The Celiathlete

December 28, 2012

Santa Hustle Half Marathon – Indianapolis, IN (December 16, 2012)

Me crossing the finish line of the Santa Hustle Half Marathon - Indianapolis, Indiana — Me crossing the finish line of the Santa Hustle Half Marathon – Indianapolis, Indiana

Race: Santa Hustle Half Marathon

Place: Indianapolis, IN

Date: December 16, 2012

Time: 1:47:48

Oh…yes. You totally read that time right. And let me tell you…my finish at that time was as much a shock to me as it may be to you reading this. Because…let’s face it. When it comes to long distances I am not fast…but I can (under good conditions) normally endure and still have some kick at the end. So finishing a sub-1:50:00 half marathon was a huge freakin’ deal for me.

But I am once again getting ahead of myself. It is always best to start at the beginning.

And that, my dearest friends, starts on Saturday…the day before the race.

It was going to be one busy day, I figured. I woke up that morning and did an easy 1 mile run down and back from my apartment. Why did I run the day before a race? Normally I wouldn’t have…but I’m doing this Runner’s World Run Streak thing where I run at last a mile every day between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. And I haven’t broken the streak yet. I wasn’t going to let my taper be the death of it. So I promised only 1 mile (normally I say that’s not worth lacing up shoes for and push out 2 miles…but not on race weekend) and took it easy on my legs.

With that done, I came home, changed, and packed up my run bag and my duffle for an overnight stay and then worked on putting everything into my running bag. Now…here was the thing. I wasn’t exactly sure how to even pack for this freakin’ half marathon. And here’s why…

The weather was awesome that weekend. A little chill in the air due to a strong wind, but not too bad for mid-December. And the Weather Channel was predicting clear skies the morning of the race…with a high of 54 degrees that day. That’s relatively warm for a December morning, yes? The only hitch…was going to be the strong 14+ mph winds on race morning. Hmmm…

I decided winter compression tights weren’t needed and left them behind. I was going to be receiving a shirt to wear during the run itself. So…the big question mark was what I was going to wear on my lower half. I packed a few options…my capris and two running skirts. As I had been having a little bit of an issue as of late with a very sore and tight left calf muscle, Friday night I ventured over to one of the local running stores and was sized for, and purchased, my first pair of compression socks.

Normally it’s not a good idea to try out new items of clothing on a race, particularly a long one like a half marathon…but I didn’t really have a choice this time. It was going to happen. So, the compression socks were packed, along with my other normal running socks in case I put the compression ones on and hated them. You never know! I packed my GU pack and some Sports Beans, my water bottle, and a headband for the race. Made sure my shoes were ready. And my roommate and I packed up the car and headed to Indianapolis.

From experience, we have learned the value of staying in the city the night before a big race. While Indianapolis is only a 2 hour drive, this saved a 4 a.m. wake-up to drive from our home to the race, find parking, and get totally stressed out (and perhaps show up late) as is what happened the year prior to this one when I was running in the Santa Hustle 5K in Indianapolis (the half marathon was added this year!). So, we decided to splurge and stay at the host hotel…the J.W. Marriott. The deal runners were offered on rooms couldn’t be beat. Besides, I’m a Marriott Rewards Member…might as well use it.

So, we made the easy drive this year the day before and checked into the hotel. Our room was awesome. We were on the 15th floor and were overlooking White River State Park, which just happened to be the start and finish point for the half marathon the following morning. Awesome. A room with a view. And what a beautiful view it was too. We hauled our bags up to the room and settled in briefly before heading back out to hit up the expo, which was actually at the J.W. Marriott in one of their expo spaces.

I have to say…as of late I have been quite disappointed with the race expos that I’ve been hitting up prior to half marathons. There has been next to nothing at quite a few of the last race expos that I’ve hit. Suck. Well, this one had to be one of the smallest (the Louisville Sports Commission being the absolute worst this year) with only a few vendors and races in attendance trying to vie for our dollars and our participation. So, it took me under 5 minutes to walk in, get my race packet and head out. With this being a race run in various cities, I sort of expected a little more…so I was disappointed.

I left with my packet, my tech shirt, and all of my money, and headed back up to the room. We were supposed to meet up for my traditional gluten-free pizza pre-race meal at Harry & Izzy’s with our friend Greg…but we still had plenty of time before that happened. So, we decided to hit the streets and do some shopping. Cathy and I hit up Hard Rock Café for a new pin for my collection. We then went over to Monument Circle and checked out the Civil War exhibit that was free to the public. That was pretty cool. And then we still had hours to kill, so we went to the mall and walked around some before deciding it would be okay just to go hang out in the room. It was getting a little chilly out and relaxing sounded like a good idea. I was supposed to be resting my legs…and here I was using them for all I was worth.

That’s typical me.

We did receive a call from Greg saying he was going to head to Harry & Izzy’s…so we headed out ourselves. Got to the restaurant, got seated (after about 4 attempts prior to that with tables not being ready as we were there between the lunch and dinner turnover). With a table now provided, we were handed menus and left to wait for Greg. He showed up soon after and before we knew it…we were feasting on delicious food, having great conversation, talking about plans…and even enjoying dessert. My gluten-free pizza, in case you were wondering, was topped with caramelized onion and mushroom…and it was delicious. I followed it up with lemon sorbet. Mmmmm.

We said our goodbyes and Greg, who was heading out of town the following morning, wished me luck on the race. We departed back to the hotel where we watched a couple of cooking shows and I got my clothes out for the next morning…opting for capris…although I would continue to go back and forth on that even the following morning. We turned in at a decent time…and I had a rather good sleep, only waking up a couple times to check the clock. Finally, with only an hour before my alarm was set to go off, I got up and went ahead and got changed into my racing clothes. With the wind still a factor, I chose the capris still, then climbed back into bed to just rest until the alarm went off.

When it did, Cathy was up to get ready and I was getting us the first part of our morning breakfast that day. I had Corn Chex with me and Cathy had a granola bar. We ate those and lazed about in the hotel, watching the Weather Channel. I also made sure Cathy taped up my feet as my podiatrist had shown her. I wasn’t about to run 13.1 miles without my feet properly supported. I think he would have had a conniption. With that done…I looked at the temperatures again…looked at the capris…really thought about putting on a running skirt…then decided, once again, that the wind would be chilly so capris would be the way to go. That decision made, I began to slip into my compression socks for the very first time.

