It happens without fail…every time. When I am attending a big get-together and asked to supply a dish…it’s a vegetable. I can count on it. I can place money on that bet and win every time. Perhaps, in this group of people, it’s because I’m the only vegetarian…so it just makes sense. Regardless…sometimes getting a bit creative with a vegetable can be a task. Anyone can bring those steam-in-the-bag veggies and just give them a quick nuke in the microwave…but that’s not my style. Not anymore.
So, it came as no surprise to me on Thanksgiving that I was asked to supply the vegetable dish for the meal with my roomie’s family. At first, I thought of doing my famous confetti corn dish, but I had received 24 ounces of green beans in my CSA bin (along with a plethora of Thanksgiving veggies and fruits…that I probably could have cooked all the side dishes had I been allowed), so I changed my mind. But…how to dress up green beans and make them…interesting?
Well, for that I turned my attention to a Top Chef. No joke. I found a recipe on the Internet from Stephanie Izard (Season 4 winner of Top Chef, and the first female winner). The recipe was for her restaurants green beans, known as Girl and the Goat Magic Beans. It sounded…really good. And I only had to make a few minor adjustments to make it fit into my diet. Like…I didn’t use fish sauce, I just used more tamari sauce instead. That sort of thing.
The recipe was super-easy to prep for and really easy to prepare. Better yet…it was enjoyed by all at the table. These really are magic beans. Delicious green beans everyone will love. And the recipe…is below.
Girl and the Goat Magic Beans (Green Beans) – adapted from Stephanie Izard’s recipe
5 ounces fish sauce (I replaced with San-J Gluten-Free Low Sodium Tamari Sauce)
2.5 ounces soy sauce (I used San-J Gluten-Free Low Sodium Tamari Sauce)
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
3/4 teaspoon Sriracha
3 cloves garlic
1 cup mayonnaise (I use Trader Joe’s Reduced Fat Vegan Mayonnaise)
cashews (I used walnuts…but your favorite nut will do…or leave out if you have a nut allergy)
Directions:
Make the green bean dressing (yields 2 cups):
Combine lemon juice, fish sauce, soy, Dijon and sriracha. Transfer to blender, add garlic and emulsify with oil.
Make the aioli:
In a bowl, combine 1/3 cup of the green bean dressing (above) with 1 cup mayonnaise. Whisk together. Set aside.
Make the green beans:
Wash and trim the stems off the green beans.
In a large frying pan, heat a small amount of oil. Add the green beans and some sliced shallots for flavor.
Add enough vinaigrette to coat the green beans. Cover and allow to steam.
Add a handful or two of cashews (or nut of your choice) for flavor. Season with salt.
Transfer to a serving dish and drizzle with aioli.
Serve hot.
~*~*~
Stephanie Izard has said that her restaurant gets compliments for its vegetable dishes all the time. That being said…there is a reason for that. These were some of the best green beans I have ever eaten. The dressing and aioli really stepped up the flavor. And, the addition of the walnuts added a necessary texture to them. I would make these again in a heartbeat. Normally not a huge fan of green beans, these were fantastic.
There is a reason Stephanie won Top Chef all those years ago. With recipes like this…she’s winning over fans of her food even now. Even little home chef’s like me.
Want to dress up your green beans differently, I highly encourage you to give this recipe a shot. I wasn’t disappointed. My roomie’s family wasn’t disappointed. I promise…you won’t be either.
Me crossing the finish line of the Fast Freddie Five Mile Foot Feast – New Albany, Indiana
Race: Fast Freddie Five Mile Foot Feast
Place: New Albany, Indiana
Date: November 22, 2012
Time:38:24
A week ago, I had gone out on a five mile run, taking the route that I’ve been doing a majority of my five mile runs on…the route that the Fast Freddie Five Mile Foot Feast happens on. And each time that I have run it, I have come up close to…but not quite beating my fastest five mile time to date, which I set back on June 16 at the Activate America 5 Miler in Frankfort, Kentucky. I told Cathy, that morning after I got back from my run, that by next year, I hoped to run a five mile race in under 40 minutes.
She told me…I’d do it long before then.
And I laughed. No…I literally shook my head, laughed, and went back to making breakfast. I think I underestimate myself…
Fast forward to…Thanksgiving morning.
Now, most places on Thanksgiving have Turkey Trots and Drumstick Dashes and other fun Thanksgiving themed runs. Here in New Albany, Indiana, we have the Fast Freddie Five Mile Foot Feast. Which, doesn’t sound like a typical Thanksgiving run…but trust me…this happens to be THE Thanksgiving run. I participated in it last year (finishing in 44:48), making it my first official running of this New Albany tradition. And also lead me to discover that this is, without doubt, the least stressful race that I compete in all year.
