Vegetarian – Page 86 – The Celiathlete

November 7, 2012

Recipe: Vegetable Curry

Sometimes a recipe just catches your attention. That’s exactly what happened to me one day when I was at my local library. On the shelf holding the new books there was one called Simply…Gluten-Free Quick Meals by Carol Kicinski. I picked it up and flipped through it, and immediately some recipes began catching my attention. So, I checked it out.

It just so happened that one of the recipes in there was for a vegetable curry (Curry in a Hurry). I had everything required for the recipe except the can of coconut milk, the butternut squash, a potato, and the frozen peas. But those were affordable enough to add to that week’s grocery list, so I went ahead and made plans to have this recipe for dinner this week.

And last night…I made it up and I was so happy with the results. This is a hearty, delicious, vegan curry that anyone can enjoy. You can adjust it to your level of spiciness (I kept mine mid-range, as my roomie is a heat wimp and I love it spicy). It’s full of flavor and will fill you up without filling out out with calories.

Recipe: Vegetable Curry

Vegetable Curry (served over jasmine rice)

Servings: 6
Time: Prep 10 minutes; Cook 25 minutes

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons olive oil
4 cups butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cubed (I bought mine pre-cut!)
1 large Idaho potato, peeled and cubed
1 medium yellow or white onion, thinly sliced (I used shallots)
1 cauliflower head, cut into florets
2 to 4 tablespoons gluten-free mild or hot Indian curry paste (I used Thai Kitchen)
14.5 ounce can unsweetened coconut milk, shaken well (I used light coconut milk)
15 ounce can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
1 cup frozen peas

Directions:

Heat the oil in a large, deep skillet or Dutch oven with a lid over medium-high heat.

Add the butternut squash and potato cubes and sauté just until they start to brown a little, 3 to 4 minutes.

Add the onion, cauliflower, and curry paste, starting with a little and continuing to add until you reach the desired heat level. Cook, stirring constantly for 1 to 2 minutes, or until the paste is combined and the onion is just starting to soften.

Add the coconut milk and stir to combine. Cover the pot, lower the heat, and simmer for 15 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender.

Add the chickpeas and frozen peas to heat through, 1 to 2 minutes.

Serve.

~*~*~

I served my curry over steamed jasmine rice. It was so delicious. With it being fall and the winter months approaching, this made for a nice, warm, hearty meal that is packed with fresh ingredients and lots of nutritional value. It’s a fantastic and different way to use those winter vegetables that are in season and everywhere at the grocery store right now.

And this is really easy to prepare. I definitely recommend buying the squash pre-cut, as it takes out a lot of the hassle. No shame in it, my friends. Trust me! If anything…I would just recommend a little pinch of salt. Other than that…this made for a delicious, filling dinner under 300 calories per serving. And I loved every bite of it. I also can’t wait to make it again!

November 7, 2012

Cheese Bites Parmesan Crackers a light, gluten-free snack

Product: Unismack Cheese Bites Parmesan Crackers – $1.80+

So…here’s the thing.

In February, I’ll be hitting my 2 year milestone of being completely gluten-free. Yep. Two full years. And it has been a learning experience. One thing that I can certainly claim is that I have definitely been going out on a limb and trying a variety of gluten-free products. One of the numerous gluten-free products out there is crackers.

Crackers went gluten-free with a vengeance. There are so many brands out there to choose from now. And flavors as well. Imagine that…options.

Well, one place I have learned to look for different gluten-free foods is Big Lots. I have found a wide variety of different snacks and foods from various parts of the world on the shelves of Big Lots. At a decent price. Labeled gluten-free. You know how I feel about labels on my products!

One such product was this week’s afternoon snack at the office. They are simply called Cheese Bites, made by the Unismack SA company in Greece. This particular box that I selected is the Parmesan cheese variety of cracker. Right on the front of the box is the gluten-free label that assured me this would be okay to purchase and consume. So…I did.

