I have a weakness for new companies and new products that I haven’t seen before. Yes…I admit this freely. Completely. I have a gluten-free product problem. I just can’t resist the urge to buy a product when I see it on a shelf at a store…that I have never, ever seen before.
Such was the case when I went into World Market a couple months back. I was just there to look around. Yep. Just browse. Which, as we have discovered, is dangerous ground for me. Because I normally find something and…yes…purchase it.
And that’s what happened.
There was a beautiful endcap at my local World Market store that contained quite a few gluten-free products. Most of which I had tried. But one simple white box with a tartan border did catch my eye. I had never seen it before. And the company, Heartland Gourmet, was one I never heard of before. But…even better…this particular box was for a Gluten-Free Lemon Cupcake Mix. Mmmm…lemon cake. One of life’s best pleasures is that sweet/tart flavor of lemon baked goods. Hence my obsession with lemon bars, lemon icing, lemonade (LOL!). If it’s lemony…I’m going to try it.
Needless to say…I go a little overboard with baking mixes at times…so this, like a lot of things, sat untouched in my pantry. Until I noted on my ever-helpful pantry list that the expiration date was fast approaching. As I had just polished off my gluten-free brownies last night, I took the opportunity to grab this mix and bake up another sweet treat for this coming week and weekend. And with something lemon…how could it go wrong?
One of the most appealing parts of this mix is how little you truly have to do to it. All I had to do was mix the cupcake mix together with 1/2 cup of oil and 1/3 cup of water. Then, after that is blended on low, in goes three eggs. Mix again until all is well blended, this time on medium, and then put into cupcake pan. Now, the box says this makes 12 cupcakes, but I could have easily gotten 15-18 out of this. Instead, my cupcakes were going to be huge. but…you know…you only live once. I filled my wrappers as full as I dared, then ended up pulling out another pan and putting the rest into one more cupcake wrapper and baking the ‘test cupcake’ that the roomie and I would share.
Heartland Gourmet Gluten-Free Lemon Cupcakes fresh from the oven
Into the oven they went for 15 minutes at 350°F. Or…that was the plan. Lo and behold, upon purchasing a thermometer for my oven, I discovered that it won’t stay at a constant temperature. In fact…it can be off by as much as 15-20 degrees at times. And that explains why so many of my baked goods have had to cook for so much longer than the boxes have indicated. Good to know. I actually called my landlord this morning to see about having this fixed. Here’s hoping it happens. So, after a total time of 25 minutes (not the mix’s fault…totally my oven’s fault), I pulled out the cupcakes to give them a little time to cool.
The box actually does come with a recipe for a cream cheese icing…but I’m not big on icing or frosting, so I made a citrus glaze, utilizing powdered sugar, orange zest, orange juice, lemon juice, a little oil, and some water. Then, before my cupcakes could completely cool, I drizzled each cupcake with the glaze and allowed it to sit. Well…except for the test cupcake. That was unwrapped and drizzled with glaze almost immediately. Then, sliced in half and my roommate and I decided to see if this mix was worth it in the end.
Read my words, fellow blog followers…THIS. IS. DELICIOUS.
The lemon in the cupcakes is there…but it doesn’t overwhelm the flavor of the cake. It doesn’t take a backseat either. What Heartland Gourmet managed to do was create the ideal balance between the cake-ness and the lemony aspect of this mix…so when it bakes up…it has the perfect level of each. Nothing overwhelms the other.
And here’s another amazing thing…this cupcake isn’t heavy or dense or any of that gluten-free nonsense. Not only was this one of the lightest cakes I have ever had emerge from my oven, it had those little air pockets that regular cupcakes have when they are cooked to an airy, light perfection. I loved that about these cupcakes because after eating a meal, I want a light dessert, not something that I feel I am gorging on. And this definitely takes…the cake. (Forgive me!)
Nutritionally speaking, this mix has it going on. For one thing, the mix itself, when done into 12 large cupcakes, is only 170 calories. That’s awesome for a treat. I also love that this product is fat free and packs a 2 gram protein kick. And this mix also is low on sodium. Remember…this is a cupcake, so while sugars seem high…it’s a treat and should be recognized as one.
As for the company itself, Heartland Gourmet is actually a family operated business is dedicated to putting healthy, wholesome, delicious gluten-free, gourmet and organic baking mixes and kits into the market so that they are simple to put together and easy to bake, giving you more time with your family. You gotta love that sort of commitment and dedication. And I always enjoy helping out a family owned business. They just seem to put more attention and better things into their ingredients and products.
So, a kick of lemon, glazed with a sweet and tart glaze on a light and fluffy cupcake…yeah…this is heaven. Heaven in lemon cupcake form. And I have Heartland Gourmet to thank for it.
Gluten-Free Lemon Cupcake with an Orange Citrus Glaze (made from Heartland Gourmet Gluten-Free Lemon Cupcake Mix)
Product: Love Grown Foods Simply Oats Oat Clusters – $4.99+
Love Grown Foods…you are truly amazing. Your foods are obviously baked and created with love because it shines through in even the most simplest of products that you offer. I don’t know what else to say except…BRAVO.
And…
I LOVE YOU.
And it doesn’t get much more tasty or a simple as your Simply Oats oat clusters. Honestly…this is simple, easy, very pure without any additions. No nuts, no fruit…but all the flavor. I don’t even miss them. Not one bit. And another huge deal is that you use honey and agave to sweeten this product, not the refined sugars or artificial sweeteners that most other brands offer. Not. A. Fan.
One thing I vowed to do as my dietary needs have changed (having to go dairy-free and gluten-free as of 2 years ago) was to pay closer attention to the foods that I buy and the actual ingredients that go into them. I started this before I had to change my diet, doing my best to cut out anything that included high fructose corn syrup and hydrogenated oils. BLECH! It was a small goal, but it did get me into the habit of really looking at the information that companies put on the packaging and exactly what it is that I am putting into my body.
Now, with the dietary restrictions…reading labels is a must.