Why?
Because it starts and finishes at the Floyd County 4H Fairgrounds…which just happen to be located across the street from my apartment complex. On Thanksgiving morning, I can sleep in a little. Get up in enough time to eat some cereal, change into running gear, stretch, and then step outside and walk across the street to mingle with the crowd a little, stretch some more, get accustomed to the weather (last year, I was in long pants and a jacket…this year…shorts!). After I finish, I can just meander back to my apartment, hop in the shower, and finish getting ready for Thanksgiving dinner without feeling rushed or stressed. Best race, logistically, for me.
And that was exactly how my morning went. Cathy and I walked out the door about 30 minutes before the start of the race. Already, our apartment complex’s main drive was filling up with parked vehicles of runners who were showing up for the race. Trust me…this is no small happening. Last year 880 people participated in the event. This year, they were expecting a record number of runners…and the area didn’t disappoint. The Fast Freddie Five Mile Foot Feast brought out 960 finishers this year. HUGE!!
And somehow, within those 960 racers, plus their friends and family who came to cheer them on…I get found by the people who spotted me in Hershey when I was there for the half marathon. They saw the sign, once again. Turns out they were also at the Hot Chocolate 15K as well. They even looked for my sign…but didn’t see it. SO funny! I really need to get their names at the next race I participate in and see them. Only seems right.
Anyway…it was in the mid-40s on Thanksgiving morning, so I decided I would wear shorts and a long sleeve tech shirt. Actually, I toyed with the idea of a short sleeve tech shirt and probably would have been just fine in that. But it was a bit chilly at the start of the race. I just tend to warm up faster than I think I will.
Soon after I shucked my jacket and finished a few stretches, runners were already making their way up to the line of white tape that crossed the entire street that we start on. It was just before the drive leading to my apartment complex. Like I said…I use this route on my five mile training runs, so I felt really prepared to tackle the myriad of hills that this course would offer at different points. Feeling so strongly about the run, I actually moved pretty far up (not in the front, mind you, but a few rows back) near the start line. All around me, runners were talking about their plans for the day, or upcoming runs, or what they were going to have for Thanksgiving. It was just a really good vibe and I could feel the electricity of the crowd. It can really lift a runner up when those around them are having a good time as well.
Soon, the announcement about the start of the race was being made over the bullhorn. Now, this is not officially a closed course, so as a personal choice, I didn’t run with my iPod or headphones. I do believe I run better when I have my music, but I am a safety first kind of person, and while there is a police presence out there helping with traffic control…the fact that there is still traffic and vehicles that pass by, I choose not to listen to music on this run. I didn’t last year either for the same reason. Despite this, there was so much commotion and conversation going on with all the runners that I couldn’t hear what was being said anyway. All I know is that the front line of runners hunched down to take their marks…so it was almost go time.
A horn sounded. And off we went.
So, last year when I ran the Fast Freddie for the first time, I ran this route for the first time. What I didn’t know then was how hilly this course is. When you drive it in a car, you don’t even realize it. But when you are racing up these inclines and hills…yeah…you suddenly take note of them. I remembered this…and this past year have embraced running some of this course to get used to the hills. When New Albany installed sidewalks down Grant Line Road, I could now run the entire route, safely. And by doing so, I trained my legs not to fear those hills, but to power up them.
Within the first mile, we tackle one of the steeper ones. This one actually comes within the first half mile. It is so close to the start of the race that it’s enough to strike fear into some of the first-timers. Runners are sent up an incline leading to a bridge that crosses over the highway. I’ve done this portion of the run more times than I can count…coming from both sides of the bridge. I do not fear this hill. I use this as a challenge as often as I can. And on the Fast Freddie, despite my legs being a bit cold from the slight chill in the air…I powered up it just as I would have in a training run. I ran down the rest of Green Valley Road to the turn onto Mount Tabor. Here we tick off Mile 1. And it was there that I noticed the clock said 7 minutes and some-odd seconds and I knew I had gone out fast. Faster than my training runs even.
Going into Mile 2 is a mostly flat course, with just a couple of minor, rolling hills. Nothing that is too challenging to say the least. It is probably the easiest of the miles to run. The entire length of Mount Tabor Road is run, and then racers are directed onto Grant Line Road. Here, we pass by Mile 2 and make our way to Sam Peden Community Park. We turn onto Alex Thorn Drive and we encounter a water stop, just outside the fire department. I bypassed it, aiming to tackle the incline leading into the park. It doesn’t look like much…but it is quite tough to get up. I know…I do it pretty often.