With the plethora of snack crackers out in the gluten-free market, something like this really needs to stand out. The actual shape and texture of these did catch my attention. They are simple puffy triangles that are bake, which keeps them light and airy. The ingredients are simple…without anything that makes you hop on the internet and search for what that chemical might be. It’s simple…potato startch, edam cheese, Parmesan cheese, egg yolk, yeast extract, milk proteins, and salt. Bam. A simple cracker and not a single ingredient I didn’t recognize. I love that. In addition, these crackers are not only gluten-free, but also wheat free, MSG Free, GMO Free, rich in calcium, and also produced in a nut-free factory.

But…how do they taste?

Well…they are good. Don’t get me wrong. I wouldn’t turn down buying them again. The fact of the matter, however, is that I have had so many flavor-popping crackers before these that they just don’t quite live up to my expectations. I’ve had fantastic cheese crackers (Hello Schär!) and other such crackers…and while these taste good, have a good texture, and definitely deliver that Parmesan flavor…they just seem bland compared to other gluten-free crackers out there. I loved the puffed up triangles, keeping the snack light so as not to be too heavy in the afternoon before heading home for dinner. I just feel that there are better, more flavorful crackers out there.

A serving of these is 1 cup (or 29 grams if you weigh your portions like I do). This will set you back 120 calories and 4.5 grams of fat for the day. These are relatively low in sodium (only 300 mg) and provide 4 grams of protein in a serving. Not bad for a cracker. There are, mind you, only 3 servings per box, however…so you don’t get a whole heap of these at a time.

Unixmack SA has created a good, cheesy, gluten-free snack cracker…but there are others out there that I have eaten that I’ve liked far better. They aren’t bad…they just can’t compare to other cheese crackers lining the gluten-free shelves. But…I’d eat them again if they were offered to me.

November 2, 2012

Recipe: Gluten-Free S’mores Hot Cereal

You know…sometimes I get into a breakfast rut. I know…that might be hard to believe…but it happens. I’ll get on a pancake kick, or an egg kick (I get on the egg kick a lot because it is SO easy and versatile), and that’s what I do. For awhile. And then…eventually, I find something else to entertain me.

But…I had an ingenious stroke of breakfast inspiration the other night. And I warned my roommate that when she woke up, I would have an experiment ready for us to try at breakfast. She looked a little concerned. But agreed she would brave whatever it was that I created. And if it was crap, I told her that I’d be happy to whip something else up for us.

Thankfully, however, my little experiment turned into a delicious breakfast treat. One I would totally make again. Just not every day. Given that it is mostly chocolate…it’s good for a nice, sweet morning eat every now and again.

Recipe: Gluten-Free S’mores Hot Cereal

Servings: 2
Time: Prep 5 minutes; Cook 10 minutes

Ingredients:

1/2 cup hot cereal (I used Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-Free Mighty Tasty Hot Cereal)
1-1/2 cups + 2 tablespoons water
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder (divided)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon zero calorie sweetener (I used Truvia)
2 dark chocolate mini candy bars, chopped (I used Nestle Special Dark)
1 tablespoon white chocolate morsels
2 gluten-free graham crackers, crumbled (I used Kinnikinnick S’moreables)
2 tablespoons Marshmallow Fluff

Directions:

Bring water and salt to a boil. Stir in 1/2 cup cereal and 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder. Immediately turn heat to very low, continuing to stir until cereal and water are blended. Cover and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Remove from heat and add the vanilla, 2 tablespoons cocoa, and and sweetener to taste.

Split between two bowls.

Over the top, sprinkle each with chopped dark chocolate, white chocolate morsels, and crumbled gluten-free graham crackers. Place a dollop of Marshmallow Fluff on each serving. Toast with kitchen torch or just serve.

Enjoy!

~*~*~

The best part about this breakfast was just how much it really tasted like S’mores. If you aren’t a fan of dark chocolate, feel free to use milk chocolate. Or just use chocolate chips instead. The possibilities are endless…and yield a delicious treat for breakfast. The chocolate melts into the hot cereal and it’s just…yum! Really, really yum! Forget the campfire at night, now you can have S’mores for breakfast. Trust me…you’ll want to make this one again!