So, imagine how much less stressful and how much easier it is to know of a company and brand that I can simply pluck from the shelf at the grocery store and know…for absolutely certain…that what I am getting is made with natural ingredients and will definitely fit into my needs.
Love Grown Foods Simply Oats Oat Clusters
That’s Love Grown Foods. And I have to say, I didn’t have high hopes for the Simply Oats variety of their granola…but it wowed me. At first bite…I was wowed. This doesn’t happen normally. I normally need some nuttiness or fruitiness to accompany my granola…despite adding it to yogurt and berries. This one, I would eat on its own…in a flippin’ heartbeat. Honestly. I don’t need the yogurt. I don’t need the fruit. I just love the savory, sweet flavor these oat clusters have. On their own. Without added sugars or preservatives.
Love goes into these products. True love.
The granola is gluten-free and produced in a dedicated gluten-free facility. Love that. That takes a lot of guesswork out as well. And it means I can trust the gluten-free label that comes with these. As for ingredients…simple, but delicious: Certified gluten-free oats, honey, organic agave syrup, canola oil, sunflower seeds, pure vanilla, milled flaxseed, cinnamon, and sea salt. That’s it. Nine simple ingredients. Nothing chemical about it. Just simple goodness in a simple, unassuming package. And that’s the magic of these products.
Even better is how good they are for you. Nutritionally speaking, a serving is 1/4 cup (or 30 grams). In this simple serving, you get served up only 130 calories and 4.5 grams of fat. Sodium content is crazy low, a serving of Simply Oats granola only having only 35 mgs. This also provides 3 grams of protein and cuts back on sugars that most granola are loaded with. This 1/4 cup serving…only 7 grams of sugar. How amazing is that?! And you don’t even miss it. These stand alone and provide such a great burst of flavor you don’t needed added sugars and artificial sweeteners. They are amazing on their own.
Unprocessed, organic goodness in a simple breakfast or snack…you better believe I’m all over that. Don’t let the name lead you to believe that these are not anything but simple. The complex flavors and amazing taste proves that even if these are Simply Oats…they are still simply delicious. And what more could you ask?
Breakfast Blueberry Parfait with Chobani Fat Free Vanilla Greek Yogurt and Love Grown Foods Simply Oats Oat Clusters
It’s that time of year when everyone is getting into the Mardi Gras spirit. King Cakes are being baked, brought into office/home, and consumed. Cajun food is a big, big thing. And it lasts…all the way through Mardi Gras.
But most Cajun food is very sausage and seafood heavy. And for someone like me…a gluten-free vegetarian, that’s not a good thing. Especially since…I love Cajun food. Red beans and rice…heck yeah! Gumbo…bring it! Jambalaya…oh yeah. Loved it all. And ate plenty of it prior to becoming a vegetarian.
Some Cajun food does happen to be vegetarian friendly. Some is even gluten-free friendly. But finding a combination of the two isn’t easy. Especially out in the wild.
So, with the upcoming Fat Tuesday falling tomorrow, I took a recipe from Top Chef alumni (and fan favorite) Fabio Viviani and made a few changes to it in order to truly make it gluten-free and vegan. And I cooked this all up on Sunday night for dinner…and it made enough for my roommate and I to dine on it all the way through Fat Tuesday. Gotta love that.
Below is the recipe with my modifications. What emerges is a delicious dish and meal that will satisfy even the most savvy Cajun carnivore. I hope to make it again sometime soon.
KIND Plus Cranberry Almond + Antioxidants Snack Bar
Product: KIND Plus Cranberry Almond + Antioxidants Snack Bar – $1.99+
When you think cranberries…you think big, bold, tart flavor, yes? I know I do. Trust me…I’ve eaten my fair share of things with cranberry in them. Even got some fresh cranberries in my CSA bin around Thanksgiving this year and turned them into a fantastic dessert. So…cranberries don’t scare me off. I know they can bring a lot to a dish if utilized properly.
But, that is where I feel something went wrong in this variety of the KIND Plus Snack Bar.
I already had my doubts. Because, while I eat cranberries…they aren’t my most favorite thing in the world. In small doses, yes…that’s fine. But, here…they were sharing the show with almonds…but when you gaze at the bar, you see lots of the sticky redness that would be the cranberries that make up this snack.
I figured, however, I would put my preconceptions of the bar on hold and allow it to speak for itself.
And it had its chance on Sunday…when I tore into it prior to a 9 mile long run for training. I split this in half with my roommate, because I always value her opinion and we were going for brekkies after I ran…so it would be a light breakfast for both of us, but still give me enough energy to at least get through 9 miles of indoor running hell (it was raining…so it was dreadmill (treadmill) and track time for me!). BAH!
So, before my first bite, this bar did have some things going for it. For one thing…the addition of antioxidants, brought about by the inclusion of numerous vitamins (A, C, & E…of which I think would come from the cranberries. In fact, KIND’s Web site claims that this bar contains 50% of the recommended daily intake of these three vitamins, which help fight free radicals and help maintain the immune system and healthy skin. Well…that is, indeed, a plus.
Aside from that, this KIND Plus bar is a blend of almonds, dried cranberries, macadamias, honey, non-GMO glucose, crisp rice, chicory root fiber, and sunflower oil. I mean…that doesn’t sound offensive at all. And, in fact, my co-worker ate this one the other day. She said it was pretty good, and she doesn’t like cranberries…but also said…it wasn’t that great and that she wouldn’t get it again if given the option.
So, Sunday morning, I had my own taste.
And I agree with my co-worker.
I really, really wanted to like this one. I mean, my co-worker and I spent good money on this box…I want to like every bar inside of it. But the fact of the matter was…this one was just…bland. Yes! BLAND! A bar with cranberries in it…was bland. The flavor was totally lacking, which was a huge disappointment for me. If I am eating something, I want to taste every component of it. But I didn’t get much of anything with this one.
