It’s been awhile since I’ve reached into my pantry and pulled out one of my numerous Tasty Bite Indian meals. But…with my fridge running low on fresh produce (I was out of town last weekend and didn’t get a produce bin), I had to come up with something easy for dinner tonight. I had just finished an intense circuit workout and was definitely ready for some food.
Thankfully, it doesn’t get easier than Tasty Bite’s Indian entrees. Honestly.
The next one up in my pantry was the Peas Paneer. I know…at first it doesn’t sound like the most delicious option in there. I mean, it’s peas, paneer cheese, and a sauce. It’s simple though, and sometimes the simplest ingredients can yield the best flavor.
Once again, making this couldn’t have been easier. I immediately got some jasmine rice on the stove to cook. As it was cooking up, all I had to do was tear a 2-inch slit in the bag, place it in the microwave, and heat for 90 seconds. Once the rice was done, this just got poured over it and dinner…was served.
Yep. That easy.
As is normally the case with Indian food…it doesn’t always look the most appealing when it comes to presentation. Let’s face it, the Tasty Bite Peas Paneer is simply green peas and paneer cheese simmered with onions, tomatoes, spices and herbs. When I poured it over the rice, it was this brown liquid with peas and cubes of paneer cheese in it. But…as is the case with many ethnic cuisines…looks can be deceiving.
While I wasn’t expecting spice (and this one is M-I-L-D), I was hoping it would have a little more heat with it. But, the mildness was actually quite good. And the flavor of the entire dish was excellent. The peas were soft, not mushy. The paneer cheese was incredibly soft and absorbed much of the flavors in the sauce. Putting it over the jasmine rice made it a more complete meal.
And…as far as packaged foods go…this one doesn’t hit too hard on the nutrition. A serving is half the container, so splitting it with my roommate made this easy. That serving only sets you back 200 calories and hits you up with 10 grams of protein. Because of the cheese, however, there are 13 grams of fat in this particular one. The sodium level, however, is at a nice 400 mg per serving. So, there are pluses and minuses to choosing this one.
My roommate, a self-professed spice wimp, loved this. She liked how the spices and seasonings didn’t overpower anything else and that every component really got a chance to shine with each bite. She’s absolutely right. And, she also liked how this one wasn’t as spicy as she anticipated. I keep reminding her that just because it is Indian food, doesn’t mean it’s going to hit you up with heat.
Would I buy this one again? Sure…but I have other ones I have tried that I’ve liked a little more. As it stands though…an easy, quick meal after a busy, stressful week. It was the perfect way to wind into the weekend. Keeping it simple…and delicious!
I buy a lot of snacks when they are on sale…or part of a manager’s special. I rarely ever buy any of my gluten-free goodies at full price. I honestly just can’t afford to.
For awhile, I had been eying the Snikiddy line up of snacks (which include Baked Fries, Cheese Puffs, and the Eat Your Vegetables chips) with big kid eyes…hoping that my store would have a sale on them soon. Well, my prayers were answered one week when I walked into my grocery store and they were, in fact, on sale. I grabbed two of the Baked Fries to try (different flavors) for starters. I still had to remain in my food budget that week…so I started one place and would move to the rest another time.
First…a little bit on the company itself. It was founded in 2006 by a mother and daughter team that wanted to put out products for families that were seeking healthier foods to satisfy their snack cravings. And that’s what they did – creating a line of better for you snacks.
As for the brand name…well, it’s the shortened form of the word persnickety, referring to picky eaters. Who doesn’t know one or perhaps is one? Honestly.
So…good for you snack foods? Well, just glancing at the nutritional information…it does seem possible. A serving (1 ounce) is 130 calories. It will set you back 4.5 grams of fat for the day. These are low in sodium, cholesterol free, vegetarian, gluten-free, all natural, kosher snacks that contain no trans fats or hydrogenated oils. They have 50% less fat than regular potato chips and 35% less fat than Veggie Straws.
Intrigued? Impressed?
I was. But…the big test comes with the taste.
Today was the day that I dished out a serving of these to have at work for my afternoon snack. The first thing I noticed was how light they were. Secondly, even though they are cheddar cheese…they do not leave a residue of cheese dust on your fingers. This means my paperwork remains clean. YAY! So…after careful inspection…it was time for the first bite.