November 2, 2012

Enjoying breakfast with a taste of Enjoy Life’s Cranapple Crunch Granola

After checking Enjoy Life’s Web site, I’m not 100% certain this product is even available anymore. Which is definitely too bad. And here’s why…

It is fantastic!

Simple and to the point on this blog. I picked up this pouch of granola at Big Lots one day while I was out and about. They just happened to have it on sale…and I just happened to snatch it up with one of the Double Chocolate Crunch granola pouches as well. I figured I could use it on homemade, gluten-free apple crisp. And then I realized it was highly unlikely that I would get around to making apple crisp anytime soon, despite the overflow of apples in my CSA bin every week. So, this morning…I got a little creative with breakfast.

With it being fall/winter time, apples are in abundance when it comes to my produce. So, I see them every week and try to come up with easy, efficient ways to use them. Even if it means just slicing them and eating them straight. Well…that could have happened this morning. And then…I had a brilliant stroke of brilliance (as I like to say). And I dug the bag of Enjoy Life Cranapple Crunch Granola out of my pantry and got set to work some of my breakfast magic.

I ended up getting out my vanilla Greek yogurt, caramelizing up some apples, and then serving it in parfait form with the Enjoy Life Cranapple Crunch Granola serving as the crunchy bit to give it texture. Assembling it was easy. Caramelizing apples I can do in my sleep. And throwing Greek yogurt over everything is something I’m used to doing…often. So, as I am still quite sleep deprived thanks to noisy downstairs neighbors, this simple task was just what I needed this morning.

Upon opening the bag of granola, however, I knew I needed to sample it on its own. Quality control and so I could give a true statement about flavor and taste via this blog. I thought it looked a lot like Rice Krispies with craisins and dried apples thrown into the mix. Which, isn’t a bad thing. I reached in and pinched up a bit of the granola and some of the dried fruit to eat and tossed them back. The bits of brown rice flakes were crunchy and really packed with flavor. And the bits of dried cranberry and dried apple really brought a bunch of fruity flavor to the mix. Honestly. I was beyond impressed. I wasn’t expecting much, because at first glance…it looks like something I could have easily thrown together. But it just packs that apple flavor with the cranberry to add to the tartness. And I loved that it didn’t have huge chunks like most granola does. This was just flakes of brown rice bits and the dried fruit.

And how did it fair in my breakfast parfait? Awesome!! It complimented the vanilla Greek yogurt and the caramelized apples better than any granola that has come before it. My taste buds were extremely happy with each flavor that danced across my tongue. Really delicious. And it stayed crunchy even with the fruit and yogurt. It’s hearty and I like that…considering it looks like regular cereal.

Nutritionally speaking, this granola hits at a good level when it comes to sugars. While some I have tried have had ridiculous amounts of added sugar to them, this stands with only 10 grams in a serving. The calorie count will only set you back 160 calories and 3 grams of fat. And the serving size is 1/2 cup. Way more than most granola offers, which is normally about half that serving. Love it.

Enjoy Life makes really amazing gluten-free and allergen-free products. They are processed and made minus the top eight food allergens (meaning they are Wheat Free, Dairy Free, Peanut Free, Tree Nut Free, Egg Free, Soy Free, Fish Free, Shellfish Free). The Cranapple Crunch Granola is a great gluten-free granola that packs a wildly delicious flavor punch and is definitely more nutritious than others out there on the market. It’s peace of mind.

And, beyond that, it’s delicious.

IF this flavor, the Cranapple Crunch Granola, is still one of Enjoy Life’s products…or if you can seek it out and find it…definitely get it. Definitely try it. And definitely enjoy it. Now I feel like I need to savor every bite…because who knows if I can ever get it again!

November 1, 2012

Recipe: Creamy Brussels Sprouts Bake

Okay…I’m going to admit it. When I received my bin from my CSA, I had a major crisis in my kitchen. No, nothing hazardous or spoiling. In fact, the issue was more with one of the items in my bin itself. The culprit – Brussels sprouts.

Laugh it up, but these little mini heads of cabbage really threw me for a loop. While they have always been one of my mom’s favorite vegetables, we never had them when I was growing up. Ever. She never made them and never even attempted to get us to try them. I knew every joke from television shows and movies though regarding Brussels sprouts, so…yeah…I was sort of thrown for a loop. Not only had I never tasted these myself, but I had no idea how to prepare them.