And, unlike the previous one I had the day before, this one was very sticky and chewy, which is okay…but I prefer to be able to hold it without needing a napkin or a good wash of my fingers afterwards. Just sayin’.
With all of this in mind, let’s give a little nutritional walk through of this bar. An entire bar only serves up 190 calories, so it’s great for a snack of quick on-the-go breakfast. The bar contains 13 grams of fat, which most of which would come from the nuts…so at least it is the healthy kind. With the inclusion of the nuts, you also get a fair amount of fiber (3 grams) and protein (4 grams), which helps your body feel full. And, for being a snack bar, the sodium level is low, sitting pretty at 25 mgs. With only 11 grams of sugar, this really is a healthier choice than many of the snack bars out there.
It’s just…lacking in the flavor aspect. And if something doesn’t wow me at first taste…I’m not going to bother with it again.
So, from the KIND box…I’ve had one bar that I’ve really enjoyed and one that I’ve not enjoyed. So…we’re half and half so far.
If you like cranberries…this bar might be for you. I’m not a huge fan of cranberries, but I do eat them…and surprisingly, it was the lack of cranberry flavor that I disliked most. Where I expected tart…I got sweet…and not even enough of that to really satisfy. I know there are always bound to be flavor duds in a combo pack. Sadly, for me, it was the KIND Plus Cranberry Almond + Antioxidants Snack Bar. Disappointed? Totally. And definitely not going to seek this one out to buy on its own.
KIND Plus Cranberry Almond + Antioxidants Snack Bar (unwrapped)
Me crossing the finish line of the Snowman Shuffle – Louisville, Kentucky
Race: Snowman Shuffle
Place: Louisville, KY
Date: February 9, 2013
Time:27:00*
Yes. That’s another asterisk. Another proud moment that was made…a little less proud…by the simple fact that the race course was measured wrong. I’m not saying I’m not proud of my accomplishment(s) in this race. Not at all. But it just seems a little…less…amazing when someone says, “Whoops…that wasn’t quite 4 miles.”
But, at least the race sponsors and those who put it on are being honest. The course was to be the 4 mile course of the Snowman Shuffle, part of the Polar Bear Grand Prix, in Louisville, Kentucky. This is the last of the three-part race series and it runs over the hills of Cherokee Park. The scenic loop at Cherokee can be intimidating on its own, tack on just under 2 more miles to it…and it can seem like a huge challenge.
And, if you read my post prior to this one, you’ll know that…I was not feeling too good about this race. Nor was I even looking forward to running it.
(*INSERT WHINY RUNNER MOMENT HERE, COMPLETE WITH FOOT STOMP*)
It doesn’t make it any easier to get out of bed on race morning when you really don’t feel like running in that race. And I’m still not certain what brought on that mentality or that feeling, but, come race morning, I pried my sorry runner’s butt out of bed and started to get dressed for the race. I knew it was going to be chilly out…but I really didn’t want to mess with layers. So, I got out my red Nike fleece top that I bought before the Louisville Sports Commission Half Marathon and donned that, along with my compression tights and some nice wool running socks to keep my feet warm. I chose some rainbow hair extensions to wear in an attempt to brighten my mood…and then, after trying to choose what headband to wear…I finally went with the one my roommate suggested the night before but I flat out turned down. It reads: Vanquish the weak. Hurdle the dead. Arrive TRIUMPHANT. I don’t know why I decided to go with it…but I did.
Now dressed, I spent my morning getting the rest of the stuff prepped for the day. As with most Saturdays, it was going to be a busy one before and after the race. So, I put dishes away, got my change of clothes and shoes together, got breakfast ready, started a pot of coffee, and opened the front door to step outside and confirm that it was, indeed, face-numbing cold out there.
My roommate’s alarm clock actually went off 5 minutes earlier than she told me it was going to, so I wasn’t prepared. This meant I now scurried back to the kitchen to get her cup of coffee poured, because she has to drink everything at room temperature. Too cold, she hates it. Too hot, she hates it. So…yeah. Picky does not even begin to describe her when it comes to a temperature level on her food. I pick on her all the time about it. I got the vitamins for the day sorted and placed on the table. Then got milk into her cereal and almond milk into my gluten-free cereal. And I settled in for a quick nibble on brekkies. And I mean quick. The goal was to get to Cherokee Park by 8 a.m. And I was going to run the garbage down to the dumpster before leaving, still had to brush my teeth, and needed to drink my own coffee (which I prefer hot…thank you very much). So…I managed to do all of that while she finished up her coffee. Including running the sack of garbage down, to which I realized that my car had frost on the window.
UGH!
Kicking it into high gear, I hurried back into my room to use the bathroom and brush my teeth. I swished mouthwash around while I zipped up the bag with my change of clothes in it. And then made sure I had the KIND bar that she and I were going to split about an hour before the race. I know from past experience if I don’t eat something about 45 minutes to an hour before the race, I’m usually famished at the start or about halfway through. I’ve started taking steps to avoid having that happen. We hurried down to the car, where I proceeded to scrape frost off all the windows. Then I hopped inside and we began to make the trek over the river to Cherokee Park.
The start of the race was up at Hogan’s Fountain. That’s normally where races at Cherokee Park start, although sometimes they change it up (like for the Frostbite 5K) and start at the rugby field. I prefer the rugby field because we knock out all the hills within the first two miles. But…I hate hills…so that’s my entire reasoning behind that. So, we made it through the winding road that runs the Scenic Loop of Cherokee Park and actually managed to find parking that wasn’t too far away. We were lucky. The area began to fill up fast.
As we got out of the car and tossed a few belongings into the trunk, I opened up the KIND Bar, because it was now time to finish breakfast, and broke it in half and we both devoured it as we made our way to packet pick-up. I was already unhappy and miserable in the cold, but I put on a happy face and greeted the kind volunteers who were helping with packet pick-up. They handed me my number and my backpack and I grabbed some safety pins. I was number 2900 for this race. Awesome.