Now fully suited up…and with an hour to go to race time, I ate my banana, strapped on my fuel belt with my water and my GU pack and Sports Beans, and down to White River State Park we went. It was a brisk morning due to the wind, but not bad temperature-wise. And the walk made for a great warmup. That being said, the first thing Cathy and I noticed when we set foot on the bricks at White River State Park was how slippery they were. Super slippery. We made our way over the bridge and to the pace corral that I was choosing to run in, which this time was an 8 minute mile. Ambitious, perhaps…but that’s where I put myself. It was still rather sparse as far as runners go, but it was still at least 30 minutes before go time.

I did some stretches in the corral area, getting a kick out of some of the 5K runner/walker outfits. There was a guy dressed up as Santa pushing a cart that was done up to look like a chimney. Which…is awesome. And one couple made their jog stroller up to look like a sleigh. Some people get really creative. I did notice, however, that many of the serious half marathoners opted out of the Santa tech shirt and were just in regular running gear. It’s too bad…because these are the people who did come in first and it would have been nice to have the winners in the official race shirt. I mean, they don’t require you to wear the shirt, hat and beard, but at least wear the shirt. It’s all in the name of fun. I mean…this is the Santa Hustle after all.

With race time getting close, the announcer, a local Indianapolis DJ began going over some course information. At one point he said that there was only one water station between Mile 7 & Mile 8…but he meant GU station. And…he pronounced it G-U instead of like “goo.” We runners all laughed and said, “He’s not a runner.” It was funny. With all the safety precautions out of the way, they moved the corrals up…and we were getting prepped to head on out. And just as quickly as we had moved up…we were sent on our way…at exactly 9:00 a.m. How’s that for timing?

I took the first part of the race easy as far as getting out of the park. The bricks were very slick and the last thing I wanted to do was take a header into the pavement. Either way you slice it…that doesn’t sound like fun. And to be injured so early in a race would not due for me. Nope, nope, nope. So…I ran with my head here…meaning I took an easier pace…made sure my footing was sure…and once I hit the asphalt of West New York Street, I was free to pace myself as I pleased. Mile 1 was just ahead at that point and I was right in line with a runner who was definitely trying too hard too soon. His arms were swinging hard and he was just pushing with all his might. I wanted to say, “Dude…it’s only the first mile…chill!” But, I just ran my race.

By Mile 2 however, I was cursing my decision to wear capris. I warm up…fast. And now I was burning up in my long sleeve tech shirt, my compression socks and my capri pants. In fact, every bit of skin, save my face and my hands was completely covered. And it was in the mid-50s out as far as temperature went. I ran in races in much cooler temps in running skirts and short sleeve shirts (or even a singlet at one) and here I am covered head-to-toe. I should have known better. Yeah…I wasn’t happy. As I came into Mile 3, the sun was coming up and I knew we were going to warm up. I pulled my sunglasses down over my eyes and just did what I came to do…run.

The first half of the course was fairly simple and relatively flat. There were a few small inclines, but nothing more than running over a bridge or the like. I didn’t stop at the water stations as I had my own water and often had to remind myself to drink it. The first candy stop on this race (the Santa Hustle Race Series offers candy and cookie stops in addition to water stops) showed up between Mile 4 and 5 and I ignored it. Running is no time for candy…and I wasn’t sure I could eat it anyway. Nor would I want to eat candy with so many miles still ahead of me. I think a lot of runners were bypassing the candy, actually. I mean…when you’re going 13.1 miles…chocolate might not sit right and why take the risk of not finishing due to a candy stop? Not this girl. Nope.

I made my usual internal marking of the halfway point as I ran through 6.55 miles. I normally do this just so I know that I’m halfway there. I’m doing good. I’m getting there. As I came into Mile 7, there was a Cookie Stop, which I again ignored and kept on going. The GU station was also here. I thought about grabbing some GU, but I had yet to even touch the one pack that I had on me. I need to get better about fueling on the run. I tend to ignore it because I feel good…and I wonder how much better I might do if I actually fueled properly. And with my goal to run a marathon next year coming, I need to seriously work on that. I might be able to run a half marathon on cereal and a banana…but a marathon…I’m thinking…NO! Anyway, I passed it up and here was where the race sort of merged with a bike race that was going on. I’m not kidding.

There was a race official that directed runners to stay to the right and as we are running toward this massive hill (and probably the only massive hill in Indianapolis), bikes come zipping up past us on the other side of the dividing tape. Bikers hop off their bikes to run up this muddy incline as we runners take the road, around the bend, and up…up…up. Oh. My. God. Having a hill like this so late in the race is just plain evil. But…I crested it. Got a comment about my determination from the officer blocking the road at the top, which made me smile…and away I went. Not downhill. Not really. Minor. Nothing compared to the incline I just climbed. But, it wasn’t up…so that was nice. Just past Mile 8 a child was sitting on the ground and his dad was there. The boy was clutching at his leg, so I think he may have stumbled. The dad was on his cell phone, probably trying to get one of the ambulances on the course to head that way. They seemed to have the situation managed…so I kept on going.

The next couple of miles felt relatively easy. At Mile 10 I told myself all I had left was a 5K, and only then did I glance at my watch. I was making good time. Really, REALLY good time. Like…better than the Hershey Half Marathon time. If I could at least maintain my pace…I could possibly set a new PR for a half marathon. So…I pushed on, passing up another of the candy stops and making my way back toward White River State Park. The run was starting to feel harder now…I think the hill took a lot out of my legs. But…onward ever onward. Just after Mile 11, I was back in White River State Park, making my way down the sidewalks and into the last couple of miles. And here was where some issues cropped up. I noticed I was passing quite a few people who were walking. I glanced quickly as I passed and noted they were wearing the red bib numbers of the 5K runners/walkers. So, here we have half marathoners coming in at the same time as the 5K walkers. YIKES!

I dodged who I could on the narrow paths and started into my final mile. The last cookie stop was easily passed up. I was tasting the finish line now. As long as I could get through the obstacles of walkers, who would spread out across the entire path, making it hard for the half marathoners running for time to get through and pass, I was doing good. I did the best I could in the space I was offered. I even high-fived a little girl who held up her hand, and I rarely do that. But…this was all about having some fun and I was in my last mile!

I started over the bridge at White River State Park, seeing the race photographers and flashing a peace sign and a smile. Then, onward because I now knew just how close the finish line was. I wasn’t sure Cathy would be able to spot me in the runners/walkers coming in, but she did. She was waving my sign and shouting at me as I dodged some more 5K walkers and crossed that finish line. I had noted the time when I crossed and when I paused my Garmin, I had to look again. I was a good 3 minutes under my previous half marathon PR. REALLY? Because this race felt a lot more difficult than Hershey. But…that’s what it said. I received my Finisher’s Medal and began looking for my roomie in the throng of people at the finish.