My roommate claimed she maybe had them once…and she wasn’t a fan…but probably because they weren’t cooked correctly.

This didn’t boost my confidence in this vegetable at all. But…I was determined to find a recipe to make…where both of us would hopefully enjoy these little leafy greens. And after a few searches online, and a few recipes tossed at my roommate, she finally decided on one that would use a couple other items from the bin. Good thinking!

I embellished the recipe a little as I only had 16 ounces of Brussels sprouts in my bin and the recipe calls for 20. So, I substituted 4 ounces of broccoli. No harm no foul, right? So…for all of you lovers of Brussels sprouts and for those of you, who like me, have no idea if you like them or not…I encourage you to try this recipe. It’s compliments of Taste of Home…but this is my own take on it.

Recipe: Creamy Brussels Sprouts Bake

Servings: 6
Time: Prep 15 minutes; Cook 35 minutes

Ingredients:

1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened (I used Tofutti Better Than Cream Cheese)
1 cup (8 ounces) sour cream (I used Tofutti Better Than Sour Cream)
1/2 pound sliced fresh mushrooms
1 medium onion, chopped
2 tablespoons butter
16 ounces fresh Brussels sprouts
4 ounces fresh broccoli
3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Directions:

Onions, mushrooms, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts sautéing in pan

In a small bowl, beat cream cheese and sour cream until smooth; set aside.

In a large skillet, saute mushrooms and onion in butter until tender. Stir in Brussels sprouts. Remove from the heat; stir in cream cheese mixture.

Spoon into a greased shallow 2-qt. baking dish. Cover and bake at 350F for 25-30 minutes or until bubbly.

Uncover; sprinkle with cheddar cheese. Bake 5 minutes longer or until cheese is melted.

Serve.

Creamy Brussels Sprouts Bake (fresh from oven)

~*~*~

I admit it…I was nervous going into this one. With not knowing what to expect from Brussels sprouts, I was actually quite nervous about taking my first bite. My roommate, as she so often does, threw herself on it immediately and assured me that it was actually really good. She said the Brussels sprouts had a bit of a nutty flavor to them…and she was right. And the cream cheese/sour cream soup that surrounded the greens, mushrooms, and onions was out of this world. This was actually quite delicious…and yes…quite filling.

But I am no longer afraid of Brussels sprouts. And, perhaps, next time I’ll try simply roasting them in olive oil and give that a go.

Trust me…this is at least worth a taste.

October 31, 2012

Sinful, soft, and scrumptious Cinnamon Rolls from Sinfully Gluten-Free

Sinfully Gluten Free Cinnamon Rolls with Icing

Product: Sinfully Gluten Free Cinnamon Rolls – $4.95

One of my biggest cravings since going gluten-free has been for, believe it or not, cinnamon rolls. Honestly. And it’s not that there aren’t gluten-free options out there. Udi’s makes some pre-packaged cinnamon rolls…which are…eh…okay, but definitely not one of their better products. And I attempted to make cinnamon rolls from a Chebe mix…and that was an epic fail of monumental proportions. Just…trust me on this one.

So, with the smell of Cinnabon lurking…everywhere…I resigned myself to the fact that unless I make my own (no easy task), that I would probably just have to stick with what Udi’s offers. Edible…but not a cinnamon roll in my mind.

And then, as luck would have it, I was in Dayton, Ohio for a chocolate festival. Yes…mock all you want…I am a female and I love chocolate. So the words chocolate festival will bring me to Dayton. Trust me. After sampling and buying a few items at the chocolate festival and doing a bit of antique shopping, my usual partners in crime (Jenn & Cathy) and I headed toward Centerville because, after dining at Sinfully Gluten Free before the Air Force Marathon 10K, I knew I had to go back. And I always will while in Dayton. Hands down.

Well, after placing our food order, I went shopping. Because here I am in a dedicated bakery/café…of course I’m going to buy some of their products. Among the items purchased…Sinfully Gluten Free Cinnamon Rolls. Happiness abounded. And it even came with its own little tub of icing. YUMMY!

