One of my favorite, favorite, favorite things to have to eat before heading out to my morning spin class (like 5:30 a.m. start time for class) is something as simple as yogurt, fruit, and a little granola. It isn’t too heavy to make me feel…BLEH (technical term, yes!)…while spinning out to awesome music and getting my sweat on, but it does give me enough fuel in the tank to not pass out or run out of gas during the workout itself. And…it’s refreshing…and delicious.
So, when I randomly bought strawberries this past week at the grocery store (they looked good and I really wanted them), I randomly needed to get granola to go with it. I have an abundance of yogurts (vegan and otherwise) in my fridge for my roomie and I at all times. But granola…not so much anymore. I’ve just been trying other breakfast stuff…like Gluten Free NY-Style Bagels and all that.
That being said, this was necessary this week, for sure. And while out and about on Saturday doing our very random grocery shopping at at least 5 different stores (NO JOKE!), I was on the hunt for a granola that wasn’t too high in sugars and that would pair nicely with strawberries. I opted for one brand, and then quickly changed my mind when I spotted the Van’s Foods granola in the gluten-free section of said store.
I’ve only had one other version of the Van’s Gluten Free Granola Clusters, but what I loved about it was the soft and chewy nature of it. So, back went the original brand I had scooped up…hello to one of the newest additions to the Van’s Gluten Free Granola Clusters lineup. The flavor…Banana Nut.
I am a runner…a marathon runner. This means I have this special place in my heart for banana. Banana bread (gluten-free of course), banana cookies, bananas with peanut butter, banana chips…and yes…straight up banana. Banana is my pre-long run eats. So, anything banana makes me one happy girl. No question about it…I wanted to try this granola.
And I have been totally devouring it and enjoying it all weekend. Like the other granola clusters that they sell, Van’s Gluten Free Banana Nut Granola Clusters are…really more one large mass of granola, rather than individual clusters. But that’s fine. The massive chunk of granola does break apart easily, making for easy sprinkling over yogurt or whatever. It also makes for good pinching material for stealing snacks between meals, before eating, or just…because. I love the soft and chewy texture of this granola, because while I do love granola with a crunch, this texture just pairs well with…everything. And I can eat it quietly and not feel like I might wake up my roommate simply by chewing. What I do love about this granola is how the banana flavoring doesn’t overwhelm or overpower the actual granola itself. This makes it perfect for pairing with anything…oatmeal, yogurt, fruit, smoothies, ice cream, etc. Oh yeah…it’s amazing. There are bits of nuts included in the clusters as well. It’s a delicious way to start your day…or end your day…or to have throughout the day. And I don’t feel bad about snacking on this…because Van’s takes pride in the ingredients they use and the nutritional worth of their products. It’s a win either way. Definitely a win when banana is involved.
So, let’s take a look at the ingredients that are used in put together the Van’s Gluten Free Banana Nut Granola Clusters, shall we? As I stated, Van’s uses ingredients that they are proud of. For this variety of their Granola Clusters, Van’s includes gluten free whole oats, brown rice syrup, invert cane syrup, cane sugar, non-GMO expeller pressed canola oil, unsweetened coconut, pecans, honey, flax seed, gluten free oat bran, almonds, natural flavors, salt, walnuts, vitamin E tocopherols (for freshness). Gluten-free, vegan, and made with whole grains. Gotta love that.
Now let’s look at the nutritional information of the Van’s Gluten Free Banana Nut Granola Clusters. A serving of this granola is 1/3 cup (30 grams). This serving will provide you with 120 calories, 5 grams fat, 1 gram saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 1 gram polyunsaturated fat, 1.5 grams monounsaturated fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 25 mg sodium, 19 grams carbohydrates, 2 grams fiber, 6 grams sugars, and 2 grams protein. Deliciously well-rounded, balanced, and not too bad on the nutrition. I like that this brand keeps added sugar levels low. Some granola has double digit sugars in a serving.
Van’s Gluten Free products have always impressed me and been amazing. I love the soft and chewy texture of their granola clusters. And the Van’s Gluten Free Banana Nut Clusters is definitely a new favorite. This package is almost empty…so I think another trek out to purchase more is a must.
If you haven’t tried Van’s Gluten Free Granola Clusters…make a point to do so. It will change your granola-loving mind forever!!
Okay, let me start off this blog by saying…I do not like frosting. Well, I do, but in minimal amounts. In other words…usually…not at all. In fact, growing up, whenever birthdays happened in my family, my mom served me cake without the frosting…and gave my sister the frosting…because she didn’t want cake…she just wanted the frosting.
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve either scraped off the frosting or just grin and bear it, making sure I have more cake on the fork than frosting. It’s a precise ratio. Trust me.
SCIENCE!
So, you might ask…what the HELL am I doing buying a frosting product??!!
You’d be totally in the right for inquiring, to be honest. With that kind of lead-in and a full product review for…FROSTING…pending…it’s a natural question to ask. The answer…I heard about Dollop Gourmet through Instagram…the pictures always looked so good, so I began following them…and my roommate was drunk when I went grocery shopping and spotted the jar on the shelf (first time seeing the product in the grocery store wild) and I get whatever I want when my roomie is tipsy and grocery shopping with me. So…gourmet frosting it was.
I’m a social media compulsive buyer. I can’t help myself.
Before I go much further, if you are unfamiliar with Dollop Gourmet…let’s change that. Dollop Gourmet All Natural Frosting was started by Heather Saffer, winner of Food Network’s Cupcake Wars, and author of The Dollop Book of Frosting. She found herself regularly buying these amazing cookies from a little local bakery near the car dealership where she worked, but they were topped with “the most dreadful frosting.” Saffer is passionate about frosting, always fighting for a corner piece of the cake…and it was this artificial frosting at this little bakery that set Saffer on her new mission – to reinvent frosting (and life).
Saffer taught herself how to bake and opened up the first Cupcake Bar in her hometown of Rochester, NY. Dollop Gourmet Cupcake Creations became an award winning interactive bakery. In 2012, she took her cupcakes and frosting to Food Network, competing and winning the hit TV show, Cupcake Wars. As you can imagine, business boomed at Dollop Gourmet Cupcake Creations. But then, one day, Saffer realized that she wasn’t having fun anymore, so she sold her stores and began to focus on the part of the cupcake that she truly loved – the frosting. She wrote her first frosting cookbook and then set ou tto create a mindful product that would inspire unique and honest experiences, and to be living proof that you can turn nothing into something. In other words, proof that frosting isn’t just for cake and that you can pretty much spread some frosting love on just about anything. Saffer makes sure that Dollop Gourmet All Natural Frostings are made with premium ingredients, and all five (5) of the available flavors are gluten-free, non-GMO, and 100% junk-free. Gluten-free and vegan frosting that you can literally eat with a spoon, scoop up with pretzels, schmear on a bagel…or just top off those baked goods…I think she’s onto something.
So, with a tipsy roommate ready to spend money on whatever I point out, and my delightful shrieks that I have finally found Dollop Gourmet in stores (because…I have been stalking them on Instagram and I need it in my life now), I grabbed a jar (yes…a jar) of it off the shelf to bring home with me. Meijer, the store that made my night by carrying this product, only had 2 flavors, so I went with the most obvious one…Peanut Butter Cookie Dough. Everyone knows, when it comes to me, if it involves peanut butter…it’s going to win. And with that…it found a home in my pantry.
Fast forward to this morning. I’m rushing around, trying to get things prepared for when I get home from spin class, while trying to eat some fruit and yogurt and get out the door to get to spin class…obviously…I need to reevaluate my life choices at times (like not crawling back into bed for that 1 minute that turns into 30, HAHA!)…and realizing I didn’t have any more of the yogurt for a recipe I intended to finally make for breakfast when I got home. I was eating it…with my strawberries and granola. Because…this is my life. I knew I had jam, which was part of the recipe, but that yogurt…what to do?