Me celebrating my new PR at the Santa Hustle Half Marathon - Indianapolis, Indiana — Me celebrating my new PR at the Santa Hustle Half Marathon – Indianapolis, Indiana

Cathy came running over…”WAS THAT 13.1? WAS THAT 13.1?” I showed her my Garmin to indicate that it truly was. And we both just screamed. I made my way through the recovery area, picked up some water and a banana, and went to get my finisher’s photo taken. Then…I found Cathy…got a hug…and was handed my protein shake. I downed it and began the walk back to the J.W. Marriott so that I could hit up the shower, pack up, and head out to lunch at Cheeseburger in Paradise, where I would get a delicious gluten-free veggie burger of some sort. I couldn’t wait.

The official results of the Santa Hustle Half Marathon are that I finished in 1:47:48, a brand new PR for a half marathon. That is how you end a racing season, my friends! YAY! I was 138/941 finishers overall. I was shocked to find out that I also placed THIRD (3/76) in my division. I placed in a division at a half marathon!! I was so excited and pleased. Of course, by the time I figured this out I was already done eating lunch and the race had packed up. I drove back to the park though, just in case. The volunteers with the race were still there packing up, but said that the post-race stuff was already loaded up, but that they would mail me my award. I was okay with that.

And so…there is a crazy year or running races in the books. And I went out on a very high note. Nothing like rounding up a year of racing with a new PR on a half marathon. That being said, I did e-mail the race organizers about the problems with the finish and the half marathon runners and 5K walkers coming in around the same time. So, maybe that is something they can improve on next year. For now, I’m still smiling about this finish. Awesome!

My next half marathon is in February…and I’m already training hard for it.

December 20, 2012

The Swiss Colony adds gluten-free goodies to their catalog…including these Chocoláno cookies

Product: The Swiss Colony Gluten-Free Chocoláno Cookies – $19.95

It was a huge surprise to me one day when I received an additional Swiss Colony catalog in the mail. Now, I used to order Swiss Colony stuff all the time. From cheeses to chocolates, they are one of the best go-to resources for tasty treats for loved ones and friends…or even for yourself. When the gluten intolerance happened, however…I had to bid adieu to Swiss Colony…at least for myself. And then…I received a little sunshine in the mail when a sugar-free and gluten-free catalog showed up.

Now, they didn’t have everything listed in the gluten-free portion of the catalog. Nope. They actually had listed the cheesecakes, which, while they look fantastic…were definitely overpriced. Yikes.

I mean, I’m used to paying a pretty penny for gluten-free goodies, but a $50 cheesecake is not what I’d like to spend my money on. I’m sure they are delicious and really, really good…but…alas…I do live in a budget.

Well, as I normally do at the holiday time, I was surfing through Swiss Colony’s Web site for a couple of purchases for friends and family members. And I came across their gluten-free section on there. I figured I’d give it another look. The cheesecakes were there…and some of the 123 Gluten-Free box mixes you can find at stores for a variety of baking needs. And then there were cookies…and brownies…ooooh…

I sent the link over to my roomie to take a look. And she immediately goes, “Are those gluten-free Milano cookies?”

Sure enough, there on the page were what Swiss Colony was billing as Gluten-Free Chocoláno Cookies…and they definitely resembled the infamous Milano cookies I used to be able to eat. As it was the holiday season, it was definitely time to treat myself, so I ordered some of the Chocoláno Cookies and hoped for the best.

Well, yesterday they arrived. Just in time too, because I needed something new for dessert in the apartment. These would be perfect. Well, I tore into the box at the office and was actually pleasantly surprised by how many were in the container. I was expecting a small box…as that’s normally what happens. But this came in one that said there were 16 servings (although I think there are more than 16 cookies in there). It was a very welcome surprise. I was just getting giddy thinking about diving into these after I ate my dinner and before I got to work on some gluten-free vegan baking that needed to be done.

Well, dessert time came and I opened up the plastic container and pulled out two cookies. One for myself…one for my roommate. She was the first to take a bite. I asked what she thought and she said…”Is good.” Which I never really know if that means it is good or…eh…I’ve had better. So, I took my own taste to decide for myself.

At first bite…they hardly taste like anything. I can definitely taste the rice flour in the cookies. And they do have that buttery lightness to them, which I love. The chocolate cream in the middle, however, is awesome. It really kicks the cookie up a notch. And then, once you finish that bite…that flavor lingers and…that’s when that Milano cookie flavor hits. It was very reminiscent of the cookies I used to enjoy. The thing was, that flavor didn’t hit until the very end. It was bizarre. But…all-in-all…a delicious cookie in the end.

The serving size is one cookie…and like I said, there are definitely more than 16 cookies in that container. They are tasty, sweet, and won’t fill you up. I love that about them. In addition, they only have 100 calories per cookie, which isn’t bad for something cream-filled. The outer cookies have a great crunch to them, yet still are smooth and soft. And the cream will definitely win you over. As with everything chocolate that Swiss Colony does…the chocolate is sublime.

I really want to congratulate Swiss Colony on adding a selection of gluten-free treats to their growing catalog. It definitely made my holidays a little merrier…and much tastier.

If you miss Milano cookies…these are definitely worth a try. They aren’t exact…but…wow…if they aren’t close.

December 20, 2012

Great texture with Hodgson Mill Gluten Free Buckwheat Creamy Hot Cereal…just bland!

Product: Hodgson Mill Gluten Free Buckwheat Creamy Hot Cereal – $4.40+

I’m going to be the first to admit it. When I pulled out this box from the pantry to take to work with me as my lunch today, I was more than a little nervous about it. At first, I thought nothing of it. But the more I looked at the box, the more I thought this spontaneous gluten-free sale item might have not been the wisest choice while out grocery shopping. And the only reason I think that is that it sort of makes a reference to grits. And I do not like grits.

So…yeah…wasn’t too sure about this one.

But that’s what happens when I get caught up in the moment of a great gluten-free sale. When items get marked down or put on closeout, I snatch them up as fast as I can. Sometimes I think twice about them…but not this time. My local grocery store was having a closeout on their entire gluten-free section. And that made me think that they were getting rid of it. Thankfully, they didn’t…they were going to expand it and were moving things off the shelf. But…it put the fear of a gluten-free-less pantry into my head and I just started grabbing whatever was marked down on closeout and throwing it in my cart.