Of course, as is the case…these weren’t devoured immediately. Nope. They went back to Columbus, Ohio with me first. And then made the trip back to the Louisville, Kentucky area with me, via a cooler. And from there…they went into my freezer. But then…a busy weekend left me with no time to make gluten-free scones for my gym days…so…lo and behold…the cinnamon rolls were about to make their debut.

Sinfully Gluten Free’s Cinnamon Rolls come in a container of 4. Each roll is around 4 ounces in weight. Since I froze them, I pulled them out of the freezer to thaw in the container overnight. After my hard gym workout, I carried it into work with me and settled in the kitchen with two plates and four cinnamon rolls. My roommate received two of them and I received two. I saw that you could just go ahead and microwave the lot of them in the container they came in (minus the lid), but I needed time to ice them and keep mine warm while I took the roomie hers. So…I slid them onto a plate, and put them in the microwave for about 1 minute. They emerged piping hot and ready for a schmear of icing. I topped them off, put the other two for me in the microwave, and heated them up while I delivered the other pair to my roommate across the office.

I returned soon after just as the microwave beeped. Out they came, hot and ready for icing. I topped them off and happily carried them into my office and settled in at my desk with a fork. They looked absolutely perfect. Just like the ones my mom used to make…but better…because these didn’t come from a can marked Pillsbury. With much anticipation building, I slid my fork through one of the rolls, feeling the dough happily give way, how soft it was on the inside, and with that…I took my first bite.

These made me beyond happy. They were a perfect texture, despite being nuked in the microwave. They were gooey on the inside. The icing complimented them, without being too sweet and overpowering. It melted right over the top and into the rings of the cinnamon rolls. The rolls themselves weren’t too dense. They were light, with a little weight from the cinnamon rolled up inside. Sweet. Savory. And just phenomenal. Honestly. I savored each bite for as long as I could, dragging out my breakfast because I didn’t want it to end. I didn’t want to reach that last bite.

But…sadly…like all good things…this did come to an end. One final bite and I messaged my roommate and said, “I wish we had more of those in the freezer.” So, needless to say, next time I’m in or around Dayton, I hope Sinfully Gluten Free has some of those on hand because they have to be the best gluten-free cinnamon rolls to exist in the gluten-free world. Honestly. I have yet to find better. They got it all right and I was totally lucky enough to have the chance to indulge and enjoy.

I hate to sound like a broken record, but they deserve the high praise again. Sinfully Gluten Free…you take gluten-free goodness to sinfully divine levels. This gluten-free girl is one happy customer, always hoping to find herself in or around Dayton…just so I can come by and purchase more of your scrumptious goodies. I hope the cinnamon rolls make it back into my life…and soon!

Sinfully Gluten Free Cinnamon Rolls (iced)

October 31, 2012

Recipe: Roasted Pumpkin-Apple Soup

A couple weeks ago, my CSA bin contained an item that I wasn’t too sure what to do with. Hey…it happens. Honestly. Not that this item was exotic or anything…it’s just not something I’ve done much with. The item in question…a pie pumpkin.

Naturally, one would think…make pumpkin pie! The thing is…aside from being a Celiac…I do not like pumpkin pie! Never have. So, baking a pie was out of the question. I had to come up with something else to do with it. But first, I had a few out of town trips and the like to do…which actually allowed the pumpkin to ripen quite a bit while I was away. So, on Sunday…I settled on spending time, chopping, peeling, seeding, and roasting up the pumpkin. For what?

Only one of my favorite things in the world. SOUP!

I found a great recipe from Eating Well that would also use up some of the apples that I got in my numerous bins over the past couple of weeks. Let’s face it…one can only eat so many apples. And when you go out of town…well…there they are. They are the hot item in the bin I get right now. Every week means more apples. I’m okay with that. I like apples. But I have a lot of them now. So…this soup was ideal because it included roasted apples as well. The recipe…super easy with only 9 ingredients. And trust me…this soup is awesome and creamy without the addition of milk, cream, or flour!