The texture reminds me a lot of Funyuns. And they taste cheesy (as anything that is Cheddar Cheese flavored should) without being overly done. They weren’t greasy like potato chips either. And…for what it was worth, I’d take these over french fries any day. And I love french fries!! But these were just as satisfying, without all the fat. They are light so while they will take away the afternoon hunger pangs, they won’t fill you up before dinner either.
Perfect snack. Perfectly delicious.
I can’t wait to try the other flavor.
When snack foods are done right…they are worth buying again. These will certainly be bought again. I was impressed.
Edward & Sons Let’s Do…Gluten-Free Ice Cream Cones
Product: Edward & Sons Let’s Do…Gluten-Free Ice Cream Cones – $3.99+
I never, ever thought I would miss ice cream cones. I mean…they often get soggy, and sometimes can be a bit messy. So, it’s always a bowl for me. And when I’m out at an ice cream shoppe or a fro yo place, that’s the way it has to be. Gluten-free isn’t offered just anywhere. And around here…it’s practically non-existent. At those kinds of places…it’s all about the bowl, cup, or whatever it is served in.
No cone.
And I never thought anything about it.
But then my local grocery store was running a closeout on their gluten-free aisle. Which, immediately sent me into a panic. What if they were getting rid of all of this? What if I’d have to really just start shopping at the expensive natural food stores (I would do it…but my food budget is already crazy!)? What if all of this was going away never to be seen again? I literally grabbed a cart and my roommate and I began piling things inside. Whatever we felt we would most definitely like to try, already knew we liked, and just were curious about.
One of the boxes that made the gluten-free closeout cut…was Edward & Sons Let’s Do…Gluten-Free Ice Cream Cones.
Now, growing up my mom used to buy ice cream cones and would scoop up some amazing ice cream into it. And we, as a family, would enjoy this for dessert. During the summer months in my small town, a little restored barn up the way sold ice cream (soft serve) and we would always go down there for dessert. They knew our order and had it ready when our car turned in. It was a treat. And we are an ice cream loving family. Despite lactose intolerance…I still am very much this way.
So, yeah…while I never thought I would miss that crunch of an ice cream cone…I discovered…I did.
With some So Delicious Dairy-Free Ice Creams in the freezer, last night I was looking for something easy for dessert. It could have been ice cream…or cookies. But, I have been craving ice cream. And I had a bad day, and my roommate mentioned ice cream. And I knew there was no getting to The Comfy Cow on a weeknight, so…ice cream at home it was. But…then it dawned on me that we had those gluten-free ice cream cones as well. So as I finished up my dishes, I asked her to go grab them. It was going to be an ice cream cone night!
Out of the freezer came So Delicious Dairy Free Chocolate Velvet Soy Milk Ice Cream (OMG YUM!!!). And I carefully opened up the box of Edward & Sons Let’s Do…Gluten-Free Ice Cream Cones.
They looked like every ice cream cone my mom ever bought for us growing up. They looked like the standard kids cones you would get at an ice cream parlor these days. The only thing was…these were gluten-free. So…I could eat them!! I dished up a serving of the rich, decadent chocolate ice cream into each done (one for me; one for my roomie) and we settled in for a true treat indeed.
As with any cone, it takes a moment to get down to it. First you have to devour the ice cream piled on top. I did that, lick-by-lick, savoring, and anticipating that cone. And when I got there…I discovered it was worth the wait. First of all, these cones did not get soggy. At all. They held their shape and their crunch as I worked my way through it. Second of all…the flavor was just as good, if not better, as the ice cream cones I grew up eating, at home or at the ice cream parlors. Honestly. And the best part is…these cones only set you back 12 calories. Yes. 12. Twelve. 1-2. They are fat free, sugar-free, gluten-free, and vegan! In other words…my dream ice cream cone.
They taste sweet without being too sweet. In fact, it is more of a compliment to the ice cream that is stuffed inside. The crunch is fantastic…not too soft and not too hard. But it adds that bit of texture to the ice cream experience. Man…I was one happy girl sitting on my couch enjoying a good old-fashioned vegan ice cream cone with vegan ice cream.
