy-Free Cornbread (or Muffins). You see…I love chili, soup, and stew. I LOVE…LOVE…LOVE these things…and it’s officially autumn. It’s fall. It’s soup season. It’s time to break into my vegetable crisper and my pantry and whip up some warm, comforting goodness on the stovetop.
Tonight…that’s just what I did. And I pulled out my package of The Pure Pantry’s Gluten-Free Organic Old Fashioned Pancake and Baking Mix because the perfect accompaniment to any chili (and I made a fantastic Garden Chili with LOTS of veggies!)…is cornbread, of course!!
This was not my first foray into gluten-free cornbread. I’ve made at least a dozen different versions of it. None of which I have liked. Seriously. None. They just never seemed to hit that perfect cornbread mark! Always a disappointment. If my roommate was game, she’d offer to use the failed versions for some snacks at work…but that was rare. Yeah…my cornbread record since going gluten-free has not been stellar.
So, you can only imagine my anticipation today when, after a long day of fitness, festivals, and…yes…food…I wanted to cook up a light chili and give this cornbread recipe a whirl. What could go wrong? I’d either be amazed…or disappointed once again.
The recipe was very easy and everything needed was in my pantry or fridge already. Don’t you love it when that happens? Combining the mix with corn meal, baking powder, salt, and some liquid ingredients, this epic dough that felt light and airy emerged. I poured it into a greased baking pan and threw it in the oven for about 22 minutes.
What emerged was sheer cornbread perfection. It looked like cornbread. It smelled like cornbread. Once the chili was done simmering away on the stove…I would find out if it tasted like cornbread. About 20 minutes later…dinner was served.
The first difference between the cornbread made with The Pure Pantry’s Gluten-Free Organic Old Fashioned Pancake and Baking Mix was that it didn’t feel heavy or dense…even as it came out of the oven. I can tell when I bake whether a recipe is going to be good by how heavy the pan feels as I lift it out of that oven. This didn’t feel heavy at all. It was this gorgeous golden color on top. It cooled briefly before I got out a knife and sliced it into 16 squares. Cutting it was a dream. I could tell that it was going to be a perfect texture due to how easily the knife cut through it. Like butter! It glided right through…no fighting with heavy, gummy insides on this bread. I might have perfection here! Each bowl of chili was served with two squares of the cornbread.
The verdict?!
BEST GLUTEN FREE CORNBREAD EVER!! And, as I stated above, I’ve made so much gluten-free cornbread that I didn’t like or I felt just came out wrong. There was absolutely nothing wrong with this recipe. It was hearty and delicious and so easy to prepare. I loved not just the texture, but how light, but substantial it felt. I loved the flavor…which…for me…was perfect. It wasn’t sweet cornbread…which is just how I like it. Sugar in cornbread is cake. This didn’t taste like cake. This tasted like cornbread. It had that gritty, corn flavor. Honestly…made my night.
I am going to definitely try the sweet recipe that was sent along with this baking mix as well…so stay tuned for that!! But for now, please enjoy this recipe from The Pure Pantry:
Recipe: The Pure Pantry’s Gluten-Free and Dairy-Free Cornbread (or Muffins)
The Pure Pantry Gluten-Free Organic Old Fashioned Pancake and Baking Mix (with Gluten-Free and Dairy-Free Cornbread)
1 cup The Pure Pantry Gluten Free All Purpose Baking Mix
1 cup organic yellow corn meal
1/4 cup agave nectar
1 teaspoon aluminum free baking powder1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk (almond milk or rice milk may be substituted) (I used unsweetened almond milk)
1/3 cup vegetable shortening, butter, or coconut oil – melted
1 large egg, slightly beaten (or egg replacer)
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 400°F.
Grease or butter an 8-inch square baking pan.
Combine dry ingredients in a medium bowl.
Combine milk, oil, agave, and egg in a small bowl; mix well.
Add the milk mixture to flour mixture; stir until just blended.
Pour into prepared pan and bake for 20-22 minutes. For muffins, spoon batter into greased muffin cups, fill 2/3 full and bake 15-18 minutes.
This recipe may be doubled and baked as above in a 13×9 inch baking pan.
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The Pure Pantry has so many mixes to offer. And they were kind enough to share a coupon code with me to give to all of you, my dear readers. If you are interested in trying their products, skip over to http://www.thepurepantry.com and take a look at their shop. You can get $1.00 off your purchase of any two (2) gluten-free products from The Pure Pantry simply by entering PLU 35147 as you are checking out! Trust me…these products are totally worth it. I have never been so satisfied with a mix than I was with this one. The Pure Pantry might actually be selling gluten-free baking perfection.
But…don’t just take my word for it. Get over to their site…order some of their products and see how life changing your gluten-free foods can be. Simple. Delicious. And…amazing and delicious.
The Pure Pantry is pure gluten-free delicious goodness!
The Celiathlete 