Recipe: Roasted Pumpkin-Apple Soup

Servings: 12
Time: Prep 30 minutes; Cook 60 minutes

Ingredients:

4 pounds pie pumpkin or butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into 2-inch chunks
4 large sweet-tart apples, such as Empire, Cameo, or Braeburn, unpeeled, cored, and cut into eighths
1/4 cups extra-virgin olive oil
1-1/4 teaspoons salt, divided
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage
6 cups reduced-sodium vegetable broth
1/3 cups chopped hazelnuts, toasted
2 tablespoons hazelnut oil

Directions:

Preheat oven to 450°F.

Toss pumpkin (or squash), apples, olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Spread evenly on a large rimmed baking sheet.

Roast, stirring once, for 30 minutes.

Stir in sage and continue roasting until very tender and starting to brown, 15 to 20 minutes more.

Transfer about one-third of the pumpkin (or squash) and apples to a blender along with 2 cups broth. Puree until smooth.

Transfer to a Dutch oven and repeat for two more batches.

Season with the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and heat through over medium-low heat, stirring constantly to prevent splattering, for about 6 minutes.

Serve each portion topped with hazelnuts and a drizzle of hazelnut oil.

~*~*~

Now, I have heard of the goodness of pumpkin and apple together, but this was the first time I tasted it for myself. And OH MY GOD! Yeah…it’s good. The pumpkin-apple combination brings a bit of sweet and savory to the soup. It is so yummy.

A word of warning…I had to hand peel, slice, seed, and chop my pumpkin and this took FOREVER. If you can buy it pre-done…DO IT! Trust me. Just do it. I have a great, sharp set of knives and this was still a struggle. It was totally worth it in the end…but, wow…it really took a lot of time to get it right and done. But, once it was roasting with the apples…my kitchen smelled awesome and I couldn’t wait to make it into the soup. Don’t bypass the hazelnut oil (it can be pricey!) or the chopped hazelnuts on top either. I found these to be key ingredients to the finished product.

When life hands you a pie pumpkin…seriously…make soup!

October 30, 2012

Uncle Maddio’s Pizza Joint does gluten-free pizza and peace of mind

Restaurant: Uncle Maddio’s Pizza Joint, Louisville, Kentucky

I know a few Celiacs and gluten-free peeps around here. I run with a couple of them too. And one of them, my friend Keith, has been raving about Uncle Maddio’s for just about as long as I’ve known him in our running group. And for some reason…I fell into the black hole of all the other local gluten-free pizza places, not branching out or just not going for pizza at all. Despite the high recommendation and regards concerning their safety procedures when it comes to preparing gluten-free pizza for their customers…this one just kept sliding through the cracks.

I am happy to report, however, that this past Saturday…I went to Uncle Maddio’s…and yeah…I can see why Keith and so many other people have raved about this place.

First of all, Uncle Maddio’s looks to be a very small chain that is expanding. They have a few locations in Georgia and the one here in Louisville, Kentucky. I am so thankful for the location here in Louisville now that I have checked them out.

It was just about right after they opened when my roommate and I made our way over to Uncle Maddio’s for lunch. One reason, aside from meaning to have checked it out long ago, was that we were already in the area. I had been in the local park running a 5K race that morning. After some coffee and a bit of shopping on Bardstown Road, we were ready for some actual food. And there it was…conveniently…offering me gluten-free pizza. Yeah…this was ideal.

So, my roommate and I entered and were greeted by the guy behind the counter. We explained that it was our first time there and that I am gluten-free. He immediately began changing his gloves. “Oh, gluten-free? No problem.” So, we eyed the menu for a moment and finally I told my roommate to pick a pizza, because as long as it is vegetarian, I’ll eat any topping. I’m not as picky as she is. So with a moment of consideration, she decided to go with one of their signature pizzas. Her choice – the Portobello Pesto ($9.99 (regular $7.99 + $2.00 up-charge for gluten-free)). What I really felt good about was when we placed the order, the other guy behind the counter pulled out a list to check the ingredients to make sure they would be gluten-free. Wow…that was an amazing thing.