Mile 3 is halfway through the park. Last year, this was where a horrible side stitch got me and I had to slow my pace a little until it passed. I didn’t walk though. This year, I flew by it without an issue at all. I was no longer even looking at the clocks, I was just running. Like I said, I made a point to run this course often. The park is one of my favorite places to run anyway…especially on weekend mornings before a lot of people are up. It’s quite and peaceful. And with the small, rolling hills, a little challenging without being too hard. But after Mile 3 we hit the most difficult portion of the run.
Runners leave Sam Peden Community Park via Schell Lane. Schell Lane offers a nice variety of hills. Not small rolling inclines. No. When I say HILLS, I mean HILLS. And we get just over a half mile of them. It’s nice, because you start off with a slight downhill. But then you meet your first uphill. Not much of a downhill follows that and then it’s back up a hill. Here you do get a downhill run, but the next (and last) huge hill you run up is quite steep. On my training runs, I always congratulate myself for reaching the top. No…I really do. I did the same during the race. It’s not easy running Schell Lane. I always tell myself when I get to that portion that it just means the worst part is almost over.
As a reward, as you head into Mile 4, you get a nice downhill run on Daisy Lane. I love this part. The downhill gives my legs a little bit of a reprieve, because I tend not to push on the downhills, just let myself go with the momentum, while keeping some control. I don’t want to get injured, so I try to reign in the urge to just fly. It levels off though and the rest of Daisy Lane means you really have to push. But, at the end of Daisy Lane, you come back onto Green Valley Road and soon you only have the last half mile to go.
That is an amazing feeling. If you are familiar with the area, then you know that last half mile doesn’t take too long to run. It’s just past the Catholic cemetery, and from there, you can even see the Floyd County 4H Fairgrounds. The finish line awaited. So, I pushed a little more. I pushed because last year I had so many people passing me and this year…I didn’t want that. I pushed because I knew I could. I’d done it before. I’d done it countless times. I knew every up and down of this stretch of road better than any other in New Albany. Every outdoor run ends with this portion. So…I ran my heart out.
I turned into the 4H Fairgrounds and could see my sign near the finish line. Cathy was cheering me on. I noted the clock at 38 minutes. I was doing so much better than even I anticipated. I gave it my all and crossed the finish line in 38:24. I paused my Garmin and continued through the chute in the order I finished, handing off the bottom of my race bib and rounding through only to spot Cathy already waiting for me on the other side. Biggest (and best) surprise was that she brought my water bottle with her. She apparently saw me off, took stuff back to the apartment, grabbed some water and was back at the finish line to cheer me on. See…it really is the least stressful race of all year. She’ll agree with me on that in a heartbeat. She handed me the water and took my card I was handed to fill out for a chance to win prizes in the raffle.
Me with Santa at the awards ceremony for the Fast Freddie Five Mile Foot Feast
We decided to stick around for the raffle as well as the awards…because, despite it being Thanksgiving…I love doing that. I grabbed a couple of extra water bottles, took a short walk, then went inside the main building of the Floyd County 4H Fairgrounds. There were only a few people inside, so we went over to look at the records and past winners. Then scoped out the cool trophies for the top finishers. It was fun. I finished all the water and we got to see the top three men and top three women get their awards. Raffles were handed out. I spotted Santa and got my picture taken with him. And then age group awards were given.
Afterwards, no stress of trying to get out of a parking lot and get on the road. We simply walked across the street and headed back to our apartment building. From there, I took a quick shower and got to work on the vegetable dish I was bringing to Thanksgiving dinner.
Later that afternoon, the results were up on the page. I immediately pulled them up and got to share that moment with my roommate and her family.
Official results of the Fast Freddie Five Mile Foot Feast are that I finished it in 38:24! Yes…my fastest 5 mile time to date. And yes, my roommate earned the right to tell me that she told me so when it came to finishing a 5 mile race in less than 40 minutes. I figured I could do it, I just didn’t expect it to happen so soon. I was 173/960 overall; 7/79 in my division. Results for just the women runners haven’t been posted yet. I am surprised, to say the last. When last year I was ranking 437 overall…jumping up to 173 is a TOTAL improvement. In my division last year, I was 18/78 runners. When I can compare results like that…I really can see how my training, and my podiatrist (since my injury) have helped make me a better runner. I’ve been running outside more. I’ve been diligent with my miles and listening to my body. I’ve come back from a crippling injury and become a fighter and a stronger runner due to it.
And on Thanksgiving…I had reason to give thanks for the chance to be able to run…and the gift of the run. And I’m thankful for all of you…who cheer me on either at the races, or over the miles and the Internet.