Hodgson Mill Gluten-Free Buckwheat Creamy Hot Cereal was one such item. And today…was the moment of truth…

It wasn’t…horrible. It wasn’t what I was used to either. And I think that might have been part of the problem. The texture was actually nothing like grits…more like oatmeal. I’m okay with that. I always eat oatmeal for lunch. In fact, I was so concerned with the texture that I caramelized some apples up this morning to reheat and add to the cereal…and that’s what I did when lunch time hit. I settled in at my desk at work with a hot, steaming bowl of the Gluten Free Buckwheat Creamy Hot Cereal and took a bite.

It wasn’t sweet at all…and that was what I missed. While I’m not a fan of loading things down with sugar, even with the caramelized apples it was just bland. I went to add some sugar to it…and it was just not a good idea. It actually made the flavor a bit worse. So, I stuck it out, figuring tomorrow I’d try again, maybe with different fruits and some brown sugar or maple syrup to sweeten it. It wasn’t horrible…it just needs some additional work to get it to where I like it.

So, I’ll try it again tomorrow…with different fruit and something to sweeten it up. It was the texture I had been worried about originally…but that wasn’t the problem with this one. It was the flavor, or lack thereof, despite my attempts to make it taste a little sweeter through the use of fruit and additional sweetener.

I guess only time will tell when I give this another shot with a different fruit and a different sweetener. All in all…not bad…but not my favorite. It’s…edible at least.

Hodgson Mill Gluten-Free Buckwheat Creamy Hot Cereal (with caramelized apples)

December 20, 2012

Dark Chocolatier Sea Salt Holidrizzle Kettle Corn from Angie’s Artisan Treats a salty-sweet treat indeed

Product: Angie’s Artisan Treats Dark Chocolatier Sea Salt Holidrizzle Kettle Corn – $4.99+

Okay…it doesn’t get much better than this:

Popcorn.

Dark chocolate.

Salt.

What this provides is this amazing salty-sweet blend that is one of my favorite tastes ever. I guess that’s why I love chocolate covered (gluten-free) pretzels so much. Salty-sweet is my favorite thing because it honestly is the best of both worlds. Why choose when you can have both?

I had never heard of Angie’s Artisan Treats until my friend Shana posted a picture of the bag of Dark Chocolatier Sea Salt Holidrizzle Kettle Corn on Facebook. I was immediately intrigued. In fact, I was immediately craving. I asked her one simple question – is it gluten-free? Her response: YES! And she said she found it at Target, so when I was at Target a couple days later…I hunted and found it on the end cap. I grabbed the last two bags.

And then…the time just never seemed right to open it up. I mean…who really needs to make time for dark chocolate drizzled popcorn? But I have an air popper and that’s usually what I do for popcorn at night. Until last night…when I spent a majority of the evening baking up requested Triple Chocolate Mint Truffle Blossom cookies for my roommate (per her request) and had no counter space in order to set up the air popper. Her suggestion: why not eat the popcorn we bought at Target?

Brilliant!!

So, that evening, I dished up 1-2/3 cup of popcorn for each of us (yes…I do actually measure this out!) and served it up with our nightly cup of tea. As I settled in for the evening, I picked up one piece of popcorn, perfectly drizzled with dark chocolate, and took my first bite.

OH. MY. GOD.

If heaven was made of popcorn, then it would surely taste like this. So delicious. I love the sweetness of the dark chocolate and how it plays with the soft texture and the saltiness of the popcorn. It doesn’t feel heavy at all. In fact, the entire snack seems very light as you eat it. And yeah…it’s pretty damn amazing.

Angie’s Dark Chocolatier Sea Salt Holidrizzle Kettle Corn only has 13o calories per serving and will set you back 6 grams of fat. That isn’t too bad. These are all natural, gluten-free, contain no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. No artificial sweeteners are used in this popcorn either. This snack is a great source of whole grains and is non-GMO!

The best part is…it is super delicious…perfect for a snack to satisfy every craving and flavor you might have. I am so glad my friend Shana posted this on Facebook or I might have gone the rest of my life without this snack in my life.

Dark chocolate sea salt popcorn…how sweet it is!!

December 20, 2012

Recipe: Baked Quinoa Casserole with a Spicy Cheese Sauce

I’m getting ready to leave town for a little while to head home to see my family for the holidays. And I still have a large amount of produce from my CSA bin that is just dying for me to use it. So, I was trying to decide what I could make that would utilize some of the contents in my crisper drawer, which would allow for me to clear out some of the produce and make room for the new stuff I’m getting on Friday…which my roommate will have to take care of as I won’t be in town.

So, after a little bit of searching I ran across a recipe on a blog called Purely Twins, and I sort of based my own recipe off of the basis they laid down for theirs. I did a completely different sauce and chose very different vegetables…but the quinoa…that stayed the same.

I wasn’t too sure how this was going to turn out…but the end result was actually mighty tasty…and extremely healthy.

Recipe: Baked Quinoa Casserole with a Spicy Cheese Sauce

Servings: 6-8
Time: Prep 20 minutes; Cook 30 minutes

Ingredients:

2 cups quinoa
4 cups water
2 cups chopped raw zucchini
2 cups fresh broccoli florets
2 handfuls kale

For sauce:

1-1/2 tablespoons butter (I used I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter)
2 tablespoons flour (I used Hodgson Mill Gluten-Free Multi-Purpose Flour)
1 cup almond milk
1/4 cup freshly shredded Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup freshly shredded Mozzarella cheese
1 teaspoon hot sauce
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
pinch paprika

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Cook the quinoa by bringing 4 cups of water to a boil. Add in 2 cups of dry quinoa and bring back to a boil. Reduce heat and cover, allowing to simmer for about 15 minutes or until the water is gone.

While the quinoa is cooking, make the sauce.

Melt the butter in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Sprinkle the flour into melted butter, whisking constantly. Cook, whisking constantly, 30 seconds to 1 minute or until mixture is golden and lumpy.

Gradually whisk in the almond milk and bring to a boil. Cook, whisking constantly, 1 to 2 minutes, or until thickened.

Add the cheese, hot sauce, salt, pepper, and paprika, whisking until smooth. Remove from heat.

Once the quinoa is ready and the sauce is made, grab a large bowl and pour your cooked quinoa into the bowl. Add the cheese sauce. Then put the freshly chopped vegetables into the bowl. Mix well so that the vegetables and quinoa are evenly dispersed.

Pour the mixture into a 9×13 glass pan and place in the oven. Bake for 30 minutes or until the quinoa casserole is golden brown.

Serve and enjoy.