After getting to spin with only 5 minutes to spare and sweating it out on the bike…I had one of those “A-HA” moments! I recalled the jar of Dollop Gourmet All Natural Peanut Butter Cookie Dough frosting in my pantry and figured…that should be tasty with my Downton Abbey Christmas Preserves and the Irish Soda Bread in a Mug (the recipe I was going to cook up…in the microwave). So…there it was. Inspiration at 5:30 a.m. And by 7 a.m…frosting with breakfast. Hey…it works on toaster pastries and cinnamon rolls, why not bread from a mug?
It took about 2 minutes to get the mixture of oats (that I turned into flour), sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and other goodies needed to make the bread ready, to cook up to a perfect consistency in the mugs in the microwave. But when they got there, they were turned out of the mug and onto a plate, where I ladled some of the fruit preserves on top, then followed it up with a ginormous scoop of Dollop Gourmet All Natural Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Frosting, and then more of the preserves. It looked fantastic, I won’t lie. I couldn’t wait to try it out.
I delivered one to my roomie and I took up the other one. She was already digging in by the time I got seated, as I had to pour my coffee and take pictures for the blog, you know? Priorities. But when I dug in…oh yeah!! GOOD!
So…here’s the deal. Dollop Gourmet All Natural Frosting is just that…amazing, sugary, delicious frosting. And how does someone who doesn’t like frosting like it? Well…for frosting, it’s pretty damn good. I took a little bit of it on its own to try, and yeah…it’s sweet and sugary and everything I don’t like about frosting, but I wasn’t offended by this at all. Would I eat it straight out of the jar…no. Would my roommate…yes. But she’s a frosting freak (she’s frosting freaky)…and that would totally be her thing. With all of that being said…let me tell you more about the Dollop Gourmet All Natural Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Frosting. It tastes…like sugary sweet peanut butter cookie dough. No false advertising there. What it is…is what it is. And while I’m a definite lover of peanut butter, this was almost too sweet for me. But…it’s not peanut butter…it’s peanut butter frosting. HA!! This would be fantastic sandwiched between cookes, stuffed into cupcakes, topping off brownies, as a dip for apples, pretzels, etc. It is a fresh palate, anyway you choose to consume it. Topping off an Irish Soda Bread (made GF) that I cooked up in a mug, pairing it with a sweet plumb jam…it was like the ultimate breakfast PB&J on raisin bread. Everything worked together, and that was the magic. Also, as the bread was hot from the mug, the dollop of Dollop Gourmet All Natural Peanut Butter Cooke Dough Frosting that I put on top…melted…like peanut butter…and was a delight to sponge up with the bread and jam.
Irish Soda Bread in a Mug (and then out of a mug) topped with Downton Abbey Christmas Preserves and Dollop Gourmet All Natural Peanut Butter Cookie Dough FrostingThis frosting didn’t change my life…but it did make me more aware of how frosting, when done right, can do magical things to simple recipes. Forget yogurt on this one…frosting!! It made for a nice Friday breakfast treat for sure.
Let’s discuss what ingredients go into the Dollop Gourmet All Natural Peanut Butter Cookie Dough frosting, shall we? This product is made from organic, sustainably-sourced palm shortening, powdered organic cane sugar, peanut butter (peanuts, cane sugar, palm fruit oil, salt), brown sugar (sugar, molasses), vanilla extract, salt, rice bran extract, and natural flavors. This product is 100% gluten-free, vegan, non-GMO, soy-free, and has half the sugar of regular frosting (but is still sweet!)
As for nutritional information, well…it is frosting, so keep that in mind, HA! A serving of the Dollop Gourmet All Natural Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Frosting is 2 tablespoons (24 grams) an there are about 14 servings per jar. A serving will dish up 150 calories, 12 grams fat, 4.5 grams saturated fat, 35 mg sodium, 10 grams carbohydrates, 9 grams sugars, and 1 gram of protein.
If you love frosting, or are just looking for something new to dress up your baked goods, breakfast, or snacks…you should truly try Dollop Gourmet All Natural Frosting. I did enjoy this, even though I’m not big on frosting. It wasn’t bad at all. It did taste, dead up, like cookie dough, so there is that. We all know I’m a cookie monster…so offering a frosting that tastes like two of my favorite worldly things…peanut butter…and cookies…a definite win!
Dollop Gourmet All Natural Frosting is available in these flavors: Madagascar Vanilla, Hot Chocolate, Firebomb Cinnamon Spice, Peanut Butter Cookie Dough, and Sea Salted Caramel. If you can’t find them at any local stores, you can seek them out online here!
Love frosting or just have a passing acquaintance with it…you’ll find a reason to love Dollop Gourmet! That was unexpected.
Last weekend I was out of town and was on the go the entire time (not a bad thing!), so sitting down and sharing some of the high points of my week was not an option. And while I’ve been pressed for time this week…and with the fact that it’s Easter and I spent much of my morning doing meal prep for the week, and the afternoon over at Amanda & Richie’s for dinner with the family…it has left me with little time to really plot out my blog.
This week has been a big hot mess of fatigue. My trip to New York City was amazing, but I was dead on my feet. I got in well after midnight on Tuesday, and still hauled myself out of bed early to get to my 5:30 am spin class on Wednesday morning. I was exhausted, but I was glad I went. Early mornings and late nights followed, trying to make up some time and work from being out of the office for 2 full days…and it all got done in the end, but it was some really busy, long days.
All that being said…there is plenty to be happy and thankful for this week. And being tired due to having the opportunity and ability to go out of town and see places and do things…is more than enough. It makes the overwhelming fatigue that I felt yesterday worth it. In the end.
So, here are a few treats to share this Easter that just made me happy this week.
1. NEW YORK CITY
Me running through the 10K mark of the United Airlines NYC Half Marathon – New York, New York
Cathy, Me and Marisa after a great evening of celebration at Red Rooster Harlem.
It was my first actual distance race back after returning to running after over a year. A half marathon. It was one that I had to defer last year because of the hip labrum (which we didn’t even know was the issue at that point). The chance to run it this year had me feeling nervous and excited and happy all at the same time. The weather was bitter cold and super windy (what’s new, NYC?!), but every mile was magical for me. I felt good. And definitely surprised myself when I came in to the finish line well ahead of what I thought I was capable of.
But this was more than just the race. I got to meet up with my friend Ellen (who was also running) the day before the race. And…I got to see my friend from high school, Marisa, not once, but twice. I love seeing Marisa when I am in the city. She knows all these great places to check out and has suggestions about things to see when we are in various areas. I drank in every bit of NYC…enjoyed amazing food…great company…and yeah…went on a little run.
Finishing the race was a gift in and of itself…finishing it faster than I thought I was capable of…a surprise…being uninjured at the end and able to wander around NYC for the rest of the day…a blessing…hanging out with good people who make my life better…priceless.
Can I go back now?
2. Gluten Free Easter Treats
My allergen-free bakery is at it again for the Easter holiday. They often do up a good number of Easter treats, and this year they had some new ones to indulge in. You better believe I ordered some of everything. Two egg sugar cookies, 2 chocolate bunnies, and 6 sunbutter chocolate truffles. I’ve already indulged more than a little. As always, Annie May’s Sweet Cafe makes the most delicious treats. They go all-out for these holidays and I’m proud to support them and indulge myself in the amazing goodness they put out on a daily basis. If you are in Louisville, Kentucky…you need to stop in. Their gluten-free pizza, soft pretzels (only on Wednesday) and all their standard goodies…are fantastic. You can even order some of their stuff online. DO IT!!
3. Back On Track With Home Cooked, Fresh, Vegan Meals While I am never one to deny myself good food and treats while I am on vacation…often the week I get back, I’m living off the stuff in my fridge and my pantry. This morning, I enjoyed spending 3 hours of my time prepping healthy, plant-based meals for the rest of the coming week. I have soups, pasta dishes, sandwiches, and some rice dishes planed. All healthy. All vegan. All completely and totally YUMMY! It feels good to get back to cooking my delicious and healthy foods up again to enjoy for (sometimes) breakfast, lunch and dinner each day of the week. Easy to enjoy as I do all the work ahead of the time. Makes those crazy hill repeat days and spin class days and just…hectic days that much easier. Cooking is love. Eating is fun. And this kind of food makes me feel better about myself and how I am fueling and feeding this body.