And instead of standing around under the shelter to pin up and hang out…my roomie and I high-tailed it back to the car to sit in the heat for a little bit. Why? Because, as I said before, I. HATE. THE. COLD.
So, sitting in the car with the heater going at least made it tolerable. We watched as many running groups ran around the Scenic Loop prior to the race. We even saw a few people running some hills with race numbers on. I hear that short runs do a body good before short races in warming up muscles, but I didn’t want to expend energy that I didn’t need to before hitting the hills at Cherokee Park. So, I sat comfortably in my warm car and that was that.
Until about 15 minutes before the start of the race. My roommate said it was time to get my number pinned on and head up to the start line and stretch out. She was right. When the weather is cold, stretching is vital. Muscles that are cold and un-stretched when engaged in running can lead to injury. So, as one of my goals is to be injury free this year…stretching had to happen whether I felt like doing it or not. So, Cathy pinned my number on me and we hiked back toward Hogan’s Fountain, passing by Dawn and Matthew along the way and exchanging brief greetings.
I actually did get some stretching in. Good stretching…not my usual ‘I’m too cold to really stretch so I’ll just half-ass this’ kind of stretching. I really wanted to get my leg muscles warmed up. As well as my core. So, I did some hip circles, knee circles, some high knees, some lunges and the like…until they announced the race would start in about 10 minutes. Cathy took my jacket away from me at this point, so I went ahead and got into the starting area with some other runners who were making their way there.
And so the chilly wait began. I remembered about 4 minutes before the race to let my Garmin find the satellites, which it did. Whew. So glad it wasn’t going to take forever like some mornings. More and more people began to fill in and soon we were all huddled together at the start. I noticed another person who recently found my blog and gave a wave to Kelsie as she lined up on the other side. And then…we were given our final instructions and…with a Take Your Mark…whistle blow…we were off.
I decided the night before that I was just going to go into this run with a very zen attitude. After all, I wasn’t feeling it. I just wasn’t feeling it. No explanation…no reason…just did not want it. I think it was the cold air, but I should be used to that by now, yes? Anyway, with that sort of attitude, despite having my Garmin set and running…I promised myself that I wouldn’t even look at it. I would just…run at whatever I felt comfortable with, push if I felt I needed to, back off if I felt I needed to. Focus on my own run and not the timer or the pace.
And with that in mind, I headed down the first hill and into the first mile of the Snowman Shuffle 4 Miler. As I made it down the hill and around the straightaway, I knew that we were about to hit a side road and run to a turn around point before coming back and getting back onto the usual Scenic Loop part of the run. Being prepared for that, and just as we headed down that way, Mile 1 ticked off. I heard one of the runners behind me say, “That was sub-7.” But…I didn’t pay that much attention to the comment, my brain completely shutting down and just focusing on my own footfalls, my breathing…and nothing more. I chose not to listen to music on this run because I’m finding that at times I’ll slow my pace to the beat of the music. When I run without it…I’m more consistent and…yes…even better.
Hitting the point where we turned around, I headed back the other way and passed by the stream of people heading our direction. I heard some of them say things to their friends who were ahead of me, offering encouragement. I love hearing that. Just goes to prove you don’t have to be fast to be an awesome runner. You just have to be supportive and have a good attitude.
Hitting the Scenic Loop again, Mile 2 ticked off and I was feeling better than I thought I would. But the hills were about to hit. First at Dog Walk Hill, then at the hill leading back up to Hogan’s Fountain. So, I mentally prepared myself for this as I continued to make my way through Cherokee Park. The first hill at Dog Walk hit and this one feels like it just goes on forever. It’s not a steep climb, but it is constant, and does continue around a couple of turns before leveling off at the top. Somewhere in here Mile 3 hit and I knew that the last obstacle would be the steep climb on the hill back up to Hogan’s Fountain.
Down the hill I went, expecting to make a journey out onto Eastern Parkway to round the statue and come back in…but the race signs directed us right to the last climb and the last hill. There is something very sadistic about having a hill there at the end…just before the finish line. But this is where you either find your strong or you step to the side and walk. I do not walk. So…I dug deep and started up the last stretch.
As I was climbing, I saw one of the finisher’s heading the opposite direction. “Just a half a mile left and you’re done!” he said. Half a mile. I could do this. I could.
The climb felt like it went on forever. I could feel that I was slowing down. Legs were getting tired. But…I pressed onward…as I so often make myself do on these hills. And as I made it to the top…there was a photographer right in the sunlight, so I almost didn’t see him. I avoided a collision and hurried now toward the finish line. I could hear my roommate screaming at me to go…just run…and so…I did.
And I crossed the finish line, feeling…amazing. I saw the clock. It had just ticked over to 27 minutes. I was in shock. I was elated.
I stopped my Garmin…and noticed that it was reading 3.7 miles…not the 4 miles the route should have been. Hmm…
I figured it would be sorted out and I went to go get some water and a banana to nibble on while we waited for the awards. It was still very cold, so I got my hoodie and fleece from Cathy and snuggled back into those, zipping up against the frigid air. As I was walking around, Kelsie finished and found me and we stood around talking about running, about being gluten-free, about the treadmill, and other such things. Including blogging.
After a long while and a lot of shivering in the cold, the final person crossed the finish line. This meant that the results could now be tallied and we would be given awards, if we happened to place. There was a chance I had, so I stuck around. And was freezing. But I wasn’t alone. Dawn and Matthew were also hanging out with us, also freezing, and also trying to act as wind breakers for each other. That’s what runner’s do. But with the laptop now in place…River City Races was prepared to give out the awards. This was when the big announcement about the turn around point being in the wrong spot came. So our 4 mile run truly was a 3.7 mile run. All of us who thought we set a new PR…now knew for certain we hadn’t. But…awards were still to be given and that immediately commenced.
This was actually kind of amusing because all of the people who braved the cold air to hang around for awards were all wearing gloves, so when names were called…the clapping sounded so much like a golf clap, it was funny. But we all applauded the efforts of the runners who placed. And it turned out I placed 2nd in my age division…to which Cathy, Dawn and Matthew all cheered.