~*~*~

What can I say about this? For being something that I just took a concept from a blog…and then mixed up a sauce and threw it all together…the end result was really delicious and super healthy. Quinoa is packed with protein and combining it with fresh vegetables was a great way to boost the nutrition value of this meal. I was a big fan. And the spicy cheese sauce wasn’t overly spicy. It just gave enough of a little kick that you knew it was there.

Yeah…I’d make this again in a heartbeat.

December 19, 2012

Julie’s Organic Carrot Cake Ginger Ice Cream Sandwich Cookies like a frozen slice of gluten-free pie

Product: Julie’s Organic Carrot Cake Ginger Ice Cream Sandwich Cookies – $5.99+

Mmmmm…

The words gluten-free and ice cream sandwich are normally not found hand-in-hand. But thanks to the teaming up of Glutenfreeda (who provides the cookie portion of the ice cream sandwich) with Julie’s Organic Ice Cream…even the gluten-free can have a sweet taste of an ice cream sandwich. Even better…not being limited to just the chocolate cookies with the vanilla ice cream. While it is traditional and the most common, even in the ice cream sandwiches that are not gluten-free, Julie’s Organic Ice Cream offers up four different varieties of gluten-free ice cream sandwich cookies.

And I have now had them all…with my final taste going to the Carrot Cake Ginger Ice Cream Sandwich Cookie.

This one actually was the one that my roommate dreaded. She isn’t the biggest fan of carrot cake (unless I make it, she says) nor ginger…so she sort of put off eating this one until I just marched over to the freezer the other day when it was time for dessert and pulled these out. Her reaction, “Oh…we’re having those?” And picture this being said in the most unenthusiastic tone of voice one can conjure. She was really, really, really not happy that I made that decision.

However…her tune soon changed…

The Carrot Cake Ginger Ice Cream Sandwich Cookies are composed of ginger cookies made by Glutenfreeda that are soft and crumbly…like a pie crust. And the carrot cake ice cream is what fills these up and gives them their amazing combined flavor. I’ve never had carrot cake ice cream before, but if it always tastes like this…I want more of it in my life!!

These ice cream sandwiches were SO delicious. My roommate took the first taste while I was snapping pictures for the blog (as I tend to do). And she says, “Oh…it tastes like a frozen pumpkin pie!” I finished taking pictures as she went to sit down and nosh on hers a bit more and took my first taste. She was absolutely correct. Forget carrot cake flavor, these really did taste like a frozen pumpkin pie. The ginger cookie gave the illusion of a crust and the ice cream was just super good. I loved the combination of flavors and how they would melt together on my tongue. The cookies are super soft, so that adds a crumbly consistency to them which sort of makes these more pie-like in the end.

SO YUMMY!!

I found myself looking forward to dessert the next day…but dinner was taking forever to cook (naturally). But, anticipation is part of the fun, yes? And when we settled in to devour the final two in the package, we sadly big adieu to these ice cream sandwiches. Phenomenal flavor. I would totally buy these again in a heartbeat. Absolutely loved them.

So, if you happen to be out at the store and looking for something different to try…whether you need to eat gluten-free or not…I highly recommend trying Julie’s Organic Carrot Cake Ginger Ice Cream Sandwich Cookies. It’s a slice of heavenly pie in ice cream form…and boy…is it ever delicious!

Julie's Organic Carrot Cake Ginger Ice Cream Sandwich Cookie — Julie’s Organic Carrot Cake Ginger Ice Cream Sandwich Cookie

December 18, 2012

Safety for allergen-sensitive customers a priority at Harry & Izzy’s in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana

Restaurant: Harry & Izzy’s, Indianapolis, Indiana

Twas the night before the Santa Hustle Half Marathon and all through the city, this runner’s stomach was rumbling…and that meant one thing…gluten-free pizza.

It’s a race tradition for me these days. I tend to run better in races the day after I eat a gluten-free pizza dinner. Hey…I’m an athlete with superstitions now. And for me…the night before races means I have to eat gluten-free pizza (or gluten-free pizza related). The one time I didn’t eat something pizza related, I felt like death at the end of the race (granted, that might have been the 90% humidity that I ran in, but still…)

So, with that in mind, my roommate went on the hunt for places in downtown Indianapolis that offered gluten-free pizza that wouldn’t be too difficult to get to from our hotel. Just up the way was Harry & Izzy’s, who actually have a gluten-free menu…with, yes, gluten-free pizza on the menu.

Harry & Izzy’s is an independent, upscale American Grill with two locations: downtown and at the Indianapolis International Airport. It is actually the sister restaurant to the famous St. Elmo Steak House, which means they share a few classic dishes. Some of which are even on the gluten-free menu.

However…the added difficulty with me is that I’m also a vegetarian. So, with the exception of one of the salads, I was pretty much limited to the pizza anyway. But…I’m okay with that. The pizza was the entire reason I was there to begin with.

Dinner tonight was being shared with Cathy (the roomie) and our friend Greg. Once we were finally seated (they were changing over the tables from lunch to dinner, so it took our hostess three tries to get us to a table that was ready for us), we were handed menus and asked if we were going to want something other than ice water to drink. As I am running tomorrow, I stayed with the water. So did Cathy. We also went ahead and gave our waitress the heads up that I am medically gluten-free. She said she would go grab a gluten-free menu for me and that when she takes my order, the manager would come up and talk to me and ask if I had any questions with the menu. I actually loved that.

Greg arrived soon after and we settled into conversation as we had much to catch up on. Our waitress returned with the manager, Amy, who directed her focus right on me to talk to me about their gluten-free options. She asked if I had any specific questions regarding the menu. At that point, I didn’t. So she said our waitress would now take our order and if I had any concerns, to just ask for her. What a great perk. It really put my mind to ease about how the food was prepared on the gluten-free menu when the manager makes a point to come out and talk to me about it. Yeah, I felt confident. I was ready for some pizza.

So…we placed our orders. Greg went with the Steakburger, a burger served with cheese (he had them leave that off), lettuce, tomato, onion, and a spicy mayo ($12.00). He chose the coleslaw as his side item.

Harry & Izzy's Gluten-Free Thin Crust Pizza (topped with cheese, caramelized onion, and mushrooms) — Harry & Izzy’s Gluten-Free Thin Crust Pizza (topped with cheese, caramelized onion, and mushrooms)

Cathy and I decided that we would split the 10-inch gluten-free thin crust pizza on the menu. For our toppings, we chose cheese, mushrooms, and caramelized onions ($12.00). The plain cheese pizza normally runs $10, but each additional topping is $1 each. That is an awesome price for a gluten-free pizza, let me tell you!