4. Zootopia Dress and Officer Judy Hopps While in NYC, Cathy wanted to buy me a present for finishing a great NYC Half Marathon race. So…I thought about getting the stuffed animal from the Disney Store in Times Square of Officer Judy Hopps in her uniform. She is apparently very popular…they kept selling out. Judy is apparently very popular. So, we ended up getting her back in our Disney Store in Louisville. Super happy. I love her.
And then, later on that day while making a random stop at Target, I noticed a dress in the girls section of Zootopia. It was totally adorable. It was also an XL. And I held it up and thought…”I wonder if this would fit me.” Well, I took it to the dressing room, so ready to be disappointed…but…IT FIT!! So, I bought it. Yep…I’m 35 years old and shopping in the girls section. Seriously…I wore the dress today with some leggings. TOTALLY adorable. So much love for Zootopia.
5. Glow In The Dark Easter Egg Hunt
I love my downstairs neighbors. They’re the best. They are also moving…(seriously…this bums me out!). Not far…but they won’t just be a staircase away anymore. Anyway, they invited Cathy and I out for a glow in the dark Easter egg hunt on Friday night. I had SUCH a blast. So much fun. I’m so glad they thought to have us out so we could hide and seek eggs with them, and their adorable and awesome son as well. Yep…it’s going to be hard to let them leave. But, we’re already talking about all the get-togethers we’ll still have. And girls nights. Those are important too. It just will involve some drive time. We’re totally making this work. Anyway…glow in the dark anything is awesome. Easter egg hunt…a total blast. Even in the cold night air.
6. A New PR
It was one of those runs that I end up running faster than I feel I am running. The Papa John’s 10 Miler felt so EASY to me. The hills are always hard…but I climbed them. I beat them. And I had so much left in me at the finish line. AND…I had a new 2 minute PR…in a race I was just running as I felt. I wasn’t trying for a PR or trying to run fast. It just happened. Even with the hip protesting for 8 of the 10 miles. I am shocked and surprised. But what a feeling. I hope, one day, to feel comfortable to push like I used to. Right now, running what I feel has shown me that I still have more in me. One day I’ll harness it. I’m just not ready yet. But a new PR is a new PR. And I’m proud of it and happy to have it.
Me after finishing the United Airlines NYC Half Marathon – New York, New York
Race: United Airlines NYC Half Marathon
Place: New York, New York
Date: March 20, 2016
Time: 1:43:53
When I go into a race without any expectations or goals…I seem to do better than anticipated. While I had a semi-goal of being able to do my first half marathon distance after injury (for a year) in sub-2 hours, I wasn’t going to be too hard on myself if it didn’t happen.
Especially since the weather changed drastically the week of the race.
The weekend before the United Airlines NYC Half Marathon…the weather was gorgeous. Not just in Louisville (where I ran my first official race back…the Rodes City Run 10K), but up in New York too. I was hoping it would hold. I do better in nicer temperatures. But as the week went on…the gorgeous weather started to go away.
NOOOOOO!!
For much of the week, the forecast was calling for rain…cold…wind. Then snow…cold…wind. And then, on Friday night, it changed to just really flippin cold and really flippin’ windy.
UGH!! Now I was in a crisis. I had my outfit planned out for weeks…but the 30 degree temps and the strong winds (and the wind chill it would bring), meant I needed to reevaluate my wardrobe. With much reluctance, the running skirt went back into the closet and a pair of my (albeit bright) compression tights came out. Any of you who regularly read my running blog know…I…HATE…PANTS. So this frustrated me. I also packed a big turtleneck lined top and a windbreaker…and at the last minute, just before walking out the door early Saturday…I tossed in a long sleeve shirt…just in case, because I never ran in a windbreaker and I was nervous it would annoy me or just not work out…in which case, I’d rather brace against the cold in layers than anything.
So, Saturday morning was an early morning for me. I was up at 2 am to do all my physical therapy exercises. The stretches, the dynamic stuff outside, the plyometrics. I knew once I touched down in NYC…I was on the move…and these stretches were more important than anything else.
I admit, a little voice in my head said, “Go on…go do an easy mile or two for a shakeout before getting on the plane.” But, as tempting as it was, I quieted that voice. I knew I’d be on the go both at the airports and once I touched down in the city, the shakeout wasn’t important, and I didn’t need to do it. I’d be doing ample time on my feet just moving about NYC.
See what I have learned??!!
So, we (my roommate and I) walked out the door right at 5 am (giving us time to get a light breakfast in our stomachs and (SO VERY MUCH NEEDED) coffee into our system. We got to the Louisville airport in record time…parked…had to take a roundabout way to the Southwest Airlines counter due to renovations that are going on, and which I hope they finish up before Derby, or that airport is going to be a mess. Security was quick, although I ended up being randomly chosen for the hand swab, and my laptop (as always) had to be examined more closely…but it was quick, painless, and we were off and heading to our gate (which was behind a bunch of renovation boards). Like I said, the airport was sort of a mess.
Deciding that we weren’t ready to settle in yet, we took a little walk, as usual, through the airport crowds, and Cathy and I grabbed a Cool Lime Refresher at Starbucks (and she got a breakfast sammie as well) and we went back to the gate. I downed one of the new LUNA Bars (the Dark Chocolate Mocha Almond, which has only 5 grams of sugar and tasted like an amazing caffe mocha) and then…it was time to board. We were at the end of the A group…so it worked out perfectly.
Our flight had a small layover at Chicago Midway before we went on to NYC. So, we took the time to stretch our legs and walk the terminal. I was really craving something sweet, so we went on the “Great Fruit Cup Hunt of Midway,” finding that everywhere that normally had fruit cups were sold out. With 5 minutes to boarding, we finally found something at one of the food court restaurants. It was a large fruit cup with honeydew melon, pineapple, grapes and strawberries in it. I carried it onto our flight into Laguardia Airport and ate it while still sitting on the runway.
The flight into Laguardia was uneventful, save for the funny flight crew. The lead flight
Me with the United Airlines NYC Half Marathon logo – New York, New York
attendant was in her 50s and just…SO funny. Love that. It also helps calm my nerves when the flight crew is loosey-goosey like that. I was drinking my water to hydrate, hydrate, hydrate and we landed in Laguardia early. Taxied to the jetway…disembarked…and went to baggage claim. My bag was the 2nd one off the belt. Cathy’s wasn’t too far behind. With bags in hand, we called the hired car company and they had a car out to fetch us in about 5 or so minutes. Luggage went into the trunk and we were now on our way into Manhattan…staying at a different hotel this time (which was totally our fault because we originally had the race pegged for the weekend before this one and it wasn’t until about a month before that I realized the date of the race was for the week after…in my defense, it ran a week earlier last year!)…but the traffic situation wasn’t bad and our driver was really aggressive once he got into the city blocks, LOL! We were dropped off at the door of The Distrikt Hotel on W 40th Street and went to check in.
We were much earlier than anticipated, so our room wasn’t ready yet. We did go ahead and leave our bags and went to go buy a Metrocard and take the subway to get to the United Airlines NYC Half Experience (the expo), which was taking place at the Metropolitan Pavilion. We headed into the Expo, which was a madhouse! Seriously…at some points, I felt like salmon swimming upstream. I had the registration sheet with me so I went over to where my numbers were to pick up my bib. From there, it was through the store and over to get my official bag with my t-shirt and stuff in it. I haven’t really looked through what else was in there. I made one circuit of the expo before returning to the official store. There was a great t-shirt in there, pink and purple, that I had my eye on. But, to no surprise, my size was gone. Disappointing for sure. Ah well. Except, Cathy and I realized almost all official merchandise for women had nothing left in small. Now I remember why I order things online ahead of this. She did manage to find me an official finisher’s t-shirt and I grabbed a Sparkly Soul headband that had the event name on it. Purchases made. Back into the expo.