If the little things in life are what make people happy, then a simple gluten-free ice cream cone brought me one of the happiest moments of my life. And I had another one tonight. I’m not ashamed. In fact, I’m hooked. I don’t think I’ll ever not have ice cream cones in this house.
Thank you, Edward & Sons…for such a simple treat that even the gluten-intolerant can once again enjoy.
Edward & Sons Let’s Do…Gluten-Free Ice Cream Cone topped with So Delicious Dairy Free Chocolate Velvet Soy Milk Ice Cream
There is nothing more satisfying after a bad day then to treat yourself to something that might make it better. Some people turn to drinking. Not me. Nope.
When I have a bad day…I turn to chocolate. More often than not…chocolate ice cream.
But wait…I’m lactose intolerant.
It’s okay…because there is amazing, rich, decadent, smooth non-dairy ice creams out there. Sure, they cost a lot more than regular ice cream, but…they can be just as amazing. And it is really fun to play around with the base and check out the differences. I mean, there is ice cream made from almond milk, coconut milk, rice milk, soy milk, etc.
Well…it had been a bad day. I went for a run to work off some steam, clear my head, and came home for dinner. But I still felt wound up. What I needed was chocolate.
And thanks to a sale at my local grocery store a couple of weeks back, I just happened to have some So Delicious Dairy Free Chocolate Velvet Non-Dairy Frozen Dessert in my fridge. In other words…soy milk ice cream.
Now, I really enjoyed the So Delicious Dairy Free Neapolitan Ice Cream I tried awhile back, so I had an idea that this would live up to the “so delicious” part of the brand. Little did I know how much it would live up to it.
So Delicious Dairy Free Chocolate Velvet Soy Milk Ice Cream
Some women would blame the quickness of which I ate this on stress. Not me. I’ll be honest…while I was still stressed, despite a run and relaxing at dinner, one bite of the Chocolate Velvet and I was unstoppable. That was all it took. Hoovering now in process. My only saving grace was that I put it on a gluten-free ice cream cone (because bad days mean you get ice cream in a cone!), which meant I had to at least eat a little slower and savor it a little.
So, I did manage to do that. Here’s the thing…So Delicious can put that brand on their products because they always live up to it. In fact, I would wager to say that the Chocolate Velvet goes beyond being So Delicious into So Epically Mind Blowing Delicious. It’s rich. It’s smooth. And it has the same texture of ice cream. So, it’s like indulging in the stuff I crave…only better for me. Perhaps not calorie-wise (1/2 cup is 130 calories, and 3.5 grams of fat), but it’s far better than some decadent chocolate ice creams out there, which can top over 200 calories per 1/2 cup serving.
This soy-based non-dairy dessert tastes like a rich, sinful ice cream you would get at a parlor. It’s like frozen fudge…with all it’s creamy, chocolate taste. Yeah…I think I have a new favorite. Now, the difficult part will be not raiding my freezer when a chocolate craving hits. After all…it’s a dessert…a treat. I shall treat it as that.
As with many of So Delicious Dairy Free frozen treats, this non-dairy dessert is gluten-free, vegan and kosher. It is non-GMO certified and completely organic. It doesn’t taste or feel heavy. In fact, for an ice cream…it’s on the light side and after a meal, you want a light dessert just to cleanse the palate. This…is an ideal one.
If you are a chocoholic and want to try a new frozen dessert…try something out of the norm (or, like me, in the norm). Go dairy free and try on So Delicious for size. Honestly…once you taste the Chocolate Velvet…you’ll want to grab the quart and a spoon and go to town.
So Delicious Dairy Free Chocolate Velvet Soy Milk Ice Cream on an Edward & Sons Gluten-Free Ice Cream Cone
A food that I have ended up loving more and more as I’ve gotten older is squash. All squash. As is pretty evident from my blogs. I use it in a lot of things, dress it up different ways, and turn it into casseroles, soups, etc. The possibilities are endless.
Even more so with the advent of Pinterest. For real. I can spend hours on Pinterest. It’s crazy-ridiculous what I find on there and I file away to revisit and even attempt to make. This rarely happens…but I have it saved…just in case.