And Kelsie even placed second in hers…so Cathy and I gave her a big cheer for that as she went to get her medal.
We hung around for the rest of the awards, and finally went to climb into the car. We were on a mission for brunch…at my favorite allergen-free bakery. I was going to change clothes there while Cathy placed the order. And from then on…I was hoping to get warm and stay warm.
So, the official results of the Snowman Shuffle 3.7 Miler are that I finished in 27:00, which, had it been a 4 mile run, would have still been a new PR. So, that’s good to know. I just don’t know what that time would officially be. So, if I ever run another 3.7 mile race…I have a time to beat. I was 71/727 finishers. WOOHOO! In addition, I was the 12/401 women finishers. And, as mentioned before, I was 2/72 in my age division. I couldn’t be happier with these results.
And…even more outstanding was…the runner who mentioned the sub-7 thing at Mile 1…was absolutely correct. My first mile in the Snowman Shuffle was run in 6:49…my first ever sub-7 minute mile. So…I take that away from this race…feeling beyond proud and a bit surprised that I managed that. The rest of my miles were sub-8 minute miles, so that’s pretty awesome too. Yeah…I’m proud of myself.
As for the overall standings for the Polar Bear Grand Prix…nothing is official yet…but as of last night, I was third overall for the women’s open division. That being said, I just looked again, and while still unofficial, I no longer hold that spot. Instead, I am currently at 1st in my age division. So…for a moment…I was on the verge of getting an overall spot…but I fell from glory.
Ah well. You win some, you lose some. I’m okay with this…in the end…I proved a lot about myself as a runner this year. Since I ran this race last year, I improved on my time in each one. And I also discovered that many of my fellow runners are much better sprinters…made for those shorter races. But when the extra miles get added beyond a 5K…I seem to best a lot of them. Distance is my thing. I do not like 5K races. I love the longer ones. So…this just helped proved why.
Despite everything…I truly did enjoy running this series for the second year in a row. We had rain on the first race, beautiful weather for the second one, and face-numbing cold for the third one…but in the end…I saw what my hard work over the year has brought to each and every run. And I hope to see only more forward progression as the year goes on and other races and series are run.
Maybe one day I’ll win some sort of overall placement. Or maybe…I won’t. It doesn’t matter…because even when I don’t feel like running, I find myself and I find my joy in the run. And that’s what happened at this race.
Yep. I don’t mess around when it comes to holidays…and after a busy day on the go (with an amazing brunch, coffee, shopping, and a stop off for some crazy-good ice cream)…I came home for a bit to relax. And I knew…that despite the brunch and ice cream treat, my roommate and I were going to need something else for dinner.
And with it being National Pizza Pie Day…I had just the thing in mind.
Please note…I realize this is not actually a pizza “pie” per se…but it is…technically…a form of pizza.
Even better…it’s a form of pizza I can eat.
Now, I’ve done my share of sampling of gluten-free frozen pizzas since going gluten-free. Kind of. Normally, despite craving some gluten-free pizza at times, I don’t like paying an arm and a leg for a frozen gluten-free pizza. I’d rather go spend that money and get one done up right at a restaurant (like Mellow Mushroom or Uncle Madio’s where they take extra precautions with gluten-free pizza preparations). It would end up being about the same amount for the same amount of pizza actually. And if not, the quality is far better.
But, last weekend, my roommate told me she would buy me a gluten-free treat of my choice while we were roaming around Earth Fare, my favorite grocery store…ever. It took me a moment to ponder out what exactly I wanted to get with such a tempting offer. And after struggling with choosing between a sweet treat, gluten-free onion rings, gluten-free vegetable pot stickers…I finally decided to go with Ian’s Allergen-Friendly (no wheat, no gluten, no dairy, no casein, no soy, no eggs, no peanuts, no tree nuts) French Bread Pizza.
This is not a new product. Not at all. In fact, I’ve seen this product in the freezer section of my local grocery store since I had to go gluten-free…and always said I was going to try it. Unfortunately…the price just never was right and I couldn’t justify it in the end with my tight food budget. But…as a treat…it might be worth it. Especially if I needed a quick hit of pizza sometime.
Well, what better day to eat it than National Pizza Pie Day?
The box comes complete with two slices of gluten-free French bread that is topped off with a tomato sauce and Galaxy’s vegan mozzarella rice cheese. I wasn’t sure what to make of the product upon opening it. The frozen bread looked like any normal frozen pizza would have done. I wasn’t sure how well the “cheese” would do in the oven, but I preheated it to the 400°F the box suggested and placed each slice of bread onto a baking sheet. Into the oven it went for 23 minutes…but since my oven is a bit off…I let it go for 25 minutes before removing it.
Much to my surprise, the “cheese” melted beautifully over the slices of French bread. The tomato sauce was bubbly and the cheese was piping hot and gooey. In fact, some of it had even stuck to the pan. So, that was a nice surprise. Vegan cheese never melts this well lately (and trust me…I eat it all the time). The French bread crisped up to a beautiful golden color. That was a nice surprise!
So, I plated each slice, handed my roommate hers and went to retrieve mine. She was already digging in when I returned so I inquired as to what she thought. I mean, after all, she can eat any pizza whenever she wants. It’s me with the dietary restrictions.
“It’s yummy!” she said. So…I went ahead and took my first bite.
Despite the fact that I burned the roof of my mouth on the molten vegan cheese…I had to agree with her. This was a delicious bite of pizza. And so easy. I mean…for something frozen and out of a package…the flavor was amazing. I loved the crispy crunch the crust of the French bread gave each bite. And the the inner parts were soft and chewy, like a good pizza crust would be…without being doughy or overly chewy. The sauce was a non-entity and the “cheese” just gave it that pizza topping that was necessary for it to be a pizza. But…it was good. It was really good.
Each slice of bread contains 250 calories and 10 grams of fat. The sodium content is quite low, at only 220 mg per serving. And each slice offers up no cholesterol, no trans fat, and 3 grams of protein. Nice!