I actually thought there would be more vendors there and more to see and lots more places to shop. But, for the best, there wasn’t. I walked through the line of charities…I got in line to have my picture taken in front of the logo…Cathy made a couple signs (which never got used due to the 21 mph gusts of wind on race morning)…and we settled in for a moment at a table where I could charge my phone and we could catch our breath.
Me and my awesome friend Ellen at the United Airlines NYC Half Marathon Experience
My friend, Ellen, who got in on lottery this year (I deferred last year so had automatic entry…except I had to repay the $127 registration fee), turned up to meet up with me, and brought me a nice salad to boot. YAY for friends. YAY for food! We discussed what we were planning on wearing, food, and…all the crazy shit (hehehe…get it Ellen?) that runners rely on and need to have happen prior to a run. It was fun. I even did a Snapchat video for her giving a running tip. She calls me her inspiration…but I think she’s mine. She needed to get back to the charity event she was attending, and I needed to get back to the hotel to get into the room. The travel capris I was wearing weren’t very warm against the already chilly wind of NYC. So, we returned to the hotel, got our room, gathered our bags, and went upstairs. We flopped for a moment before changing into jeans and heading back out…this time just to explore. We didn’t want to stop in for dinner until at least 5 p.m. So, we had a couple of hours to just explore. That’s what we did, too.
With no plan, we just wandered through some of the area, stopping into shops that drew our attention. We went and got our chocolate from Teuscher (I got a mini champagne, dark mocha, and dark salted caramel…and Cathy got a limoncello, almond, and chocolate orange truffle), which is a requirement, and ducked into the Hard Rock Café for a shotglass and a pin. Back out and seeing the city until we decided to hike over to our pre-race dinner spot of choice, Don Antonio by Starita on W 50th Street. They have a fantastic gluten-free pizza menu, and while they have a couple of GF and Vegan options, I stuck with the one I knew I loved and wouldn’t give me too much. The Marinara Pizza Senza Glutine. OMG…this is my 2nd favorite gluten-free pizza crust in the world (the first being Annie May’s Sweet Café). I love when there is a real and actual crust on a gluten-free pizza, and not just a cracker crust. We devoured dinner and then hiked back to the hotel to cycle through showers, giving me time to foam roll, and to eat some chocolate. HA! It was an early to bed night…and by 9 pm…we were turning out the lights.
I set the alarm on my phone for the first one to wake me up at 4 a.m. It went off and I got up to use the bathroom, take my medicine, and then crawled back into bed for another 50 minutes. The second alarm was the 5 a.m. one, and I got up and started to get changed into my running gear for the race. Cathy was up at 5:15 to get dressed and ready. And while I felt good all day prior to this morning, I felt tired, but in good shape for the actual race. I was not happy that I had to wear pants to run a half marathon, but the windchill was a factor and I under-dressed once before for a full and have been nervous about doing that again ever since (hypothermia is NOT fun, my friends). I decided to wear a long sleeve tech shirt under my warmer top with the big turtleneck top, figuring it would be good against the wind, without me trying to get used to running in a windbreaker on the fly. I got my number pinned on, threw on the hoodie I was going to leave behind, filled up my water bottles and we were off.
We took the subway to Columbus Circle and disembarked, climbing the stairs and being
Me at then entrance of Central Park, Times Square behind me, on the morning of the United Airlines NYC Half Marathon – New York, New York
greeted with some of the coldest wind. I don’t know how the dude in front of us was handling being in short running shorts, because I would have been dying. I think he was. But…to each their own, right?! We walked over to the checkpoint at Central Park where Cathy had to go her own way and I had to show my bib number and enter. We took a picture of me with Times Square behind me and then I went in. I walked with a bunch of runners who were just talking about some of the most random stuff. One was talking about Scott Jurek on Instagram and it was kind of amusing to me. We went through the medal detectors and then continued on the path to the corrals. There was a line of port-o-potties without lines and many of the people I was walking with went to take advantage of them…and I kept on trekking. I made my way to the line of corrals, working my way up to the one for 10000-10999. I did a few of my dynamic warm-up moves from physical therapy, but the air temperature was enough to make me not want to do it anymore. I did one set of each, then hunkered down and shivered for a good half hour more. It was really, really cold. When the corrals opened for the start of the wheelchair race, I stepped inside and did a few static stretches just to loosen up. From the onslaught of the cold wind, my hip was already not loving me. It began to ache during the easy walk from security to the corals. Seriously, my body and cold weather never got along, but it really doesn’t get along with it these days.
The wheelchair racers, hand crank racers, and elite women were all sent off by 7:15 a.m. It was awesome standing in the corral and being able to see each group take off. When the elite women took up, I cheered loudly for Molly Huddle, who is from Elmira, NY…my hometown area. She’s amazing. She’s fast. She set a new course record that morning and it came down to an eighth of a second…it was THAT close. The elite men went off with Wave 1 at 7:30 a.m.. Then my wave…Wave 2…were shuffled forward for our 7:45 a.m. start. It was really exciting. When the airhorn blew to send us off, I began the walk toward the official start, and started my Garmin as I crossed. The first step already had my hip screaming at me. I struggled through the final mile of a 10K the weekend prior…and I just started a half marathon. I really just made a point go focus on my form and my breathing, and just finding a comfortable pace to run at. As I said, I had no goals or expectations…just to have fun and to finish what I start. Well…I started. I now had to finish.
Me running through the 10K mark of the United Airlines NYC Half Marathon – New York, New York
The 6 miles through Central Park are beautiful and quiet. There were pockets of spectators out there, but mostly it was runners, our feet, and our breathing. Being the start of the race, I would catch snatches of conversations people were having as they ran the race with friends or running partners. It keeps me amused. Some people were tucked into their earbuds, their music propelling them forward. There was a couple running together, and on the back of his shirt was a sign that said “Baby on Board” and an arrow pointing to his wife who was running right next to him. The people inside the park were loud and awesome and the little loop we do outside the park to turn around and head back in…was packed, crowded and loud. I love a good crowd. The hills of Central Park are respectable, but my hill repeats have been more intense than those, so while they slowed me down slightly, they didn’t have me huffing and puffing. I’m learning to love to hate to love those hill repeat sessions more and more. I didn’t check my pace on my watch at any point, but I hit the 5K mark and felt like I was coming along well for someone who was fighting hip pain twinges since the start. With the hills now behind us, the runners exit Central Park onto 7th Avenue. Cathy said she’d be outside the park to see me there, so I got to the left per her instructions and headed up 7th Avenue. She was tucked into the pocket of the turn, but I heard her shouting and screaming and I gave a wave at her as I ran past. It lifted my spirits, for sure. And it was on to run down 7th Avenue and into Times Square.
I think Times Square was my favorite part of this race. The crowd was intense. There was so much noise. All the screens were lit up. The Kids Mile was running through there. There was so much energy there…that it just pulsed through you. I loved every stretch of this portion of the race. And it is the part I remember the most. I love a good crowd.
And with the extreme winds we were getting, it was a great way to start off the last stretch of the race. This portion is pretty flat, save for just after the 20K mark. So, it was nice to easily pick up the pace a little here. Miles 8-12 really just have you fighting the windtunnels that are 42nd Street. Here you make a U-Turn and head down the West Side Highway. Wind. Lots of wind. Thankfully there was music blasting at various stages throughout this stretch of the run. The crowds were sparse, but there were some spectators out there to cheer. But without the bands, this might have been a tough slog through these 4 miles. However, as the miles tick down, One World Trade Center/Freedom Tower keep getting closer and closer. It’s gorgeous. I can’t tell you how long I just kept my eyes on that building, minding each time I drew up my right leg, making sure I wasn’t overcompensating due to the hip pain. This was…uplifting.
Mile 12 takes runners through the Battery Park Underpass. This…was fun. Seriously. You are underground for a long while. Runners scream and shout and let out whoops as they run through the dark, spooky tunnel. I loved it. I even left my sunglasses on. Just powered on through. Running through tunnels is fun. For some reason, I always smile more in them. The 20K mark was just as we were let out to run up a hill.