However, when my CSA bin arrived with a spaghetti squash last week, I knew just the recipe I needed to make. I pinned this one awhile back, compliments of Whole Foods. I had most of the ingredients as it was either in my fridge, on my counter, or in my pantry. All I needed were some Serrano chilies and a red pepper to make it. Epic win. And this…was just as good as I hoped it would be. Not spicy at all…at least not for me.
1 jalapeño chili, seeded, minced (I used 2.5 Serrano chilies instead)
1/2 cup red pepper, chopped
1 cup black beans, rinsed and drained well
1/2 cup sweet corn, frozen or fresh (I used fresh)
1 teaspoon chili powder
All of the reserved cooked squash, about 4 cups
1/3 cup cilantro, minced (optional)
1 tablespoon lime juice
1 teaspoon sea salt
Directions:
Roast squash in a 375°F oven for 50 minutes until tender or cut squash in half and place in a microwave dish with 1/2 inch of water, lightly covered with plastic wrap for 20 minutes on high until tender. Cool. When cool, scoop flesh from squash halves leaving the shell intact for stuffing.
For the filling, heat oil in a large pan and sauté red onion, chili pepper(s) and red pepper for 2 minutes. Add beans, corn and chili powder; sauté 1 minute longer. Add cooked squash, cilantro, lime juice and salt, cook 1 minute until heated through.
Fill squash halves with filling, mounding mixture in the center.
Serve.
~*~*~
This was really good and really filling. It could easily feed 4 people, although my roommate and I just ended up eating half each. Loaded with protein (13 grams) and low in calories (292 calories for half the recipe), this makes for a delicious, easy meal for any night of the week. Can’t eat both halves? No problem. Wrap up the other half in plastic wrap, place in refrigerator, and simply reheat in the microwave. It’s that easy.
And yes…this was an epic yum. I’ll probably make it a bit spicier next time. My roommate doesn’t like too much spice…so we keep it milder whenever I cook up “spicy” recipes. Play around with it to your liking.
It was a manager’s special at my local grocery store that compelled me to pick up these frozen treats as a dessert option. One thing that caught my attention immediately was the 6 grams of protein boasted about on the box. As a gluten-free vegetarian…protein is important to me. And Greek yogurt is often packed with it. Turn that Greek yogurt into a frozen yogurt bar and…the potential for deliciousness is elevated.
With these yogurt bars, you get one nutrition packed dessert. That’s another great thing about these bars. For one thing, these rather large frozen bars pack only 70 calories and, as mentioned before, 6 grams of protein. They are all gluten-free, fat-free, and all natural. The dairy portion is made with rBST-free milk. This makes these bars an amazing source of calcium. In addition, these are kosher certified and contain no corn syrup. How is that for some accolades?
As for the name? Yasso is derived from the Greek word Yassou, which means “hello.”
Yasso Raspberry Frozen Greek Yogurt Bar (wrapped)
The only flavor available on manager’s special at the grocery store was the Raspberry flavor. While raspberry isn’t my roommate’s favorite, we both decided that these would certainly be worth a try. So…we put them in our cart, checked out, and placed them in our freezer.
After working through some of the desserts ahead of these, we finally cracked these open yesterday to try.
These bars are actually a really good size for an ice cream treat. Honestly. Most of the time a 70 calorie treat is itty-bitty. Not these. These were the size of a regular ice cream bar, but these are enjoyed without any guilt. I mean…did you take in all those nutrition stats I listed above? The flavor is all there. And the thickness of the Greek yogurt is prevalent without. But all this meant to me was that I got to savor the frozen treat a little longer. And that’s what I did.
Nothing wrong with savoring that sweet treat at the end of the meal for a little longer, right? These are available in three flavors: Raspberry, Strawberry, and Blueberry.
I enjoyed the taste of these bars. The thick Greek yogurt makes an amazing frozen treat and the raspberry flavor is the star. It really tastes like raspberry. I was blown away. And no funky Greek yogurt aftertaste either.
If I’m craving something sweet without the guilt…I would totally pick these up again. Highly recommended if you are looking for a nice treat to beat the heat…without losing that bathing suit body!