For as long as I live in this area, I intend to make the Fast Freddie Five Mile Foot Feast a Thanksgiving tradition.
I admit it. The only reason I had a soup that had acorn squash and mango in it was that it was on sale. Super-duper sale. At Big Lots, I believe. I mean, I love Imagine Soups. And I love soups that use squash as a base. I was okay with that part. It was the mango part of this soup that was throwing me. However, the expiration date was nigh and I never let anything go to waste in my pantry. It’s a rule that I swear by. So…therefore, I knew that dinner this week was going to be Imagine Organic Acorn Squash & Mango Soup with vegan, gluten-free grilled cheese sammies. Yep. Soup and sandwiches. Just before Thanksgiving…it seemed logical to me.
This soup doesn’t look like much on its own. It’s a deep yellow color. That’s about all I can tell you about it. It’s got this richness in texture though due to how smooth and creamy it is after you shake it up and pour it into a pan to warm.
Imagine Organic Creamy Acorn Squash and Mango Soup is a simple soup by standards. Its ingredients include filtered water, organic acorn squash, organic mango puree, organic onions, organic butternut squash, organic potatoes, organic carrots, organic celery, organic oils, organic evaporated cane juice, organic ginger, organic spices, organic orange zest…and seasonings like sea salt. Organic tapioca starch is also included, probably to give it that creamy base in the end. What’s not to love about that ingredients list, right? It’s all organic. It is all items that I recognize and could pull out of a vegetable line-up. No hidden chemicals or indecipherable ingredients. That’s one thing I love about Imagine’s organic soup line.
But what it comes down to when it comes to soup is taste. Well, this soup doesn’t lack for flavor. It’s smooth and has a perfect balance of sweetness and savory. That’s where the mango really came in. It added just the right amount of sweetness to the squash flavoring. The other vegetables help add a depth of flavor that just makes each spoonful a delight. I loved it. I’d spoon it up on its own, and I’d dip my sandwich into it at times. It was good either way. And I loved that a serving size (1 cup) only set me back 70 calories. Show me other creamy soups that can offer that kind of nutritional value. You’d be hard-pressed to find one.
This soup is also low in sodium (430 mg) as well, which is always important when it comes to packaged soups. More often than not they are loaded with more sodium than anyone would even need in a day. I love that about Imagine’s soup line as well. They tend to offer more nutritional value, but still keep it flavorful and delicious. I am totally looking forward to polishing this off tonight.
Once again, Imagine puts out a product worthy of high praise. I don’t know why the combination worried me. In the end, it was delicious and that, my friends, is the important thing. The fact that it is one of Imagine’s gluten-free soups is also a plus. Check them out if you haven’t yet. They have an endless line of amazing gluten-free soups. I can’t wait to try out even more of them.
Imagine Natural Creations Organic Creamy Acorn Squash and Mango Soup
I still remember the day the announcement from Katz Gluten-Free came through my e-mail. It was this little bright spot in a busy, hectic day. After having introduced gluten-free donuts (which are the best out there…hands down!), Katz Gluten-Free was now offering…donut holes! YES…donut holes!
And why not? No bit of delicious gluten-free donuts should be wasted. Not even the little center part that gets cut out.
I knew…that moment…I had to have some. So, I placed an order.
And when they arrived I did a little dance of joy. Happiness. Donut holes. Just like what I used to eat as a kid from Dunkin’ Donuts. Just…smaller. And healthier for me too, when it comes to donuts. I have always been a sucker for donut holes. They are easy to just bite into and nibble on. Little bite-size wonders of donutty goodness. Few things make me as happy as donut holes…except gluten-free donut holes…because I can actually eat those.
Well, after the immediate elation of having Katz Gluten-Free Cinnamon Donut Holes…they ended up just being packed away in the freezer. Life was busy…and I was working my way through other delicious gluten-free treats. But with this being a short week thanks to Thanksgiving…I needed something to eat after hitting up the gym yesterday. My answer was found in my freezer. And Katz Gluten-Free once again saved the day. These little donut holes were there and I now had something to fill my belly after hitting up the cardio and weights at the gym before heading into work. Perfect.
I was a bit confused on the serving size. I think the nutrition information that is on the carton actually pertains to the Katz Gluten-Free Cinnamon Donuts. The box says that it serves 6, which would mean each package contains enough for each serving to be 3 donut holes with two left over. This seems like a very small serving for 160 calories. But…that’s what the package said, so I ran with it. As I was hitting the gym, I decided that I’d eat one of the extra ones in the serving size. Why not? I let them thaw overnight in a plastic bag and when I got into the office the next day, I put them on a plate and gave them a quick 10 second heat in the microwave.