Me coming out of the Battery Park Underpass at the 20K mark of the United Airlines NYC Half Marathon – New York, New York
This is where Cathy was situated to see me before I hit the finish line. LOVED this little uplift right at the end. I waived and smiled as she shouted, “YOU REALLY ARE ALMOST THERE!” And so, I burst up the hill and got hit by one hell of a headwind. NYC has this way of always being super windy when I run there. So…I battled the headwind and just ran…ran…ran…rounding a corner…passing up a pace group….rounding another turn and seeing that finish line. As I ran this race rather conservatively, I still had some go in the tank and so…I powered up, powered through, and crossed that finish line.
I stopped my Garmin…and the tears just started going. I didn’t know my official time. I didn’t check the Garmin. I competed and finished my first half marathon since my hip labrum tear over a year ago. And I could still move. No limping. Just a small ache. I had done what I thought I wouldn’t be able to do…and it turns out I did it well.
We were filtered through the finisher’s area where we had medals hung around our necks and mylar sheets wrapped around us to keep us warm. We were given these nice bags filled with snacks, Gatorade and water, and then shuttled out toward Battery Park. At the exit, Cathy was waiting. I hurried over and got a hug and she said, “YOU KILLED IT!! Do you want to know your time?” Of course I did. She told me…and I started crying. Not only was it better than I anticipated, it was better than I could have dreamed of doing, given the circumstances.
Our bodies find ways of surprising us. And I think not having a specific goal or pace I wanted to hit helped.
So, the official results of the United Airlines NYC Half Marathon are that I finished in 1:43:53. I was 3318/20,149 finishers overall. I was 786/10,556 female finishers. And I was 132/1706 finishers in my division. I, honestly, couldn’t have run this any better. Since the cold weather made me sore from just shivering at the start, I just took this race one step at a time…one mile at a time. And I LOVED it. I loved this race. It was…probably….one of my favorite half marathons I have ever run. Even in the cold…and the wind…and the suck…it was just…fun. And I had fun running it. It was a struggle at times…but I finished it and I felt good at the end.
Afterwards, we hopped the subway back to the hotel where I showered and changed.
Cathy, Me and Marisa after a great evening of celebration at Red Rooster Harlem.
Cathy and I went to Empire Coffee & Tea House where I got a Pumpkin Spice Latte (dairy free…made with almond milk…and YUMMY!). Then we ended up hiking around NYC the rest of the day with Cathy and my friend Marisa, who I have known since high school. We stopped in at bakeries (I bought 3 cookies from By The Way (BTW) Bakery) and a tea shop (where I had the Energitea…an amazing green blend). We settled in for a bit at the hotel before getting ready to head to dinner at Red Rooster Harlem. You might recall, Red Rooster is where I celebrated my NYC Marathon finish…so I wanted to go back for this. And it was amazing. Once again, the chef created a dish to fit my dietary needs…and I was SO impressed. I even had dessert. And fun. We sat and talked over mint tea and listened to the live jazz music in the bar before calling it a night and making the trek back from Harlem to Midtown. We said goodbye to Marisa and settled in for the night.
Overall…I’m already ready to come back to NYC…even if I don’t have a race. There is always so much to see and do. But…this time…for me…the highlight was getting through the United Airlines NYC Half Marathon…after having to defer it last year. It was just the boost I needed.
I usually post a little list of blessings, interests, loves, and other such nonsense in my blog on Sunday…but my weekend was SWAMPED. Race on Saturday, and then Sunday, I had to make the 23 hours that my roommate (Cathy) got to have to celebrate her birthday the best 23 hours ever. It sucks to lose an hour on your birthday.
It doesn’t suck , however, when you get to wake up and work out, finish up shopping, and then try out a new pub for dinner.
THAT’S how you birthday. I made sure she got nice and drunk and then I went grocery shopping. Because if she’s drunk and I go to the grocery store with her, I can buy ALL THE THINGS I want, but normally can’t justify putting in the budget.
No worries, she is very aware I do this. LOL!
So…this past week’s list includes:
1. The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher Harry Dresden. Are you familiar with Harry Dresden? If not…get familiar. The Dresden Files is a (currently) 16 book series written by Jim Butcher that chronicles the life of lead character, Harry Dresden, a private investigator and wizard as he recounts investigations into supernatural disturbances in…get this…modern-day Chicago. It strikes a bit of a blance between fantasty and detective fiction. And it’s awesome. I listened to the entire series on audiobook (it is read by James Marsters…and HOLY HELL…he does it well) while at work and…each book was amazing. They never really falter. And, you really do just all in love with the characters. And Harry’s dry humor is charming and downright hysterical. I cannot count the number of times I busted out laughing at the office. If you haven’t read these…start now. The first book is Storm Front.
Go.
2. Downton Abbey With great sadness, I sat down last Sunday with a hot cup of tea and watched the very last episode of Downton Abbey. I have been an avid follower and viewer of this show. I’m not exactly sure what to do with myself on Sunday nights now. It feels like I lost a good group of friends. One thing I will say is that I was so happy that everyone got their happy ending. With all the crisis’ and craziness that this show went through in the 6 seasons it was on the air, this was the ending it needed and the one the fans deserved.
3. NUUN Natural Hydration Tangerine Ginger Vitamin & Electrolyte Drink Tabs So, awhile back I was in Whole Foods, and I spotted a tube of a NUUN product I hadn’t seen before. It was up near the registers at the time, and I was intrigued enough to go ahead and just buy a tube. I now wish I had purchased more. The flavor is Tangerine Ginger (with my stomach issues, ginger is always a welcome ingredient)…and it was a part of their Natural Hydration line. This means, the formula of NUUN was created to hydrate the body naturally and “put back a little of what life takes out.” The tabs are light, low in calorie, and DELICIOUS! NUUN calls it “U.” And I have yet to find them on their Web site anymore. But…I can still find them (for now) at Whole Foods. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I poured a glass of water the other night and dropped a tablet in…but I was wowed!! Seriously. Just…a whole lot of healthy yum!! More, please! (I am a NUUN Ambassador as well, so this is a double YAY!) #nuunambassador2016 #nuunambassador #nuun #nuunlove #nuunlife #nuunhydration #makeyourwatercount
4. Birthday Fun As I mentioned above, my roommate rang in another year this past Sunday. With having to turn clocks ahead, Cathy only had 23 hours to make the most out of her day. So, we started it off with a traditional visit to the gym. Hey…we’re a bit odd, LOL! We went
Allergen Free Candy Bar Cupcake from Annie May’s Sweet Cafe
shopping, where she bought Season 1 of The Monkees on DVD at Half Price Books. And then, I took her out to eat for dinner at the latest pub here in New Albany…the Floyd County Brewing Company, where she indulged in fish and chips and I ate a large and amazing salad that had berries and spinach and pecans…all the good things. Cathy even had a beer flight and discovered her favorite of the 4 she sampled was the Bavarian Rapture, which she then got a pint of. She was a little tipsy when we left, but it was a fun time and she got to try out a restaurant she’d been meaning to for awhile now. And we were both impressed. There was a delicious Allergen Free Candy Bar Cupcake from Annie May’s Sweet Cafe afterwards. We had no birthday candles…so I lit up candle Cathy got as a gift and she made a wish on that.
5. Racing… As I mentioned in my previous blog, I ran a 10K race this past weekend. It has been awhile since I pinned a number on and went out to pound the pavement. I was pleasantly surprised with my performance, my speed is inconsistent, but it’s coming back. My hip is still weak so I am continuing to work on that. But it was SO nice to get back out there and race again. I had missed it. Thanks, Rodes City Run 10K, for the amazing morning!
And there it is…hopefully I’ll have some new things to share next week!!
I hope you guys all had a good week and some fun, new adventures!
This is, by far, one of the most popular recipes I bake up on a regular basis. Why? Because I have yet to meet someone who doesn’t love these. Everyone loves citrus, right? Seriously, I’ve had people who don’t like sweets devour these.