Yasso Raspberry Frozen Greek Yogurt Bar (unwrapped)
Restaurant: Patachou On The Park, Indianapolis, Indiana
What’s my favorite meal of the day?
That’s right, friend’s. It’s breakfast! I love, love, love breakfast.
So, on the morning after my half marathon, I woke up in Indianapolis and was ready for a good breakfast. Cathy had done some research on great places to grab either breakfast or brunch that would have some options for me and stumbled across Patachou On The Park via Find Me Gluten Free. It had some really great reviews, so we decided that we would give this place a try before checking out of the hotel and making our way home.
We were there right when they opened on Sunday morning at 8 a.m. We entered and were told to take a seat wherever we liked. We chose a corner table with a long bench on one side that shared with other tables along that line, and a chair on the other. We settled in with the menu and soon or waitress came over to see what we wanted to eat. She said that they had a self-serve coffee bar if that was what we wanted, but both Cathy and I chose to get some caffeine through Diet Coke ($1.95…and served in the can) and water.
While she was there, we mentioned that I was medically gluten-free and she asked about the level of my intolerance just so she could be clear. We went over the restrictions with her and she seemed confident that they could provide a safe meal for me. And mentioned that they did serve Udi’s Gluten-Free Bread. Do you know what this meant? This meant that I didn’t have to just have an omelet. Now, I love a good omelet, but it seems like that’s always my go-to and these brunch places, as most don’t have gluten-free bread, gluten-free pancakes, gluten-free waffles, or gluten-free anything besides eggs. So, this was a nice change of pace.
That being the case, when it came time to order, both Cathy and I opted to go with the Broken Yolk Sandwiches, as they were items we couldn’t just get anywhere else. Omelets we could do anywhere with the fixings that were offered…but these were different. What is a Broken Yolk Sandwich? It’s two fried eggs, served runny unless you request otherwise, topped with whatever option you choose from the menu on the bread of choice. They have quite a list of them.
Cathy chose to get the Broken Yolk Sandwich with Bacon ($10.25), which consisted of two fried eggs, cheddar cheese and Indiana
bacon. For her toast, she chose sourdough…a fantastic choice for a breakfast sandwich.
As for me, I went with the plain Broken Yolk Sandwich ($9.75), which consists of two fried eggs and cheddar cheese. Naturally, I ordered mine on gluten-free bread (+$1.50). It was really the only one that was vegetarian without removing ingredients from the sandwich, which could mess with the integrity of the flavor. I was okay with this though. It sounded delicious.
Both Cathy and I opted for the fruit bowl as our side instead of a small salad. After all…who does salad for breakfast?
Shortly after the orders went in, our waitress was coming to the table with our plates of food. I must admit…the plates look fantastic. The sandwich looked amazing and filling. And it was.
The gluten-free bread that they use at Patachou On The Park is Udi’s Gluten-Free Bread. I hate that they charge more for gluten-free bread. There are so many places that graciously just offer it without the up-charge, but I, as a gluten-free consumer knows that gluten-free bread costs more than regular breads so…that’s why the up-charge is often there. It just…sucks.
Not quite sure how to eat it, I opted for the fork and knife approach. With the runny eggs, I knew it would be messy, and this actually proved to be a good option. Cathy was actually able to pick hers up to eat. Sourdough is a much sturdier bread than gluten-free bread and while mine ended up soggy, hers held together really well.
So, if you eat here…I recommend fork and knife for the gluten-free Broken Yolk Sandwich option. Trust me. It’s the best way to eat it. Each bite was awesome. Egg, bread, cheese…three of my favorite things. And not one bite lacked any of this. I even was able to give mine a little kick with a dash of Sriracha, because I love heat with my eggs regardless of how I am eating them. It was a really great combination.
As for the fruit bowl, there was quite the variety. Very ripe and sweet pineapple, peeled oranges (I appreciated this as most places leave the peel on and it’s just awkward), strawberries, blueberries, grapes. All perfectly sweet and at the right level of ripeness. I liked it. I love it when my fruit is ripe.