Our waitress went to go put in order and for the time being, we got caught up on eveything that has been keeping our lives so busy as of late. It had been awhile since we last got together with Greg and we had much to talk about. As our food was nearing time to come out, I noticed our waitress grab a couple of plates for my roommate and I. She specifically wiped them off and placed them in front of us. I appreciated that too, as it means they are very aware of the dangers of cross-contamination and were taking no chances.

A few minutes later, our waitress was climbing the stairs with a tray laden with our food. The burger was set down in front of Greg and Cathy and I were given the pizza. Our waitress aid that the Parmesan cheese might have something in it to keep it fresher longer that might be gluten-free, but I prefer red pepper flakes on my pizza anyway…so my roommate got the fresh Parmesan and I took the red pepper flakes. I appreciated my waitress mentioning the possibility that the cheese wasn’t safe. That is often the case when it comes to Parmesan at restaurants anyway…so I normally just skip it regardless. I prefer a little added spice to my pizza regardless and always opt for the red pepper in the end.

The pizza was sliced so that Cathy and I would each get three slices. And let me tell you…this pizza was really delicious. It is brick oven baked, and that is evident from the crispness of the outer crust of the pizza. I did find the inner crust to be softer than I would normally like…but when you can’t bake a pizza on a pizza stone, that crispiness is sometimes very hard to achieve. That being said…I was impressed. With the first bite, the complete flavors of the sauce, the cheese, the mushrooms, and the perfectly caramelized onions all came together on my palate and it was just…yummy. Super, duper, delicious yummy! I don’t think the crust is actually made by Harry & Izzy’s…but the fact is they cook it up fantastically. And my roommate and I devoured each bite. Each slice was completely downed and enjoyed thoroughly.

And, yes, even after that…we left a little room for dessert. The waitress asked if I was feeling the Créme Brûlée…but it was the Sorbet that caught my attention. I love ice cream and frozen goodies…so the sorbet sounded like the perfect palate cleanser and way to end the meal. I was given a choice: lemon or raspberry. I decided on the Lemon Sorbet ($3.50). Cathy and Greg decided they would split the Signature Brownie ($8.00) from the homemade dessert menu. I couldn’t enjoy that chocolate goodness due to the brownie, but the dessert consisted of a homemade brownie topped with vanilla ice cream, hot fudge, caramel sauce and candied pecans.

Harry & Izzy's Signature Brownie (NOT GLUTEN-FREE) — Harry & Izzy’s Signature Brownie (NOT GLUTEN-FREE)

Our desserts arrived. I had two amazing scoops of delightful, light, pleasing lemon sorbet. I loved how it wasn’t too sweet or sour. It was the perfect level of each for lemon sorbet. My problem with sorbets normally is that they can be too sweet. So after a few bites, I’m done and craving something to counterbalance the sweetness. This wasn’t the case with this sorbet. It was balanced and refreshing. And it was just what I needed at the end of my meal.

The Signature Brownie was this tower of dessert awesomeness. It was definitely meant to split. Cathy and Greg managed, between them, to devour it completely. But it was a near thing. Cathy raved about the brownie base, saying that you could tell that it was freshly made. It died a very messy death between the two of them. And it looked so good. Now there is something I totally miss since going gluten-free…the amazing dessert sundaes I used to be able to help eat.

To say that I was impressed with the service and the food at Harry & Izzy’s is an understatement. I felt confident that the food I was receiving was safe to eat. They took very, very good care of me and were very careful with the food that I ordered. I have already said that whenever we are in Indianapolis, this had to be our go-to spot for food. There was plenty on the menu that caught Cathy’s eye…so she seems more than happy to go along with that.

Being a Celiac means that the food has to be safely prepared and served. Not every restaurant knows how to do that properly. But with Harry & Izzy’s…I had no concerns about the food I was served and appreciated all the attention given to me and others who have food allergies. I appreciated that the manager personally came out to talk to me and answer any questions I might have about food preparation and the menu in general.

When I feel that safe at a restaurant, of course I’ll want to go back. I’m looking forward to my return sometime in the near future.

Thank you, Harry & Izzy’s for the delicious, safe meal. I can’t rave about you enough. The precautions you take set my mind at ease and made me feel content in my decision to eat there. It means so much to me that you take that sort of care and consideration for those with food allergies.

I will be back. Oh yes…I will be back.

Harry & Izzy's Lemon Sorbet — Harry & Izzy’s Lemon Sorbet

December 18, 2012

Full-fledged and fantastic French toast that conjured up tears of joy…and a very full belly!

Restaurant: Annie May’s Sweet Café, Louisville, Kentucky

I’ve blogged about my local allergen-free bakery a few times now. But here’s the thing…they keep drawing me back in. Not only are their baked goods amazing (trust me, you wouldn’t guess that everything the serve there is gluten-free), but they offer specials each day they are open.

One of my favorite days to go to Annie May’s is Saturday. Why? Because they serve my favorite meal of the day: BREAKFAST!

A couple of weeks ago, my roommate and I were in the bakery for their allergen-free waffle breakfast. Unfortunately, their waffle irons were giving them issues that day. After a little bit of waiting…which we didn’t mind…the waffles finally emerged. But that week, when they reopened on Tuesday, they announced that after the issues with the waffles over the weekend, they threw away their waffle irons and would now offer a variety of French toasts instead.

I was immediately intrigued. Granted…I make French toast with my gluten-free sandwich bread at home all the time. And I do it a variety of ways too. Plain, stuffed, etc. But…something just screamed at me that I needed to have Annie May’s French toast.

Unfortunately…this is the holiday season and the past couple of weekends have been busy, busy, busy. Between races, shopping, holiday events, and long runs…getting over to the bakery in time for breakfast has not been easy. And the same seemed to be true for this weekend as well. Except my roommate, Cathy, is made of complete awesome. Despite heading out to Indianapolis for a race on Sunday, she said that this Saturday we could grab breakfast over at Annie May’s Sweet Café.

Much rejoicing and happiness. And after running a couple of errands in the morning prior to heading up to Indianapolis, Indiana for the race expo, packet pick-up, and whatever else we felt like doing, we pulled into Annie May’s Sweet Café with rumbling tummies ready for some food.

Of course, we now faced a dilemma. You see…they are also offering breakfast sandwiches, including one that is allergen-free…that had veggie sausage and everything. Oh…so tempting. And we almost went with that, but we had been discussing French toast prior to that. So…we stuck with that.