And despite being rather small in size, these slices of French bread pizza are definitely filling. I didn’t even need a salad or anything to eat with it. Perfect as a meal on its own and rather safe for basically any food allergy. It was only recently that Ian’s moved away from soy cheese, which was a fantastic choice in the end, opening this one up for people who have soy allergies. All the products Ian’s puts out contain no artificial flavors, colors or preservatives…ever!
I would definitely buy these again in a heartbeat. The crust was awesome…loving the crispy outside and soft inside. It wasn’t overwhelming with the amount of bread. The sauce and cheese were a great topping. And these were so easy to prepare and so delicious to devour.
Which is exactly what happened…while watching Moonraker on Blu-Ray.
Don’t judge.
There is no better way to spend Naitonal Pizza Pie Day than enjoying a gluten-free and vegan French Bread Pizza…from Ian’s.
Find it in your grocer’s freezer section…and give it a try yourself.
Ian’s Gluten-Free/Dairy-Free Cheesy Vegan French Bread Pizza (baked)
You know what’s awesome about KIND Bars? How filling they are. And a lot of that stems back to the ingredients that go into each bar. Now, I’ve sampled a few of these, but a Groupon came over not too long ago and my coworker and I decided to split the difference and get it. So, we ended up purchasing the KIND Cube, which included 16 bars…2 of a variety of flavors.
When it arrived, we each took our share and she began to sample a different one each day. As I go to work with my snacks already planned, I decided to hang onto mine for important mornings…such as race mornings.
Today…was a race morning.
The Snowman Shuffle 4 Miler was running in Louisville, Kentucky on Saturday morning, and after downing some cereal and a cup of coffee at home (along with some water for hydration), my roommate and I set out to hit Cherokee Park in time to find parking, get my packet, get stretched out, and get running. But, with most race mornings, I normally find myself starving at the start or during it if I don’t eat something at least an hour beforehand.
As we arrived at the park, I was already tearing into the KIND Bar she chose to split that morning. It was the Madagascar Vanilla Almond bar. Very intriguing. I wasn’t sure what to make of it…but none of the ingredients sounded offensive to my senses…so…I tore off the wrapper and had her take a picture of it (she needs to work on how close she puts the camera, LOL!). And then, I broke it in half, gave her a share of it…and we headed toward packet pickup, happily noshing on the bar.
And we both agreed…YUMMMMMMMMY!
The Madagascar Vanilla Almond bar is actually more than just almonds…so if you are allergic to other nuts, but not almonds, be aware…this one actually has more than the name lets on. In fact, the bar is composed of a blend of almonds, peanuts, cashews, and walnuts, mixed with honey, non-GMO glucose, chicory root fiber, crisp rice, Madagascar vanilla, and soy lecithin. Okay, so some of the ingredients don’t sound as appealing when listed out like that…but trust me…when they are all put together, KIND Bar magic happens.
The Madagascar Vanilla Almond Bar is part of KIND’s Nuts and Spices collection. And here is the best part…it is a perfect balance of sweet and salty. My biggest concern leading up to my first bite was that it was going to be way too sweet. And something sweet is good…but doesn’t always sit right just before a race. Thankfully, the vanilla didn’t overpower the bar itself. It complimented the mix of nuts and crisp rice. The honey helped bind it all together. This bar wasn’t terribly sticky so nothing felt like it was catching in my teeth or getting my fingers too sticky to put my gloves back on. It was really balanced and really, really delicious.
Nutritionally speaking, KIND Bar’s are a perfect way to go…especially for protein and the like. In the Madagascar Vanilla Almond variety, the entire bar contains 210 calories and 16 grams of fat. If that seems high, keep in mind that this fat is brought about by the nuts, so it is actually the healthy sort. The sugar content in this bar is very low, sitting nicely at 4 grams. And the protein is awesome, with this bar offering 7 grams of it. Awesome. With 15 mg of sodium, this makes for a healthy choice for breakfast or a snack. And with 5 grams of fiber, it will keep you feeling full.
And…just eating half this bar about an hour before a very chilly run…I can attest that this is true. I wasn’t hungry before or during the run at all. My appetite only began to kick in after I ran, waited in the cold for awards, and finally hopped in the car to get brunch at my favorite allergen-free bakery.
KIND Nuts & Spices bars are part of a line of bars that are crafted from the highest quality of whole nuts and some of the best spices found in nature. These bars are an indulgent treat, providing natural protein, fiber, and only 5 grams of sugar (or less) in each bar. There is nothing artificial in any of these bars. Even better, all of KIND’s products are gluten-free and produced in a certified, dedicated gluten-free facility. Love that!
So…next time you are in need of a delicious, nutritious, filling snack that is portable and just as yummy as ever…reach for a KIND bar. I highly recommend the salty-sweet taste of the Madagascar Vanilla Almond bar. I would purchase this one again in a heartbeat.
KIND Madagascar Vanilla Almond Nuts & Spices Bar (unwrapped)
Snack crackers are so versatile. But most of the ones on the market are off limits to the gluten-free. But thanks to the abundance of gluten-free products hitting the shelves these days, it seems every gluten-free company out there has at least one variety of snack cracker. Some…have more.
I’ve enjoyed the likes of Crunchmaster, Mary’s Gone Crackers, Blue Diamond, Schär, etc. But most recently, I have been exploring the different flavors of crackers that Glutino has to offer.
Now, Glutino and I have a rather good relationship as far as the taste of their food. So far, I have had nothing to complain about. Texture, taste, density, and flavor have all been right on par. I appreciate that. Given the fact that I haven’t been gluten-free my entire life, I know what the ‘real’ thing tastes like and sometimes have a hard time separating that from what I now have to eat. In other words…I find common gluten-free foods not up to the standard I once knew.
And then…sometimes I find something better.
Glutino has been good to me and for me.