Overall…the food was great…it tasted fantastic. It was fresh, made in house with local products, and really delicious. My one problem with Patachou on the Park was the price. The two breakfast sandwiches and the Diet Coke cans set us back nearly $30. For breakfast!!! Now, I’ve spent that kind of money at breakfast/brunch places, but I typically get potatoes with my meal in addition to the fruit and the egg dish. So, do be prepared to pay a lot for your meal here. The food is great, so it is worth the price, but it did give me a bit of sticker shock.
It was definitely worth the visit to give the food a try, but I think next time I’ll seek out somewhere with more affordable prices and equally as good food. They exist all over Indianapolis. I wasn’t at all disappointed with the food…just the cost.
But…you do get what you pay for. And I did get good food. Bottom line…that’s the important thing.
Patachou On The Park’s Broken Yolk Sandwich on Gluten-Free Bread
I almost backed out of going to this amazing Mexican restaurant on account of not feeling well due to dehydration brought on from a red flagged half marathon that morning. I wasn’t feeling good all day and I wasn’t sure how well my stomach would handle Mexican food being fed to it after the abuse I put it through just to get through the race.
In the end, however, I am glad I decided to go. And for the record…I actually was hungry when I stepped into the restaurant with my roomie and actually could smell the authentic Mexican cuisine as other diners enjoyed their meals. Yeah…Cathy made a good choice when she set up reservations for this restaurant prior to the race.
What made her choose this over say…the place up the way with gluten-free pizza? The answer was quite simple. Adobo Grill in Indianapolis had rave reviews on Find Me Gluten Free’s Web site. And with that sort of piece of mind, we both knew that this would at least be a decent dining experience if nothing else. The food, my friends, aside from the safety and the way gluten-free options were handled, was the highlight.
Upon entering the restaurant, we were greeted by a hostess who took us to a nice booth in a dimly lit dining room. The entire restaurant was decorated in warm colors, reds and oranges especially, which are said to stimulate appetite. It was working. I was…for the first time all day…actually a little hungry. We were left menus and our server came to our table to pour us some water and see if we wanted anything else to drink. As I still felt dehydrated, I stuck purely with the water. So did Cathy.
Then, we mentioned that I was medically gluten-free and the waiter said he would take my menu and return with one specifically for me. Yes…their gluten-free menu. I absolutely love when places have menus specifically for those who need to eat gluten-free. It really puts my mind to ease to some extent. What was even better was that this menu had more than just a few selections on them and many of the options were vegetarian.
Happy dance of joy. The waiter gave me another moment to look over the options and I finally made my decision.
Adobo Grill’s Guacamole (prepared table side)
First of all, both Cathy and I decided to split an appetizer of the Guacamole ($7.99). What makes this guacamole a must-have is that it is prepared table side. Yes. It is made right before your very eyes. You see everything that goes into it. No need to question how it is made or anything. And it was so much fun to see the woman roll the cart over with all the makings and a stone bowl. She asked us how hot we wanted our guacamole. Cathy said I like hot and she likes mild, so we’d settle on a medium. The very gracious server nodded and began the art of table side guacamole preparation. The best part was at the end, when she speedily sliced an avocado in half, hit the pit with the knife to remove it, then scooped it into the bowl with the rest of the fixings and…mashed it all together. Then it was set on the table and we were left with our chips and ready to enjoy. I spooned up a helping onto my plate and took a bite.
Rich. Creamy. Packed with flavor. I loved the hit of lime juice which would follow up each bite. It was one of the more delicious guacamoles that I have eaten. I didn’t find it to pack any heat at all, which was good for Cathy…but I do like a bit of heat with mine. But that was not an issue as the flavors were all there and none of them overpowered the rest. I could taste everything. I loved the chunkiness of the texture and how amazing it tasted when it all came together. Love at first bite.
Adobo Grill’s Enchiladas de Calabaza
For my entree, I chose the Enchiladas de Calabaza ($14.99). It’s their vegetarian enchilada option on the menu. Enchiladas just sounded like the perfect meal that night. And now that my stomach wasn’t feeling so…blah…I was ready for something of actual sustenance. The Enchiladas de Calabaza are corn tortillas packed with roasted butternut squash & mushrooms and then coated in creamy tomatillo salsa with cheese & red onion on top. Sour cream usually accompanies this, but I’ve never been a fan so I asked that they not include it. It came with a side of black beans. A large serving of black beans to be exact. But, I figured after the race…the protein was much needed.