So, we each decided to get the Cinnamon French Toast ($9.99). I got mine with Earth Balance and she chose butter. But we both got maple syrup. Mmmm. It sounded heavenly. While we waited on our meal, we decided we would each enjoy one of Annie May’s delicious gluten-free doughnuts. The case had a variety of Gluten-Free Apple Cider Doughnuts. And I chose the Cinnamon-Sugar Apple Cider Doughnut ($2.49) and Cathy went with the Chocolate Ganache Apple Cider Doughnut ($2.49). Oh, it was a fine way to take away the tummy rumblies.

Let me tell you, though…after devouring my doughnut, imagine my surprise when my order of Cinnamon French Toast came out to the table. Being so accustomed to my usual French toast, I figured sandwich bread slices.

What emerged from the kitchen, however, were two thick-cut slices of gluten-free brioche bread, sweetened with cinnamon and sugar, and cooked to perfection. There was this beautiful golden crust on it. It wasn’t at all what I was expecting and I was suddenly regretting the decision to calm the hunger with a doughnut just prior to receiving the plate.

After giving a light spread of Earth Balance to each slice of bread, I sliced into the brioche, loving how the crusty outside gave way to the soft inside of the bread. I gave it a little dunk in my maple syrup and took my first taste.

It has been years since I have been able to eat French toast that wasn’t any thicker than the store-bought gluten-free sandwich breads. One bite and I thought I was going to cry. I now remembered why I fell in love with French toast. Because when it is done with the proper bread, it is beyond amazing. Honestly. There is just something so fantastic about eating a slice of French toast done with brioche. The thick-cut bread honestly makes all the difference. Tears of joy. Just…honest tears of joy at that first bite.

The French toast was super delicious. The crust was awesome…and I kept saving it for the last bites. I mean crisped up to perfection, golden, and seasoned with cinnamon. It melted with each bite. Pure perfection in French toast form. I was so happy.

But…these were definitely very filling. And after that first slice of French toast, I realized that either my roommate and I should have skipped the doughnuts or we should have split an order of the French toast. It was FILLING. But…we also were aware that we were not going to eat again until dinner in Indianapolis, so we polished off our plates and managed to waddle out of there quite full and quite satisfied.

My roommate can have French toast at any restaurant and she was raving about Annie May’s. The Cinnamon French Toast just hit the spot. Both of us killed off the food on the plate and enjoyed it down to the very last bite…even if we were already stuffed to the max. The French toast is definitely worth the trip into the bakery. Trust me…it is the best French toast I have eaten…anywhere. And the fact that no one would be able to tell it was gluten-free is what makes it even more amazing. Done to perfection…I’ll be dreaming of this breakfast for weeks.

If you live in the Louisville, Kentucky area, you should make a stop at Annie May’s Sweet Café a priority. Even if you don’t have food allergies, the food is so delicious, no one would be able to tell the difference.

I’m already looking forward to my next breakfast at Annie May’s Sweet Café. There is a gluten-free veggie sausage breakfast sandwich awaiting me. And I can’t wait to try it out. Because I haven’t had anything bad from Annie May’s Sweet Café yet. I have a feeling that isn’t going to change anytime soon.

Thank you, Louisville, for this gem of a bakery! Because of Annie May’s…I’ve been able to enjoy things I thought were forever off my food list. But because of this great bakery…that is no longer the case. And, more often than not, the item I purchase and indulge in is better than what I recall from before the food allergies struck. And that, dear foodies, is a food miracle.

Annie May's Sweet Café's Gluten-Free Cinnamon French Toast (with Earth Balance and maple syrup) — Annie May’s Sweet Café’s Gluten-Free Cinnamon French Toast (with Earth Balance and maple syrup)

December 18, 2012

Vegetarian sushi just got amazing at Dragon King’s Daughter

Restaurant: Dragon King’s Daughter, Louisville, Kentucky

Sushi!

Let me say it again…SUSHI!

I love sushi. Vegetarian sushi, of course…but I am enamored with it. The problem is…most of the people I know…are not. For real. Well, at least the people that I live near. Plenty of people I know would love to get sushi with me…they just live in other states and cities.

So, imagine my elation when my my dear friend, Amanda (the roomie’s sister) chose to have sushi as her celebration meal for graduating with her Masters degree in English Literature. I mean, jump for joy happiness. SUSHI!! In fact, it was all Amanda and I could talk about in the weeks leading up to the outing. Even on the day of, we had our own little countdown to sushi on Facebook. It was epic.

Well, I let her choose the place to go, sending her some of the better sushi places in the Louisville area. She, ironically chose the place the receptionist at the office has been raving about for quite awhile. And I was one happy girl.

The place: Dragon King’s Daughter.

Dragon King’s Daughter is located on Bardstown Road and is a contemporary Asian-fusion restaurant, offering traditional items on the menu as well as contemporary fare with a unique twist. The best part is…they can cater to anyone: the adventurous, the timid, the vegetarian, the vegan, the gluten-free, the meat eaters and the fish-loving. It was perfect for the three of us in our party. Amanda loves sushi. I love vegetarian sushi. And Cathy doesn’t like sushi at all, but the Asian-influenced tacos caught her eye.

We were greeted the moment we stepped inside and shown to a table. Our waiter came over with water and asked if we wanted anything else to drink. We stuck with just water…this time. And I went ahead and gave the heads up that I was a gluten-free vegetarian. He said he would go check on what veggie sushi was safe and returned a moment later, saying that if I specified gluten-free…any of them could be made gluten-free.

Joy and happiness.

So…in went our orders.

Cathy, the non-sushi eater opted for the Chorizo Yaki Onigiri ($4.50), which is a rice ball with Mexican chorizo sausage and cilantro, pan-fried in sesame oil and served with wasabi pesto. With it, she ordered the Shrimp Tempura Tacos ($10.00), which is shrimp tempura and avocado slices topped in mango chili sauce. For the record, she fell in love with the mango chili sauce. I mean…in love. And she devoured her tacos, praising them with each bite.

Our Master of the evening, Amanda, opted for the regular sushi rolls. Of the variety offered on the menu, she decided on two of the three that caught her eye. The first one was the California Roll ($8.00). The California Roll is exactly what it wounds like – blue crab, cucumber and avocado. She really enjoyed that one. The other was the Shrimp Tempura Roll ($5.50), which is shrimp tempura, spring mix, and unagi sauce. Devoured. Both of them. Just devoured.