Yeah…these just cemented the reason that Katz Gluten-Free have my favorite donuts. Even the donut holes are awesome. What I love about the Cinnamon Donut Holes is that they are little bites of sweetness, without being too much. I love donut holes for that reason. They are the perfect size to just…pop!! Let me tell you…I’d be hard pressed to not sit down with the entire package and devour them all in one sitting. It won’t happen. But…it would be oh…so tempting. These little donut morsels are soft, and have a great cake donut texture. They aren’t heavy in the slightest.
My only complaint would be that I would definitely feel more satisfied for the 16o calories if I were actually eating the donut. Then again…like I said…the nutrition information is definitely incorrect on the donut holes, so who is to say what the serving size is or how many calories I was consuming. Maybe an entire box is only one donut. I don’t know. I just will portion these out so as not to go through them too quickly and enjoy every little donut hole bite.
Truly delicious.
Katz Gluten-Free…you keep winning me over. And if you keep making donut varieties such as this…well…my paychecks will continue to head your way. Thank you for setting such a high standard for gluten-free foods and treats. I have yet to meet a product I didn’t like.
Actually, until this journey to Columbus, Ohio, I had never even had a macaron. I have heard of them, looked at them online, even thought about making them myself. What is a macaron? Is it really a macaroon? Nope. There actually is a difference.
A macaroon is an American version for a flourless egg-white based cookie. Most often it is made with coconut.
A macaron, however, is a French cookie made with almond and egg whites that are sandwiched around a cream-based filling. They are often found in a rainbow of colors and a variety of flavors.
I don’t know how Jenn and I stumbled across the Web site for Pistacia Vera on Saturday morning…but we did. And we noticed they had a gluten-free menu. On it were a plethora of baked items…including every macaron that they made. Yes…macarons are gluten-free because they are made with almond flour. Gotta love that. So, after stopping by the race expo for the Hot Chocolate 15K, we hit up a market, and on our way to get ice cream, we swung by Pistacia Vera to get some macarons to take with us.
Pistacia Vera is a sleek looking dessert boutique located on South Third Street in German Village in Columbus, Ohio. They are a from-scratch pastisserie which boasts a menu of over 60 seasonal pastries and confection. All made by-hand and with great care. They specialize in classic European technique, making it a truly special stop while in Columbus. Their Web site boast that their coffee and espresso are considered to be the best in town. If it’s made like it is in Europe…or even France for that matter…I bet they’re right.
I didn’t get coffee when I was in there that morning, however. I was there on a mission. A mission…for macarons.
Jenn picked four she wanted to choose and Cathy and I decided to split the difference and each choose two to sample. We were actually quite interested in the same flavors, but I let her take them and went for a couple of other delicious sounding ones.
Pistacia Vera’s Buckeye Macaron, Maple Walnut Macaron, Peppermint Chocolate Macaron, and Mocha Hazelnut Macaron
In the end, Cathy got the Peppermint Chocolate Macaron ($1.25) and the Buckeye Macaron ($1.25). Since those two were taken by my roomie, I opted to give the Maple Walnut Macaron ($1.25) a try and the Mocha Hazelnut Macaron ($1.25) a try. They both definitely sounded delicious. Actually, the entire display case of macarons sounded awesome, but I figured as I had never had a macaron before, I would start small and I could always come back for more. As we were checking out, I spotted the gluten-free caramels near the register. Specifically the Cashew Caramel with Fleur de Sel ($1.50). We got one single piece of that and were on our way. With much to do that day, like going out of town, the cookies and caramel got left behind at Jenn’s house.
But Sunday after my 15K race…we all split the Cashew Caramel with Fleur de Sel (I forgot to take a picture of it!). It was delicious. Very light. Not too chewy, but just enough. It wasn’t going to get lodged in your teeth. This was caramel done right and done well. It had a delicious flavor to it. I love cashew, so it was the ideal one and probably why it caught my eye. Even though she groused about having to eat a caramel, my roommate seemed to like it well enough. It just took her forever to eat it because she was just in a grumpy mood and thought it would get stuck in her teeth. She has a thing or two to learn about good caramel. Hopefully this helped.
The macarons, however, made the journey back to Louisville with us. And last night, I decided that they would be perfect to have for dessert. After polishing off dinner and doing up the dishes, I pulled out the macarons and dished out each of our chosen ones. Cathy got the green minty one and the deep brown chocolate/peanut butter one. And I got the two lighter colored ones. I was looking forward to trying these out for the first time.