My friend, Jenn, introduced me to this recipe, and we just sort of tweaked it to fit my dietary needs.
I think I might need to make these for the next Saturday group run…for afterwards, of course. Anyway, I do get asked for this recipe often, and it occurred to me I never did throw it up on my blog. My friend, Megan, is the reason this is happening now. Trust me…long overdue!!
Spray miniature muffin tins with vegetable oil cooking spray.
Combine the cake mix, pudding mix, eggs and oil and blend well with an electric mixer until smooth, about 2 minutes.
Pour a small amount of batter, filling each muffin tin half way. Bake for 12 minutes. Turn out onto a tea towel
To make the glaze, sift the sugar into a mixing bowl. Add the lemon juice, zest, oil, and water. Mix with a spoon until smooth.
Dip each muffins into the glaze while they’re still warm, covering as much of the cake as possible, or spoon the glaze over the warm muffins, turning them to completely coat. Place on wire racks with waxed paper underneath to catch any drips. Let the glaze set thoroughly, about 1 hour, before storing in containers with tight-fitting lids.
~*~*~
I love how easy these are to make and how delicious they are. I never have a problem when I get asked to make these. I have whipped them up at the last minute for things too.
So, tomorrow, these beauties are coming to the office with me. These are a total favorite among the peeps at the office. So, in honor of my roommate’s birthday (she LOVES lemon)…these help kick off a weekend of birthday fun!
It’s Sunday night, and I’m finally settling in…even though my drier has now stopped for the 4th time and my clothes still are sitting in there begging for me to fold them. This is the busy, crazy, and rather hectic weekend I have had. How I haven’t screamed into a pillow just for the sake of my sanity is beyond me.
Do not get me wrong…this really isn’t a bad thing. But there were a few extra things going on this weekend…and it meant some things had to be put off and other things just, honestly, didn’t get done. BUT…these things are minor in the grand scheme of things. It’s just more of a stressor for me.
That being said…deep breaths…laundry can wait…a bit more…
Here are some highlights from this past week…
1. Zootopia OMG…THE CUTENESS!! This movie was adorable. And yes…I am so Officer Judy Hopps. No doubt about it. Except, minus the cute ears and twitchy nose. I might have the fluff butt though. HAHA!! Anyway…went to the movie theater this morning and caught the first showing of Zootopia and LOVED it. Totally loved it. Disney does it again. The sloth scene that is so famous…still funny…even though the trailer pretty much gave the entire scene to you. LOVE IT. I am so costuming as Officer Hopps for a Disney race in the future. THIS. IS. HAPPENING.
All that being said…when the hell did matinee movie prices skyrocket up to $9.00 for an adult??!! Not loving that.
2. THIS AMAZING BIRTHDAY CAKE!! Okay…regular followers of my blog and Instagram know how much I love, respect, adore, and hype my local gluten-free (allergen-free) bakery, Annie May’s Sweet Café. Well…there is a reason. This place and I have had a relationship for the past 4 years of my life. It all started in 2012, when my roommate and I found it in a big search for anywhere local that could make me a birthday cake (because I was told the birthday girl shouldn’t have to make her own cake). Since then, you could say that we are regulars. In fact…I might be in there twice a week (SOFT PRETZEL WEDNESDAY!) and for breakfast/brunch/lunch (depending on when we get there, HAHA) every Saturday that I’m in town. I love the staff…I really love the food. It’s amazing.
Well, my roommate (Cathy), her mom, her sister, and her niece all have birthdays within 5 days of each other…for real. So, as we were having the big get-together celebration yesterday, it was cake time. And cake I can eat is always appreciated. Well, I just so happened to have stumbled across a BB-8 cake on Facebook one night and I tagged Annie May’s in it. They said they could make it…so we ordered one. But we did it differently. Instead of shaping the cake into a standing BB-8…we did a cake topper and set it on top of a delicious, amazing lemon cake. OMG…it was awesome. Ashley, the cake decorator there, did a fantastic job with the cake topper and icing. And the lemon cake…OMG…so good!! Moist…delicious…and it had the BEST DROID EVER on it.
Hey…foodie geeks are the best. To the amazing bakers at Annie May’s…THANK YOU!!
3. Fuller House
Okay…yes…I have decided to take the leap and watch the spin-off of the Late-80s-Mid-90s television show, Full House. Why? Because I grew up watching Full House and I really, really, really wanted to revisit the old stomping grounds.
You know what? It’s cheesy…it’s overacted…but it is just as charming (if not more so) as the original. And I love every moment of it. I am about 5 episodes in and already wanting to watch more and more and just not stop. Marathon time (of the non-running sort!) and I am one very happy girl! Netflix and Chill!
4. Getting Myself Back on Track
So, I am taking a few steps in the next couple of weeks to really get myself back on track. Now that the pain has (for the most part…as there are always good days and bad days) subsided enough to allow me to get back out on the roads and run…I’m taking everything my physical therapist told me to heart. I’m working on setting up a meeting with my sports nutritionist to get this diet (and my roomie’s too) back on track and in check. I am going to attempt to either take Body Pump or find someone who can show me how to properly strength train so I am truly building muscle and not just lifting weights or using weight machines completely wrong. I am finding joy in running again…and even dressing the part. No…not like Joy in Pixar’s Inside Out, although that’s in the queue too…but I am no longer struggling through every run. No…I’m not as fast as I was…but I figure once I get stronger, that will come. That being said, I am running strong and I have been joining different groups of people for their runs. This past Saturday, I did my 8-miler with my friend Dennis…and we did negative splits…which is AWESOME. And today, I did an easy 4-miler with the Breakfast Club group. Also, meeting all the new people out there that I have now that I’m back on the road…it has been uplifting and awesome…and I enjoy seeing and hearing all about their progress too. We all have different goals, dreams, and reasons…and that’s what makes running special.
That and the Minion leggings I wore to the Breakfast Club run this morning! HA!! Told you I was back!
So, yeah…I’ve had a week of good things and good stuff. And I’ve put 12 miles on these legs the past 2 days and heave come out of it feeling confident with myself. Every run just helps me get past that mental thing.
And having my friends not only tell me they are happy to have me back…but telling me I am totally capable of doing all the things I have discussed with them. It helps…having that sort of a support system. I love all of them for it. Runner friends, baristas, bakers, family, and just friends. Everyone. All of you.
Thank you!
Do anything fun this weekend? Eat anything amazing? See a good movie? Get inspired?
Let’s face it…when it comes to gluten-free breakfast (or dinner or whenever) treats…one of the most difficult to find is the croissant. And I used to be a sucker for the warm, buttery, flaky little roll of baked dough. Croissants simply…rock.
Going gluten-free, I’ve pretty much been able to find a recipe or something to satisfy any void in any treat that I want. Puff pastry is the tricky one. At least puff pastry that acts like puff pastry. The recipe is WAY too complicated and the one I purchased in stores doesn’t exactly…puff.
Croissants have also been rather elusive. Granted, my gluten-free bakery, Annie May’s Sweet Café, does offer croissant rolls…and I purchase them around Thanksgiving every year as they are my Black Friday breakfast (filling and full of carbs for shopping energy!). It is the one time every year that I get to enjoy that special treat. (As a side note, I could order these from my allergen-free bakery at any point…but there are so many goodies there…I have to pace myself, LOL!).
But then Schär filled this void recently with the introduction of their frozen croissants. I was excited when they made the announcement, also noting that they had two (2) different versions – Plain and Hazelnut. And for the longest time, I searched my usual gluten-free go-to stores for these. But, no joy. No one carried them. I figured they would be the unicorn of my gluten-free life…sort of like Rudi’s Gluten Free Texas Toast (still haven’t found that anywhere).
It took one of my trips to Columbus, Ohio, to finally find these. In the freezer section. Happy dance ensued. Thank you, Raisin Rack, for your extreme awesomeness and LARGE gluten-free selection. This made my day. And I purchased them, the Hazelnut ones, put them in a cooler with dry ice, and got them home and to my freezer. Where I promptly forgot about them…as I just piled other things on top.