Granted, Uncle Maddio’s does not make their own gluten-free crust. They have a pre-made vegan/gluten-free crust that is made from: rice flour, tapioca flour, potato flour, water, olive oil, sugar, yeast, and salt. It is only available in one size, a medium, which means six slices. I am certain this has everything to do with cutting down on any sort of cross-contamination. They have an extensive list of gluten-free toppings for the pizza as well. It’s kind of cool because of the way they are set up, you can watch as your pizza goes down the line if you so choose…like someone would watch their sandwich get prepared at Subway.

The Portobello Pesto Pizza is basically the gluten-free crust topped with their herb pesto sauce, mozzarella , portabella and white mushrooms, feta cheese, Roma tomatoes and fresh basil. Simple ingredients on a simple pizza, yes? My roommate made a fantastic choice, because the toppings would mean that I could really get a taste of the crust without sauce overpowering it…and also be able to clearly taste all the toppings on this, one of their signature pies.

We went to fill our drinks and take a seat at a booth. It actually took a little bit of time for the pizza to be prepared, which I actually do like. It means they aren’t being careless or taking shortcuts.

The pizza did arrive at our table and man…it looked absolutely delicious. Stunning. A work of gluten-free pizza art. I hated that I had to take pictures of it, because, honestly, I was ready to dive in for a slice. But I have to make sacrifices for this blog at times. Pictures first. Then…pizza time!

I served my roommate up a slice of the pizza, then placed a slice on my plate. With a fork and knife, I cut through the toasted crust, hearing the knife cut through the pre-made crust. I liked the thin-crust and the crunch that they achieved without burning it. Sometimes some places overcook those thin-crust gluten-free pizzas…but not Uncle Madio’s. It was perfection. And with the very first bite…I knew that this combination of toppings was now one of my favorites. Enough for me to declare that I needed to start making pesto. Hey…I love to be in my kitchen and lord knows I keep olive oil on hand. It all worked. The basil pesto didn’t overwhelm the pizza as a base. It wasn’t too strong…just right. And the rest of the toppings were seasoned and fresh. The portobella mushrooms were cooked to perfection. Not drippy or wet. They were absolutely stunning, laying on top. I could taste the freshness in the Roma tomatoes and the basil. The feta and mozzarella cheese were not piled high on top, but used more as a compliment to the other toppings. It wasn’t overwhelmed with cheese so the flavors really shined.

Yeah…I was impressed. I was beyond impressed. I was happy to be eating there. I was already trying to come up with the next vegetarian pizza to get there and try out. See how it does. Or…maybe get this one again. Because it truly wowed me. When in doubt…go with a signature pizza. They are signature meals for a reason, yes? And this one totally deserved its spot up on that board.

Peace of mind and a great serving and slice of pizza. I left there after eating half of the pizza and wasn’t crazy-full…a definite plus as well. The fact that they take such care with their customers who order gluten-free makes me feel confident about my next return. And yes…there will be a next time!

Uncle Maddio's Gluten-Free Portobello Pesto Pizza — Uncle Maddio’s Gluten-Free Portobello Pesto Pizza

October 28, 2012

Lärabar’s Peanut Butter Cookie just like the real thing…only better

Lärabar Peanut Butter Cookie (snack size)

Product: Lärabar Peanut Butter Cookie – $1.99+

Two of my favorite things – peanut butter and cookies.

I thank Lärabar every time I open one of their bars and experience the promised flavor on the package. The thing is…they do this with simple ingredients…no more than 9 to a bar. The amazing thing is how much they actually taste like what they are setting out to make the bar taste like.

This past weekend, I took along a mini Lärabar to eat about 30 minutes before the start of a 5K race I was running. I have found this to work. Too often I’ve just had cereal before a race and I end up finding myself starving just before the start or at least a mile in. That’s no good. I want to have energy before a race. These…do the trick.

I grabbed three to choose from and ended up going with the Peanut Butter Cookie variety at chow time. I was pretty pscyhed about this one. Why? Well, as I said…peanut butter and cookies are two of my favorite things in life. And here they were…together…in the form of a gluten-free protein bar that I am able to eat.