Yummy. No. Really, really yummy! What I loved about this enchilada was the various flavors that came out of each bite. The butternut squash was sweet, but paired so well with the umami, earthly flavors of the mushrooms. The sauce, the corn, the onion…the pico de gallo and the cheese all brought it together. And when I would scoop up a bite with some of the seasoned and creamy black beans…it was magic. Honestly. I loved the fantastic, savory flavors that would emerge with each bite. I was in love with this meal and devoured it all. Dehydration and upset stomach be damned…this was fantastic food, bite-for-bite, and I was hungry for more.
For the record, Cathy enjoyed her Enchiladas de Mariscos, which are enchiladas filled with shrimp, tilapia, grilled peppers, corn and cheese and basted in fresh corn-chipotle salsa. She also nixed the sour cream, but it came with the pico de gallo, a side of Mexican rice and a side of black beans ($14.99)
Well…I was actually quite full, but figured I needed something to celebrate with. So when our server returned, Cathy and I inquired as to what would be gluten-free on the dessert menu. The server said the Chocolate Tamal would be without the cookie/cake part. But he would check on the rest. When he returned, he said the Flan was gluten-free and Ice Cream was gluten-free.
Instead of sharing a dessert, Cathy and I decided we’d each order one. I got the Flan ($4.99), which is a traditional vanilla custard with caramel sauce. Cathy got the Chocolate Tamal ($5.99), which we thought would be done gluten-free, but it came out regular for her. So I didn’t get to sample it. But it looked fantastic…sort of a chocolate cake/cookie wrapped like a tamale and served with vanilla bean ice cream, chocolate sauce and dried cranberries.
This was the first time I ever had Flan. And I was really impressed with it. It felt light, despite being a custard. The caramel sauce didn’t take away from the vanilla flavor. It was used as more of a topping and garnish than anything. And…there was a strawberry on top…which, naturally I saved for the very last bite. I was full when I finished eating. Stuffed, really. But I found this meal to be well worth going to that extreme. I don’t eat like that often, but my appetite was back with a vengeance and it was time to really celebrate getting through that difficult race.
Sure…the meal was pricey. But we were eating in the heart of downtown Indianapolis. It’s going to be pricey. The important thing was I was able to eat there without feeling ill afterwards. They took my gluten intolerance very seriously and provided me with a fantastic, safe dinner. And after the rough day I had, it was just what I needed. I felt full, but great as I meandered out the door after dinner and back to the hotel.
Would I return to Adobo Grill next time I’m in Indianapolis? In a heartbeat. Highly recommended for those who can’t have gluten…and for those who can. As both my roomie and I enjoyed our meals and raved about them the entire time we were eating. Authentic Mexican food done authentically right and to perfection. Yeah…I’d eat there again. No problem.
Jolly Llama Banana Coconut Real Fruit Sorbet Squeezups
Product: Jolly Llama Banana Coconut Real Fruit Sorbet Squeezeups – $4.99+
I’m going to be honest…what really caught my eye at the natural food store with this product was the name: Jolly Llama. Why? Well, my roommate, Cathy, is nicknamed Llama, so it sort of stood up and waved as if to say, “Take me home!” The only flavor lurking in the freezer section was banana coconut. Now…I’m nuts over banana…but coconut…it usually needs to be mixed in with something before I can truly enjoy it. I figured…it’s a frozen goodie…I’ll deal.
Besides…the company that makes them is named Jolly Llama.
Banana Coconut just happens to be one of the newest flavors in the Jolly Llama line-up of real fruit sorbet squeezeups. Other flavors include mango, blueberry, strawberry, raspberry, and the other new flavor on the block – peach. All of these fruity frozen goodies are fat free, save for the banana coconut, which has naturally occurring fat in the fresh ingredients.