But, when my freezer begged for some organizing this past weekend, I discovered the bag all the way in the back and I moved it forward…because these were going to happen this week. For sure. And what better day to test them out than a Wednesday after a 4 mile run and 20 mile spin class? Yep…no better time.
I left the bag of croissants out on the counter to thaw while I was at the gym, and when I got back, I preheated the oven to 350°F and removed the Schär Gluten Free Hazelnut Croissants from the package and moved them to a baking sheet. They went into the oven for about 7-8 minute (around 10-12 in my old-ass oven that doesn’t heat right)…giving me time to shower while they cooked. When I removed them from the oven, they were golden brown and looking like…amazing, beautiful, perfect, croissants. I moved them to plates and served them up for breakfast.
My roommate got to hers first (I was pouring myself coffee…because…priorities). I asked her what she thought and she said, “They’re pretty good.” Now, with her, that means they are either good…or they aren’t so good, but they are edible. And I never know which way it goes until I try it myself. At least she didn’t say, “They’re okey-dokey,” because that, friends, means she hates them…and is just being polite. I settled in with the morning news, my laptop, my Wonder Woman coffee mug (now filled with piping hot, fresh coffee) and my plate with my own Schär Gluten Free Hazelnut Croissant on it. I sliced into it with the side of my fork tines, and then, stabbing the flaky (and yes…it actually was flaky) pastry with it…took my first taste.
When I think about croissants, I think of this flaky, rich, buttery breakfast goodie. And Schär definitely provided the rolled up pastry form. As for taste, it was airy, and not as dense as I had thought they would be. That was a nice surprise. I was a little disappointed with the lack of the hazelnut filling in each bite, but, I sort of figured that would be the case. I was just hoping I’d be wrong. The croissant itself…buttery flavor in every bite. Which, if you managed to get a bite with at least a little of the filling…it was indeed heavenly. The hazelnut (like Nutella) filling was chocolate-nutty goodness and I was digging for more. But filling or not, these weren’t dense…but they were definitely filling. Small…much smaller than I anticipated…but filling. It made for a good treat for breakfast for sure. Not nearly as amazing as the ones Annie May’s Sweet Café provides for me each holiday season…but lighter and flakier than those…and ranking right up there. For a frozen product, this was love at second bite (the second bite had some of the hazelnut filling, for the record).
Let’s talk about ingredients for a moment. Because, at first glance, what goes into Schär Gluten Free Hazelnut Croissants might…scare you. My mind was put to ease awhile back with an article discussing Schär’s use of gluten free wheat starch. Yep, you read that right. GLUTEN. FREE. WHEAT. STARCH. If you have a wheat allergy…DO NOT EAT THESE!! I was mostly concerned as I am very sensitive…but no affects on me whatsoever in regards to a gluten reaction. So, that’s a win. The Schär Gluten Free Hazelnut Croissants are made from gluten free wheat starch, water, vegetable margarine [vegetable fats and oils (palm, palm kernel, coconut, canola), water, salt, mono- and diglycerides, butter flavor], hazelnut
cream (sugar, canola oil, hazelnuts, skimmed cocoa powder, skimmed milk powder, whey (milk) powder, lactose, sunflower, lecithin), eggs, yeast, chicory fiber, dextrose, fructose, glucono delta-lactone, baking soda, egg albumin, skimmed milk powder, sugar, salt, mono- and diglycerides, xanthan gum, and butter flavor. Believe me…these croissants ARE gluten-free.
As far as nutrition goes…let’s face it…it’s a croissant. These aren’t going to be packed with a wide array of nutrients. But it is nice to have a treat every now and again. The serving size of the Schär Gluten Free Hazelnut Croissants is one (1) croissant and there are four (4) in each package. This serving will dish up 240 calories, 10 grams fat, 4.5 grams saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 10 mg cholesterol, 160 mg sodium, 34 grams carbohydrates, 3 grams fiber, 7 grams sugars, and 2 grams of protein. Yep…I admit…there are far better choices for a breakfast out there, but dammit, sometimes you just need to treat yourself.
I was surprised by the flavor, the texture, and with the overall deliciousness of the Schär Gluten Free Hazelnut Croissants. I wish they had more filling than they did, but aside from that, each bite was heavenly and totally worth the indulgence. Love sometimes comes in packages that are in your natural food store freezer. Impressed.
Don’t worry, this isn’t a post about something else going wrong with me. Quite the opposite. This is a post about how I am finally feeling like myself again. I am regaining confidence. I’m working hard to regain any lost momentum and strength and fitness that I have lost over the past year of being unable to run.
This week started off with me still dealing with the aches and pains in my left quad (aka: the leg that doesn’t have the torn hip labrum) which just got me all worked up all over again. I contacted Katie (my physical therapist) on Tuesday prior to running some hill repeats to get her thoughts on it. I didn’t hear back from her before I went running, but she managed to work me in on Thursday afternoon to take a look at the quad. We discussed cutting back on my mileage…just in case.
That being said, as I mentioned in a previous blog…it seems to just be a muscle strain, and it doesn’t bother me while I’m running. Sometimes when I am warming up…and cooling down…but not during the actual act of running. I purchased a (pink) lacrosse ball this weekend to help give some trigger point therapy to the spot and so far so good.
Despite all of that, I had a horrible treadmill run on Wednesday…rain. LOTS of rain. So, after that, I made it a point to get outside on Thursday for my 4 miles that morning. It wasn’t easy…but it was SO much better than the treadmill. And I don’t hurt like I do after running on a treadmill…so there is some helpful insight.
And so…with a bit of stress at work…a couple of good and bad running days…and lots of good food (that I cooked)…it was a pretty good week. And with that being said…here are three things I’m loving this week:
1. Running With the Gang
Me and Matthew after Tuesday Hill Repeats at Iroquois ParkSo, there is this amazing group of fantastic runners that I used to go out and pound out some miles with…every Saturday. They were my training group. They pushed me, they made me better, they accepted me. I trained with them through cold winters and hot summers. They helped me through injuries and helped me with each comeback. Well, with a year of being mostly unable to run, I wasn’t up to running with them. My speed is lacking and I just don’t feel fit enough to keep up. BUT…that being said, on Tuesday, I ran 6 miles of hill repeats with Matthew (who trained hard with me the summer I was working toward my first marathon)…and on Saturday, I ran 10 amazing miles with most of the group. It felt awesome to be out there again, clicking off the miles. At one point, we even joined up with the Anthem 5K, relatively close to the leaders of the race. And as we ran through Mile 2 with them, we all commented on how this is what it felt like to be up front. We left the course shortly after that to round off the mileage. I can’t even begin to describe how good it felt to be out there with all of them again. I had really missed it and them. And Matthew has told me a few times that he and everyone else are so happy that I am back. Over 10 very strong miles later…I feel like my comeback is officially a comeback. Add on the 2 fantastic miles I added in this afternoon (it was SO windy, but it was too pretty not to go out and run…so I kept it short and easy)…and my confidence might slowly be building too. I owe a lot of that to all the people who have continued to tell me to be careful, to do what is best for me, to not rush anything…and who have been waiting for me to come back to them. Arms open. I’m back!
2. THIS BOOK! I am a bookworm. And I love it when I’m walking through a bookstore or a library and a title or subject catches my eye. That actually happened on Friday. The book is Fit Not Healthy by Vanessa Alford, a true and personal account of the author’s downward spiral in an attempt to improve her performance in running, pushing her body harder and further, determined to be the best runner she can be. Even though she was a physiotherapist, she soon becomes trapped in a spiral of extreme dieting and exercise in order to improve her performance and maintain her ‘fit and healthy’ look. She ignored the growing concerns of friends and family, denying that there was anything unhealthy about her fitness training, until her body begins to rebel against her. She was offered a commercial sponsorship and attracted the attentions of elite coaches, but striving to become faster and fitter, she fell into the trap of overexercising and calorie deprivation. I have known and still know so many runners (and athletes) who do not fuel their body right…who take stupid risks with their helps because they are trying to fit into their idea of the “perfect” body, the “perfect” weight, the “perfect” athlete. Denial is a demon that is hard to defeat. This book has had me turning page after page. The disordered thinking, eating, and exercising that Alford did is not only scary…but an eye opener. My dearest friends…we are all beautiful works in progress. DO NOT try to better yourself by taking risks with your body. It will and does catch up to you! Take care of your body…it’s the only place you have to live.