Cathy had already taken a bite of each of hers by the time I made it back out to the living room. She declared that they were both really good, but that she really liked the Buckeye one. Being that it was chocolate and peanut butter, I now kicked myself for not getting it. But, alas…there will be other options.
I settled in and decided to give the Maple Walnut Macaron a try first. It was the lighter one of mine. One bite and I was hooked. The light, chewy outer layer was fantastic and very delicious. I loved how these treats weren’t heavy at all, despite being sandwiched around a layer of cream filling, usually a buttercream or a ganache. It was love at first bite. So, I moved onto the Mocha Hazelnut one…and yeah…that was like taking a bite out of a fresh coffee. Honestly. The flavors are amazing and just simple. I loved the softness of the cookie and the richness of the cream inside. I could have probably eaten more of these and not felt full at all. They are that light and airy. And yeah…I’m now a fan of macarons. Go figure.
Maybe I will give making them a try sometime.
Until then, I am thankful for places like Pistacia Vera in Columbus, Ohio…for having a gluten-free selection that is awesome and extensive…and so very good. Yeah…I’ll definitely be visiting this place again. They have way more flavors of macarons for me to try. And maybe I will get some coffee next time…just to see if it really is the best in town.
Pistacia Vera’s Maple Walnut Macaron and Mocha Hazelnut Macaron
Me crossing the finish line of the Hot Chocolate 15K – Columbus, Ohio
Race: Hot Chocolate 15K/5K
Place: Columbus, Ohio
Date: November 18, 2012
Time:1:13:28
There is just something about running for chocolate, I guess, that makes me move faster than I ever imagined possible. That seems to be my mojo when it comes to races that involve chocolate. Honestly. The last two races I have run that have involved some sort of chocolate at the end have turned out my fastest times yet. I think I see a pattern, yes?
But, once again, I am getting ahead of myself.
I was so excited to see a race on a weekend that I was going to be in Columbus, Ohio. Nevermind that I was going to be about two hours away the night before seeing a concert. Why take that into consideration? After all…this was the Hot Chocolate 15K/5K race. Hot chocolate. You get hot chocolate and chocolate fondu with goodies at the end. Seriously!! It came down to which distance I wanted to do that day. In the end…I chose the 15K.
Packet pick-up was held on Friday and Saturday at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio. We went down there Saturday morning…and after getting lost in a sea of ballroom gowns and dancers, we finally found the small expo where I could get my number and my goodie bag. The swag for this one was cool…a windbreaker. I was pretty excited to be getting a jacket instead of a shirt. However, in the end, Cathy purchased a long-sleeve tech shirt for me too. And I love it. After that…it was off to run a few errands, go back to Jenn’s, get ready to leave for Cleveland, meet up with friends for dinner, enjoy a concert…and drive back that night. The following morning…I would run. It occurred to me that choosing to do this race might not have been the best idea I ever had. But, I was committed to it now.
It was really early on Sunday morning and I was at my friend Jenn’s house. While I often wake up at 5:40 a.m. (or earlier) for races, this one was difficult to get up for. Why? Because I had been up in Cleveland, Ohio the night before at The Monkees concert. The drive back to Columbus got us back to Jenn’s by around 1:30 a.m. or so. We all immediately got ready for bed and it was near 2:00 a.m. when that happened. A couple hours of sleep and my cell phone blared my GO RUN! alarm. I was out of bed, shambling toward the bathroom with my race day clothes and talking myself into actually going. I love to race, but I was dead on my feet and I knew it was a cold morning. Sometimes it’s hard to get started when those are your conditions.
But…I managed. Made my way downstairs to eat the cereal I brought with me and get the race bag packed up and ready to go. I made sure that Cathy had a Luna Bar to eat while I ran. Just cereal for breakfast is not an option. I grabbed my Smart Water from the fridge and began to just get a few things together while sipping some water to make sure I was hydrated…without drinking too much. I am a princess…and the thought of having to use a port-a-pottie is not a pleasant one for me. Jenn made it downstairs…had a light breakfast as well and got a few things together. I went to brush my teeth then get my bib number pinned onto my front.
The big debate now came. Do I bring the hydration belt or not? This was actually my first 15K distance race. I have pretty much covered everything else under a half marathon distance. It would be 9.3 miles when all was said and done. I know I’ve run that far without my hydration belt before, but it was cold…and I still have yet to get that thing to sit right on my waist so it doesn’t bounce and try to move around to the front. In the end…I left it behind this time and said I’d just make use of the water stops. There were four of them along the course, so I wouldn’t have to worry about becoming dehydrated. When the weather turns cold, that can be a major problem as most runners won’t even realize that they are dehydrated.