As for me, the gluten-free vegetarian, I had a nice variety of veggie sushi to choose from. It made me so extremely happy. So, after some pondering, I decided to go with some flavors I hadn’t tried before when it comes to sushi. I also went with two sushi rolls. The first one I opted for was the Buffaroll ($7.00). The Buffaroll…I know…it sounds different…is a sushi roll filled with avocado, cucumber, and fresh mozzarella cheese. Oh, my sushi roll!! It was completely different from the sushi I normally end up getting, which means vegetable rolls normally. Not this time. And let me tell you, the mix of mozzarella with the rice and the vegetables was a spectacular. I fell in love with the soft texture and the varied flavors. The other roll I went with was the Summer Salad Roll ($8.00). The Summer Salad Roll is a mix of fresh mozzarella, organic spring mix, red onion, avocado, cucumber, and cilantro with a spicy mayo drizzle. Oh. My. God. No…for real. This was a fantastic blend of flavors. The spicy mayo drizzle was phenomenal. It really, really set off the rest of the items in the sushi roll. The vegetables were fresh and amazing. I loved the different textures and how the blend of rice, nori, cheese, and crispy vegetables just gave the entire roll some depth. But yeah…that spicy mayo was awesome. I would get this roll again every time I went there to eat.

Now, with that being said…I think it is safe to say that I was beyond impressed with Dragon King’s Daughter. And here is the best part…they are opening a branch across the river in New Albany, Indiana…just up the street from where I work. I think there are many sushi lunches in my future. And I am totally looking forward to that.

It is definitely safe to say that all three of us were impressed and quite happy with the service and the food at Dragon King’s Daughter. Each of us polished off our plates and were quite satisfied with each and every bite. We left there quite happy with our meal without being overly stuffed. It was the perfect meal with the perfect amount of food and the perfect hit of seasoning and flavor.

Yeah…I want the New Albany location to open…like…yesterday. I was that happy with my experience. Until then, I’m happy that this place is in Louisville and when the sushi craving hits, I can enjoy…and even my roommate can find something for her non-sushi eating palate.

Mmmm…can’t wait.

Dragon King's Daughter's sushi rolls: Back: Summer Salad Roll; Front: Buffaroll — Dragon King’s Daughter’s sushi rolls: Back: Summer Salad Roll; Front: Buffaroll

December 18, 2012

Boulder Canyon makes a delicious chip with Rice with Adzuki Bean Natural Sea Salt Snack Chips

Boulder Canyon Rice with Adzuki Beans Natural Sea Salt Snack Chips — Boulder Canyon Rice with Adzuki Bean Natural Sea Salt Snack Chips

Product: Boulder Canyon Rice with Adzuki Bean Natural Sea Salt Snack Chips – $2.99+

Who would have thought? A snack chip made out of rice flour and adzuki beans? It doesn’t seem at all natural or like it should be even found in nature. And…well, while not a natural occurrence in our natural environment, Boulder Canyon now delivers this straight to our grocery store aisles. Founded in 1994, Boulder Canyon has been producing all natural, kettle cooked potato chips that go beyond the standard brands in both quality and taste. This isn’t just me speaking…this is the company’s mission statement.

And…the thing is, they can back it up.

Prior to this, I had been able to try a few of Boulder Canyon’s Kettle Cooked Potato Chips. I first sampled them here in my area (shocking, I know!) and then found them again at a grocery store out in Los Angeles, California, while visiting some friends. We got them hooked on them as well. And as snack chips went, these were a safe (save for the Malt Vinegar and Sea Salt variety) as far as gluten-free chips went. Better still…they were delicious.

Well, as I’ve gotten more accustomed to the whole gluten-free snack thing…I’ve branched out some. So, when a couple of bags of Boulder Canyon Rice with Adzuki Bean Snack Chips were on super sale at Big Lots…I knew I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to try them. A blind tasting this time. No samples from a gluten-free fair or expo…this was something I just saw and went with. At the price with a 20% discount on top of it…I’d be hard-pressed not to make a purchase.

And, as is the norm, I had other snacks to work through first before I got to these…but the magical snack moment arrived yesterday. I needed a quick 3:00 p.m. snack for the office to see me through to when I could cook dinner. I had packed up a serving (1 ounce) of these chips and brought them with me for that purpose. When the time rolled around, I opened up my little container and took my first bite.

I fell in love with them. Yes…with one simple bite. The flavor was so familiar and distinctive…but it was light, non-greasy, and clean. I offered one to my teammate, who has a very picky and discerning palate, and she took a hesitant bite…but soon was crunching on the chip as well. She said the flavor reminded her of Cool Ranch Doritos. She was absolutely right. But it had a better flavor…less mess…and was just better all around. And trust me…Cool Ranch Doritos used to be my favorite chip! So this is saying something!

The Boulder Canyon Rice with Adzuki Bean Natural Sea Salt Snack Chips (whew…that’s a mouthful…but a delicious one!) are made from rice flour, corn starch, adzuki beans, and corn flour. They are seasoned with chili flakes, cumin, and sea salt. What this does then is lend a little bit of spice and bite to each chip, keeping each taste interesting.

The flavor of these chips, I believe, mostly comes from the adzuki beans, which tend to have a nutty flavor and are commonly used in Japanese dishes. They are low in fat and high in protein. That’s a great combination to base a snack chip off, don’t you think? And with the way Boulder Canyon slow cooks their chips using sunflower and/or safflower oil, you don’t need to worry about trans fat or cholesterol. All of their products are free from both.

The Rice with Adzuki Bean Natural Sea Salt Chips have 140 calories per serving and 7 grams of fat. That isn’t bad for a snack chip when it comes down to it. Even though this is a flavor that is based on sea salt…the sodium content is quite low (130 mg) and each serving provides 2 grams of protein. Not too shabby for a snack chip. These particular chips are also gluten-free (obviously) and non-GMO. They are all-natural, so no strange chemicals go into the making of this snack.

The flavor that these chips provide is unmatched. You wouldn’t even guess that they are made with beans. Never in a million years. You don’t taste the beans…you honestly just taste the delicious flavors that are packed into each bite, seasoned to perfection, and made as healthy as a snack chip can be. When you can back up your mission statement of providing superior flavor and superior products, then you’re doing your job well.

Boulder Canyon can definitely back up their claims. I would buy these again in a heartbeat! And as they taste like really fantastic tortilla chips, they’d be perfect to dip in hummus or salsa or even guacamole. Mmmm…something to try next time.

If you are looking for something different when it comes to snacks…be bold (heh…see what I did there?) and try Boulder Canyon’s Rice with Adzuki Bean Natural Sea Salt Snack Chips. I promise…it will be love at first bite.