3. SHOPPING!! There really is something so therapeutic about shopping. Retail therapy is real and it is life-changing. This weekend, along with getting some upcoming birthday shopping done, my roommate and I both invested a little bit…in ourselves. I purchased some reflective gear (capris and a matching top) for running, as well as a pair of Adidas Grete Shorts. I usually am a running skirt girl, but I LOVE these shorts. And I got them for $10 at the Outlet Shoppes of the Bluegrass. I picked up shampoo bar and body wash from LUSH (LOVE LUSH!), and I picked up good eats at Annie May’s Sweet Café, Taziki’s Mediterranean Cafe, Rice, Cellar Door Chocolates, and of course, the food of my own making…including getting some batch cooking done for this week. All my meals are prepped and ready. And it didn’t take long at all. NICE! AND…I also have indulged in some delicious berries and peaches this weekend too. LOVE my fruit for a snack. And some of my favorites are close to being back in season!!
All-in-all…what a fantastic weekend. And now…I’m working on some upcoming goals and plans…and feeling good. I haven’t been able to say that in a long time.
How did you spend your weekend? Do anything fun? Eat anything delicious? Read anything amazing? Tell me all about it!
Russo’s Gluten Free Gourmet Cannoli ShellsSo, one of my roommate’s favorite desserts is cannoli. She can indulge quite a bit when we go out to Italian places that offer it as a dessert…but it is a very rare treat for me. Gluten free cannoli is just…not often found. Sweet ‘N Savory Food Truck did it once during Cluster Trucked…and I had one at Da Luciano in Chicago the night before the Chicago Marathon…but otherwise, I’m normally not able to partake in this classic Italian pastry dessert.
Which is too bad. Because I’m the one who introduced this amazing treat to my roommate, prior to the Celiac diagnosis.
But, over the New Year holiday, my roommate, my friend Jenn, and I all ventured out to Jungle Jim’s International Market, and went on a small, tightly budgeted shopping excursion. Because…it’s sort of become a tradition. We wound our way through the store, finally reaching my favorite destination…the gluten-free aisles.
YAY! Let my shopping begin.
And…breaking the budget bank happened almost immediately when my roommate spotted a big yellow box on the top shelf of the first row…
GLUTEN. FREE. CANNOLI. SHELLS.
Oh hell yes. So…with most of the budget gone for this high ticket…the shopping got a little more picky. But I was elated…because I had gluten free cannoli shells in my basket and could easily pick up Kite Hill ricotta to make a vegan cannoli filling.
The brand was Russo’s Gluten Free Gourmet. Russo’s Gluten Free Gourmet came about from Neil Russo, a professional chef who was hard at work on gluten-free recipes, which he was striving to perfect after hearing about the many people connected to himself that were having a hard time finding food while on a gluten-free diet due to intolerance or Celiac disease. After experimenting on his Italian bread loaves and Tiramisu, Russo was ready to give his food to the world. He first introduced the gluten free food in his restaurant, where he got high praise. Soon, he opened up Russo’s Gluten Free Gourmet. And from there…the frozen versions of some of the classic Italian foods he perfected in gluten-free form. So good, that people even would ask if he was certain it was gluten free. All of Russo’s products are prepared in a strictly gluten-free facility.
We decided to do it on our least favorite “holiday”…Valentine’s Day. And with all that in mind, after a quick jaunt out to the grocery store before the weather hit yesterday…I prepped the filling and made dinner (Smokey Zucchini Cakes with a Vegan Lemon Cream Sauce) and, afterwards, went to fill a cannoli shell for each of us.
I pulled the box of Russo’s Gluten Free Gourmet Cannoli Shells down from the top shelf of the pantry and went to work. The shells looked amazing. Golden and crisp…they weren’t broken, which was my main concern to be honest. I was terrified they would be these fragile little rolls…but they held their own for sure. I put some of my vegan ricotta cannoli filling into a piping bag and piped it into each of the shells I had removed for us. I passed one off to my roomie and then went to get mine. She was already diving in.
And that’s when I knew…this was not going to live up to the expectations I had built up in my mind. Nope. I was just finishing up filling mine and I look up and cautiously ask…”How is it?”
“The filling is delicious. The shell…” When her voice trails off…I know. I know it can’t be good. “…is nothing special.”
Hmmm. So, I settled in, wine glass in one hand, cannoli in the other. And take a bite. Or, at least I attempted to. This gorgeously constructed, perfectly golden, durable gluten free cannoli shell is…solid. It was the hardest thing to actually bite into. It was crispy alright…to the point I was almost concerned about chipping a tooth. And…trust me…these were marked as good through April…so they weren’t over their best by date. UGH. But, I was determined to have my cannoli, dammit. It was Valentine’s Day. I owed myself that much. I finally managed to bite through it and then loud crunching ensued. It was…really flavorless. Didn’t taste like much. Tough as bricks (literally). And heartbreakingly disappointing. I had this grand image of devouring cannoli on Valentine’s Day…just me, my wine, and my dessert smorgasbord (I had vegan and gluten free cookie dough from Annie May’s Sweet Cafe as well). And here I was, with sub-par, tough-as-a-rock, cannoli shells. UGH. They were really too tough to eat. My roommate and I persevered, said a prayer for our teeth…and then today, decided not to risk it again…and tossed them out. I hate when expensive gluten-free products don’t live up to their price tag. I wouldn’t pay $5.00 for these, and here I payed $16. Just to trash them. Since my filling was awesome, I did dig out my gluten-free cinnamon graham crackers and made up a new recipes…that was much easier to eat and much kinder to my teeth.
Sorry, Russo’s. Your other products have been good…but these…were horrible. And I was not impressed. In fact, I was beyond let down and a little angry I paid that much for a product I didn’t enjoy. Not even a bit.
Russo’s Gluten Free Gourmet Cannoli shells are not made of cement, as you might make yourself believe if you ever tried to bite into one. In fact, these dessert vehicles are made from rice flour, corn starch, tapioca dextrin, xanthan gum, rice extract, water, marsala, eggs, butter, sugar, salt, and vegetable oil.
As for nutrition, I believe you will burn more calories than you consume just trying to gnaw through these, but with that being said, a serving of Russo’s Gluten Free Gourmet Cannoli Shells is 1 shell and there are 6 shells in the box. This serving will give you 70 calories, 1.5 grams fat, 1 gram saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 15 mg cholesterol, 80 mg sodium, 14 grams carbohydrates, 0 grams fiber, 1 gram sugars, 1 gram protein.
When people conjure up an idea in their mind of what gluten-free foods taste like (cardboard, tasteless, etc)…this would definitely not convince them otherwise. It has been awhile since I’ve actually been disappointed with a product. And I am beyond disappointed with Russo’s Gluten Free Gourmet Cannoli Shells. Take my advice…don’t spend your money on these. Your craving for cannoli is not worth the letdown you will endure if you decide to break the bank and try these. It’s not worth it. Trust me.
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OMG…THE CUTENESS!! This movie was adorable. And yes…I am so Officer Judy Hopps. No doubt about it. Except, minus the cute ears and twitchy nose. I might have the fluff butt though. HAHA!! Anyway…went to the movie theater this morning and caught the first showing of Zootopia and LOVED it. Totally loved it. Disney does it again. The sloth scene that is so famous…still funny…even though the trailer pretty much gave the entire scene to you. LOVE IT. I am so costuming as Officer Hopps for a Disney race in the future. THIS. IS. HAPPENING.
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The Celiathlete 