With all that said and done…we shambled out into the cold morning to get in the car and make our way downtown to the Hot Chocolate 15K. We expected this to be an easy commute…and for the most part…it was. That is until we got near the race area. Then…then it got a little congested. Lights would change and lanes wouldn’t move. We knew where we wanted to park but it literally took forever to get there. It was 7:20 a.m. when we finally got to the parking garage and I was already eating my pre-race banana. Yes. In the car.
We parked and began to make our way up the stairs of the parking garage to the street level. We got there just in time to see a wave of runners take off. Ah…the 5K was off and running already. Sure enough…it was past 7:30 a.m. and their race was now starting. We stepped outside so Cathy could snap some pictures and we cheered for the last few waves to go through the start gate. We laughed at a couple of the costumes being worn by some of the runners. With the 5K off and running, RAM Racing (the peeps putting on the Hot Chocolate 15K/5K) began to get set up to send the 15K runners off.
I didn’t have much time to get accustomed to the chill of the air…or stretch. So as they began to put someone in place to hold the Corral G (my corral and the one that lead off the race) sign, I did a few important stretches to get my muscles a little warm. I gave Jenn a hug and she sent me off with the traditional (and lucky) blessing of “Don’t pants your poop! The power of Dean [Karnazes] compels you!” I love Jenn!! She always makes me laugh and can take the pressure and tension out of any situation with a simple phrase. Cathy and I went toward where they were loading runners into Corral G. She gave me a hug, took my warm fleece jacket from me, and told me to have fun and assured me that I was going to do great. Cathy is awesome like that. Even when I have doubts she makes it seem like this will be an easy run…just like training…just like a fun run. No pressure. Just go out and do what I love. I honestly have some of the best peeps cheering for me. Seriously.
The announcer at the start line was thankfully energetic and getting runners pumped up. I actually needed that. But as I hit the button on my Garmin to begin finding satellites, I was already starting to get excited for the run. It’s hard not to when you have the energy of other racers around you. Despite being chilly, it was a beautiful, sunny day in Columbus. So, it would be a good run. Actually, the temperature was a few degrees warmer than originally predicted. I felt a bit overdressed in my long sleeve tech shirt with my running jacket over it. In fact, I figured I was probably going to get too warm in it. But…too late to change any of that.
The 8:00 a.m. start time crept closer and we soon had a countdown to go-time. I started my iPod when it reached the 15 second mark. And then…the horn sounded and we were off. I passed Jenn and Cathy on the way through the Start gate, just after starting (and again, stopping…stupid gloves!) my Garmin. I flashed a smile and a peace sign…and I was off. And I restarted my Garmin a few steps down the way.
The first 5K of the race was spent running the length of North High Street. This was a great stretch to run. Only a few minor inclines…but mostly flat. I hit the first mile marker and noticed the clock time was showing a fantastic, but fast, pace for me. I thought to slow down, but my legs were feeling good and the cool weather was definitely assisting. The first mile marker also was where the 5K run turned off of High Street. The 15K runners were to continue on. And I did. Mile 2 flew by just as fast, again, the clock showing a better time than I was used to. Mile 3 was next…and at the 5K mark, I had managed to clock my fastest 5K time to date (which doesn’t count as this is not a 5K race…but hitting 5K in 24:07 was an awesome feeling). Yeah…I may have been tired and running on fatigued legs…but this race was agreeing with me. I only worried that perhaps I was going out too fast. I tend to do that at races and then I fade at the end. Soon after the 5K line we began to wind and twist through small roads near and around The Ohio State campus. Yeah. There were quite a few turns made coming into Mile 4.
Just after Mile 4, I decided to make use of the water stop. I ran past the Gatorade pushers and to where water was being handed out. I managed to work my way toward the back and snag a cup (no easy task in knit gloves). I sipped from it and then tossed the rest of it. I just needed a little and I was back on the path and running. The clock on Mile 5 was a bit screwed up, so I stopped paying attention to them after that. I tend to do better when I run and not pay attention to my time. Takes the pressure off. Miles 5 and 6 ticked off in no time and I hit the 10K marker with my fastest 10K time to date as well (again…it wasn’t in an official 10K race…so no points for it…but hitting 10K with a time of 48:25 was thrilling!). I made use of the water stop here as well, taking another few sips of water before continuing on.
All I had left ahead of me was a 5K race.