And that trend continues with my tasting of Glutino Multigrain Crackers. These gluten-free crackers actually surprised me with their flavor. I have since looked up a few reviews, most of which bitched about the overpowering fennel flavor (fennel tastes like licorice). I don’t like licorice…but I don’t even get a taste of it in these crackers. In fact, I currently no longer even see fennel listed on the ingredients list. The poppyseeds are still part of it…and you can certainly see them in the surface of the cracker. But fennel…not anymore, I don’t think. Rosemary extract though…that’s there!
The bizarre thing about these crackers is…they taste like Triscuits…just without the graininess and shredded bits. It’s like…if a Ritz and a Triscuit were to get married…this would be the offspring. Honestly. It’s the perfect blend of that butter Ritz texture with the flavor of a Triscuit. It’s…fantastic, honestly. And this would be amazing with a schmear of cream cheese, cheese, salsa, hummus…whatever…on top. But on their own, they too are astounding in their flavor. I loved this cracker…bite-for-bite.
So…how did I end up with these in the first place? Long story short…one of my local grocery stores was running a mega closeout on the gluten-free section. Fearing that it was going to be gone for good, I stockpiled items I wanted to try, but could never quite justify to work into the budget. That’s how these ended up in my pantry…and it just so happened it was their turn to shine during my afternoon snack time this week. And shine they did.
I highly recommend these as a cracker for any get-together where gluten-free options are needed. Or…just in general. My roommate, who tries everything I eat, also enjoyed these. She was the one who made the Triscuit connection (she would know!)…and I couldn’t agree more. Fantastic seasoning, not laden with salt, great flavor, and just amazing from one bite to the next.
Nutritionally speaking, because I do always go there, these aren’t bad for a snack cracker. A serving size is 30 grams (and you know I weigh out my servings!), or about 8 crackers. This serving would set you back only 14o calories and 4.5 grams of fat. That’s not bad at all. These crackers only have 260 mg of sodium in the serving. While fiber and protein are both low, it’s a snack cracker…so use it with something like hummus that has some protein power to it.
Nutritionally sound, and amazing in taste and texture. Glutino…you keep winning me over, heart, body, and gluten-free soul!
Tomorrow, Saturday, February 9, 2013, will mark the end of this year’s Polar Bear Grand Prix. Last year, I was greeted by a very cold morning and pouring rain. This year…I think it’s just the cold that I get to contend with. At least…I hope.
But…in reality, I don’t really want the cold.
Fact: The cold air naturally slows me down. It’s harder to breathe through. I have to layer my clothing. I just feel…awkward in cold weather.
And I have been getting out to run in the cold as often as possible. Last Sunday, I even went for 6 miles in the snow and ice. My roommate called me hardcore. The fact of the matter was…the very thought of going to the gym for the second day in a row to run my miles for training was unbearable. I hate running inside. I hate the treadmill. I hate the tiny indoor track at my gym even more, where 1 mile is 18 laps around it. Told you…it’s tiny. That’s what got me out in the snow and ice that Sunday morning. And I took it slow and easy and really just kept myself close enough to home that should I need to give in to the elements and cut the run short, I wouldn’t have far to go.
And though it was a slower run for me…it was a good run.
But there is that word. That word I hate using…but I feel it so often.
SLOW. S-L-O-W.
I don’t know why I focus so much on my speed, especially on these training runs. I think it just comes natural to a runner to want to improve. Or at least maintain. But lately it’s just felt like I’m moving backwards. Figuratively, of course.
And here’s why I think it’s been bothering me all week…
Despite the cold, hard rain of the Snowman Shuffle last year…it was one of my best races to that day. No joke. I finished the four mile course, complete with those killer hills at Cherokee Park, in 33:17. That was huge for me. That meant I had a lovely pace of 8:19, or about 7.2 miles per hour. Up until that point…that pace had never happened.
And over the year that has now passed, I have only begun to get faster than that. Until, it seems, recently.
I would like to point my finger at the elements and push all the blame off on that, but the fact of the matter is…I can’t. I could sit here until I was blue in the face and rattle off reasons as to why I feel inadequate coming into this race, despite the training and time I’ve put into my runs during the week and over the weekends, but what good would it do? They are just excuses when it comes down to it.
“It’s so cold out! The cold slows me down.”
“It’s hard to breathe in that bitter cold air!”
“I f***ing hate layers!”
“But it’s so dark when I go out to run that early in the morning…”
Hey…it may be the truth…but it is also an excuse. Any way you slice it.
So…why the added pressure? I made a mistake a couple weeks ago and looked at the overall standings for the Polar Bear Grand Prix. Yep. Bad…bad idea. Because currently, I am sitting in third place in the overall women’s category. Not my age division. Women…overall…for all the races. And suddenly…it just feels like I put a crap-ton of pressure on myself to maintain that. I mean, I’ve had killer races leading up to this one. I placed third in my age division in the Reindeer Romp 4K, and second in my age division in the Frostbite 5K…but it was seeing that overall ranking that just…it really took away my zen runner attitude and I’ve been fretting over it since. That…and my finishing time.
This isn’t like me. Not really. But I feel that when I revisit races, I should only better my performance. After all, I have a year of training behind me. The second time around, or third, or whatever, should only show improvement. But…but what if I don’t.
And given my recent morning runs…even on the weekends…I haven’t been feeling good about besting that 33:17 finishing time. In fact, I’ve made a point to check my Garmin at each 4 mile beep on my runs that go that long or longer…and I am usually right at, if not slower than that time.
And it’s a bit disheartening. Especially feeling this added pressure of that overall standing.
Let me clarify…no one is putting this pressure on me. No one but myself. And, I think that is what makes this so hard to get over, to ignore. It’s that little voice in the back of my head that tells me…I’m not getting any better. I’ve plateaued. That I fail if I don’t maintain that spot in the top 3 women’s overall.
It’s all poppycock, of course…but…that’s what thoughts have been permeating my mind. Not just on my downtime…but on my runs. Every 4 mile beep…that’s what I think about.