The Peanut Butter Cookie Lärabar is made up of three ingredients. That’s it. Peanuts, dates, and sea salt. Seriously. The snack size bar contains only 100 calories and 3 grams of protein. It has 6 grams of fat in it, brought to you mostly in part by the peanuts. But that’s a healthy fat and something your body needs regardless.

So now that I’ve given you the nutritional rundown, how exactly did it taste? Moist. Fresh. And soft. And yes…it was just like eating a very soft peanut butter cookie. The flavor was spot-on! Three ingredients…and Lärabar totally delivered on it. This bar was chewy and tasted like it was fresh off a cookie sheet. The best part was the balance of flavor. While I love peanut butter and could totally eat it out of the jar on a spoon (and do that on occasion, LOL!), I didn’t want this to taste like that. And it didn’t. It honestly tasted like a peanut butter cookie. And it was love at first bite. I devoured it faster than I probably should have…but it was delicious and I was hungry. Therefore…nom.

The Peanut Butter Cookie Lärabar is gluten-free, kosher, dairy-free, soy-free, and vegan. It’s also delicious and now one of my current favorites! Looking for a quick bite on-the-go that is good for you, delicious, and like eating dessert without being a dessert? Try the Peanut Butter Cookie Lärabar. You’ll be hooked like me.

I sort of wish I had more…

But…on to the next flavor…

October 25, 2012

Beanitos Black Bean Chipotle BBQ chips a better snack option

Product: Beanitos Black Bean Chipotle BBQ Chips – $3.49+

Okay…I know you’re thinking it…because I thought it too.

Chips…made from beans?! Isn’t that usually reserved for…you know…potatoes, corn, or even rice?

The answer is…yes. And yes.

I was a huge skeptic about Beanitos chips. I admit it. I saw them on the gluten-free shelves at my various grocery stores and natural food stores and immediately turned my nose up at them. While I’m a huge fan of beans, the idea of chips made out of them just didn’t sound…right. At all.

And then I attended a gluten-free tasting fair at one of the natural food stores here in town and one of the samples they had out were Beanitos. Well…free samples are a good way to introduce a skeptic to something with the potential to be epic, yes? I hesitated at the dish…but finally picked up the little tongs and snagged one of the round chips. I turned it over in my hands, then, very tentatively took a bite. And…then another. And then I just popped the rest of it in my mouth. Huh. I hadn’t expected to like them. But…chips made from beans were actually quite tasty.

And for a couple weeks, that’s where I left it. I had tried them. Yes…they were good. But I didn’t purchase any. Probably due to the plethora of snacks I currently had kicking around in my pantry.

Until my local grocery store put almost the entire gluten-free section on closeout. And fearing that I was about to lose my gluten-free aisle…I snatched up everything that was marked down. Beanitos was one of the items on the markdown. So I grabbed a couple of bags. And this week, I opened up the bag to get a serving (1 ounce, or about 10 chips) to take to work with me for my afternoon snack. They were next up as far as snacks in order of expiration dates. The first flavor up was the Chipotle BBQ flavor.

Love. Seriously. Spicy without too much heat. They have a great chipotle and mesquite flavor. They have just enough to bring out the flavor without overwhelming your palate with spice. They were a bit salty, but the sodium level is low on the bag. So, it’s not horrible…just I’m so used to unsalted snacks. I couldn’t stop eating them. So it is a good thing I portion out my snacks because I would have been quite tempted to just devour them all. I also think they would go crazy-good with my homemade guacamole.

Beanitos are completely corn free, gluten free, and potato free. It is all made from beans and rice. And that makes for a heartier texture and a more solid chip. They are high in fiber and protein, which is a nice change. And, in addition, they are cholesterol free, trans fat free, non-GMO, and kosher. A serving is 140 calories and 7 grams of fat. Not bad for a chip. Not bad at all. They come in a bunch of different flavors and all of the chips are vegan except the cheddar cheese flavor. I mean…come on…these chips are made out of protein-packed beans!

Yes, I was a skeptic, but tasting made me a believer. Chips made from beans are actually quite delicious. I can’t wait to dive into another variety of them. I no longer fear Beanitos. I plan to keep them in my pantry!