Oh…yes…there is that little bit too. Every ingredient that goes into these sorbet squeezeups are made with only the healthiest, highest quality ingredients. It’s the belief of the founder, Scott Jacobson, that desserts don’t have to be loaded down with ingredients that are unhealthy or not up-to-par. A quick inspection of the ingredients in the banana coconut variety shows this. You don’t question anything listed on the box. Natural. And that’s how I like my treats.
Jolly Llama Banana Coconut Real Fruit Sorbet Squeezeup
In addition, these frozen goodies from Jolly Llama are allergen free, fat free (save for the naturally occurring fat in the banana coconut), dairy free, non-GMO certified, kosher, and have no artificial ingredients. How can you go wrong with that?
Well, tonight I found out that there really isn’t a way to go wrong with that combination. When I opened up this pack after dinner tonight for dessert, my roommate and I were both a little nervous. Not because we didn’t think it was a good product. It was the flavor we had. With no other option, and neither of us too big of a fan of coconut…we weren’t quite sure what to expect.
Let me tell you this…expect the best because that’s what these sorbet squeezeups deliver. Honestly. The banana coconut version tastes like a frozen banana. It was so delicious. I was in pure heaven, as bananas are one of my favorite fruits out there. The coconut isn’t even really in the flavor at all. This is made to perfection too. It’s cold without freezing your entire mouth off. This means you can easily bite into it without setting off those sensitive teeth. Love that.
If you are a big fruit lover…I highly recommend checking out your grocer’s freezer section for Jolly Llama. I found mine at our natural food store, but I’ve also seen them at Whole Foods. So, that is a good place to start. And, honestly, when your dessert is made from fresh fruit and sugar levels come from the fruits and the evaporated cane juice…well it makes your dessert or treat feel that much better for you. I say indulge in these and try every flavor possible. I hope to find more flavors to try…but I’ll never, ever turn down one of the banana coconut ones. Very delicious. For the record…there are four in a box. So…savor…and enjoy.
Jolly Llama Banana Coconut Real Fruit Sorbet Squeezeup
Galaxy National Foods Mozzarella Flavor Rice Shreds
Product: Galaxy National Foods Mozzarella Flavor Rice Shreds – $4.69+
Normally, when it comes to non-dairy cheese, I don’t reach for the rice-based variety that are out there. I normally go for Daiya or Veggie Shreds. However…on this occasion, I specifically needed non-dairy mozzarella for a recipe…and the only variety the store I was in had was Galaxy National Foods Mozzarella Flavor Rice Shreds.
So, what’s the difference between Rice Shreds and Veggie Shreds (both made by Galaxy National Foods)? The answer is simple. Veggie Shreds are soy-based. Rice Shreds are rice-based. See…it really is that simple.
I was actually a bit unhappy when I had to buy these, but I didn’t want to make another stop when I was out grocery shopping. I already go to enough stores as it is and I was making a conscious effort to not do that for once. So, I went with what was on hand and just hoped for the best.
Tonight, I cooked up some gluten-free, vegetarian meatballs in a tomato sauce to put on gluten-free sandwich bread…and I decided to break out the Rice Shreds and see how they went with my homemade veggie “meat”ball sammie.
I tasted a pinch of the Mozzarella Flavor Rice Shreds on their own. And, surprisingly enough, I found they tasted a lot more like mozzarella cheese than I expected. So, that was a good start. With a little sprinkling of the rice shreds onto my vegetarian sandwich, I tossed it into the microwave for 30 seconds, not expecting much of a melt to happen.
I was presently surprised when the microwave beeped and I removed the plate. The cheese had actually melted down. Better than Daiya and Veggie Shreds. I was impressed. And it tasted really good. Sometimes the non-dairy variety can have a bit of a plastic flavor to them. But not these. These were soft, and flavorful. I was beyond impressed.
What’s more, these are a fantastic source of calcium and contain no cholesterol, trans fat or lactose. YAY! I’d even be willing to say I’d try the other flavors available in the Rice Shreds line. And actually might even try the Rice Slices to see how they compare to the Veggie Slices I use in my gluten-free grilled cheese.
Yeah…I was pretty surprised and quite happily impressed. I can’t wait to top off a pizza with these!
A vegetarian “meat”ball sandwich topped with Mozzarella Flavor Rice Shreds
The Celiathlete 