Why am I even obsessing? I love running…and finding that joy that I associate with each stride, each breath, each footfall…hasn’t felt good enough leading into this race. And it’s been killing my mojo. It’s been really pulling at me. It’s been…bothering me.
Honestly, it shouldn’t. I shouldn’t even be obsessing over it. But I am. And. I. Can’t. Stop.
The past couple of mornings, I’ve turned my mileage for my training schedule…and each time, I’ve been unhappy with the results. Why? I’m right at that 7.2 mile per hour speed. Which, isn’t slow by any means…but I know I can and do run better than that. I know that most of these runs are supposed to be at an “easy” pace…that I shouldn’t be trying to find that magical race pace unless my program specifically calls for it…but…it’s human nature to get competitive…even if it is with yourself.
The fact of the matter is, the one thing in life that brings me the most joy has been bringing me down these days. Actually…it’s not the running that’s bringing me down. The running, while slower than usual, has been brilliant. It’s that little voice inside…that little devil sitting on my shoulder…that doubt that creeps in every now and again…that’s what has been bringing me down. My own lack of confidence. My own sense of what accomplishment is. My own perception of what not meeting certain goals would mean to me…as a runner…in this particular race.
So…what do I do to overcome this?
I don’t know.
But here’s what I am going to do…
I am going to get up tomorrow morning and dress for the expected 29 degree weather. Yep…this means some cold weather gear. Perhaps even a layer or two. We’ll see. A lot of that will depend on the wind factor, which the Weather Channel is currently predicting to be around 6 mph. I’ll eat some cereal before heading out the door to drive to Cherokee Park and, hopefully, find a parking spot that isn’t outside of the park and a long walk uphill to packet pick-up. I’ll get my packet and get my number pinned up. I’ll do my, “I’m too cold to stretch…but here goes nothing” half-ass stretching. I’ll eat half of a Kind Bar. I’ll line-up at the start…somewhere back from the front…but not too far back. And then…I’ll just run. I’ll run what I am comfortable with. I’ll run without looking at my watch for time or pace. I’ll listen for the beeps, but I won’t look. I’ll simply run.
And what happens when I cross the finish line? I’ll find that whatever effort I put into that run…was enough. Do I need to beat last year’s time? Nope. I want to, of course…but I don’t need to. Will I be any less of a runner if I don’t? Not at all. Will I be a failure if I fall out of that third overall spot? I might feel like it for a moment…but it will pass. I don’t run to collect medals and awards. That’s not what fuels me. What fuels me is passion. I don’t get up at 4 a.m. every morning and throw on my running clothes and take a run in 19 degree darkness because I have to. I don’t have to do anything. I do it because, believe it or not, I want to.
I sometimes forget the whole reason I started running. Because somewhere…somehow…one day when I took up a jog at that itty-bitty track at the gym…I found something that made me smile. I’m not super fast. I’m not an elite. But sometimes helps to just take a step back and realize…while I am not these things…I am enough.
And my passion for running should never be overshadowed by doubt, fear, time, or race placement. I am not a failure. Time doesn’t matter. Run for the love of the run…and the run will love you back.
So, we’ll see what happens tomorrow as I tackle four miles through Cherokee Park’s hills. It looks like another chilly morning run awaits…and if it slows me down…it slows me down. All I should focus on is making it from start to finish. My legs, feet, and determination will do the rest.
Snowman Shuffle…I’m coming for you. Even if I don’t feel like it…I am ready.
Twas the day of the Super Bowl and I made my roomie one simple promise.
Nachos.
No…really. She had been craving nachos and I decided, despite us not watching the big game (instead we watched cooking shows…for real!), I told her Super Bowl Sunday would be the perfect day to break out some nachos for dinner. Of course, the one catch to me being the chef of the apartment is…I make them my way.
Thankfully…she’s quite okay with that…and words like gluten-free and vegan don’t phase her one bit.
I know…awesome!
So…after a major cleaning spree that day, I started to piece together our not-too-bad for you version of Super Bowl Snack Awesomeness. And we dug in while watching an Emeril Lagasse show on Vegetarian Main Dishes. I can’t make this up, friends!! This is a true story. But the best part of this story is…how awesome and filling these nachos turned out to be!
Recipe: Gluten-Free Hearty Rice and Bean Vegan Nachos
5 ounces (about 6 1/2 cups) Tortilla Chips (I used Garden of Eatin’ Blue Corn Chips)
3/4 cup cooked no-salt-added black beans, rinsed and drained if canned
4 ounces Teese Nacho Vegan Cheese Sauce
1/4 cup milk (I used unsweetened almond milk)
1 avocado, sliced
1 fresh Serrano pepper, seeded and finely chopped (optional) (I roasted mine with my red pepper)
1 red pepper, roasted and chopped
1/2 sweet onion, chopped
1/2 cup prepared salsa
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1/2 lime
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 450°F.
Cook the brown rice according to package directions. While rice cooks, saute the onion in a small skillet and set aside.
In a small saucepan over medium heat, add Teese Nacho Vegan Cheese Sauce and 1/4 cup milk. Stir together until creamy and sauce thickens. Add half of the roasted peppers.
Spread chips in a 9×13-inch baking dish and spoon rice over top. Sprinkle with black beans beans, onions, and the rest of the roasted peppers (red and Serrano). Bake until the nachos are very hot, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from oven and add the avocado slices. Spoon the vegan nacho cheese over the nachos, add salsa, sprinkle with cilantro. Squeeze lime over the top.
Serve.
~*~*~
These were so amazing and delicious. I was so happy with the way this turned out. It was definitely the perfect food for Super Bowl Sunday. Nothing better than some junk food on a big game night, even if you are not watching the game. And as far as recipes go…this isn’t too bad for you. Packed with protein (thanks to the beans…and quinoa could be substituted for the rice), vegetables, and vegan cheese…it was guilt-free snack food for dinner.
And my roommate has already requested I make them again sometime.
The Celiathlete 