The last bit of the race always seems the longest. I don’t know why. But, I was going to make this happen. Mile 7 and Mile 8 were flat and easy. I bypassed the water stop there, but got caught up in the crowd. And then…somewhere just at the start of Mile 9…we get a hill. Yeah. That’s just evil. So, I push myself up the hill and just continue on. I know I’m getting close because I’m running past the convention center. I can hear announcements being made. I round another corner and there it is…the Finish. I can see runners going through and I pick up my pace as much as I can. We all know that I am not a sprinter…so my finishes are never with a flourish of speed…but I do try to push harder at the end. I passed by the DJ that was keeping the crowds going and the runners encouraged near the finish and blew on through, catching sight of Cathy and Jenn on the side, waving my sign and cheering.
My Finisher’s Mug for the Hot Chocolate 15K/5K with all the goodies included
It felt great. I paused my Garmin and walked over to where they were standing. Cathy told me to make my way through the recovery area and meet them near the booths where they were handing out the Finisher’s Mug (yes…mug). I managed to weave through other finishers and find them in the recovery area. I tore the tag off the bottom of my race bib and went to retrieve my Finisher’s Mug. I was handed a giant plastic mug that had hot chocolate in a cup in the middle, a well filled with fondu chocolate. A full banana, a marshmallow, two vanilla wafer cookies, a Rice Krispie treat, and a square of chocolate. Oh yes…I do love running for chocolate.
However, given my food allergies…I enjoyed the banana dipped in chocolate and the chocolate square. I let Cathy and Jenn split the rest, which they happily did. And they let me finish using the dipping chocolate first so there would be no cross-contamination. My friends are awesome. With our bellies happy and full of chocolate, we decided to call it a race well-run and return to Jenn’s so I could shower and we could think about heading out to grab a bite at P.F. Chang’s.
I would totally run in another Hot Chocolate 15K race in a heartbeat. SO much fun. If one comes to your area, I highly encourage you to sign up for it or the 5K and run for some chocolate goodness. It’s fun. I promise!
Official results of the Hot Chocolate 15K are that I finished it in 1:13:28! That is now my benchmark for a PR in a 15K. So when I run the Boilermaker in Utica, New York this coming July…I know what I’m aiming to beat. I was 312/3021 overall; 129/2234 women; 24/347 in my division. Do you even know how awesome those stats sound to me. I am still surprised I could run that fast and that much on so little sleep and very tired legs.
Running for chocolate is always a good incentive to run. I just seem to run faster when it’s involved. Really had a great time at this race and was so glad that I did choose to run in it, even with the logistical nightmare of everything that came before it. I hope Columbus hosts it again next year because I’d love to come out and do it again!
Restaurant: Deagan’s Kitchen & Bar, Lakewood, Ohio
Sometime the best laid plans fall through and you have to find a plan B.
Welcome to my world on the night of The Monkees concert up in Lakewood, Ohio. Now, I have a friend who lives in Lakewood and we had made plans to all meet up prior to the show for dinner. Our original spot of choice was somewhere I found on Find Me Gluten Free. A little joint called Tommy’s Pizza and Chicken. Sounds like a dive, yes? But sometimes dives have the best food.
Unfortunately…we never found out. Upon arriving at Tommy’s, we could see that it was more of a carry-out sort of place than an eat-in. That wasn’t going to work…at all. It definitely was a dive. And after a couple of texts with my friend in the area, Cathy (yeah…2 Cathy’s…try to keep them straight), we laid out a couple of alternatives. Get gluten-free pizza to go and bring it to her place. Check out Aladdin’s (they serve up Lebanese/American food). But, with a little magic from my Yelp app on my phone under the gluten-free friendly tag…I discovered Deagan’s Kitchen & Bar, a gastropub that wasn’t too far away. It had good ratings. I suggested it. We all agreed to meet there.
Deagan’s was a happening place that night. Very busy. Very lively. We stepped inside and were greeted by the hostess. I said that there would be five of us so they went to prepare a table. We ended up being positioned near one of the windows in the front…but in a quieter side room. That was definitely a good thing. We were given menus to look at and brought some water to start with. Although tempted with the drink menu, we forwent that. Cathy (the roomie) got a Diet Coke for caffeine purposes, but Jenn and I stuck with water. I explained to our waitress, Anisa (she’s awesome, BTW!), that I was a gluten-free vegetarian. She said they had a special menu for me and would swap mine out with it. She returned a moment later with a menu with certain items highlighted and little notes written on it for how to make something gluten-free (like no pita bread). She said there were some vegetarian options on there as well. It was nice to have that kind of peace of mind.
Cathy (the other one) and her sister arrived soon after and got settled in with drinks and menus. We talked and talked and talked and finally decided that we should probably order since we did have a concert to make. Anisa returned ready to take our orders.
Cathy (the roomie) ordered her standard, must-have, when it is on the menu. Fish and chips ($18.00). Jenn decided to try one of their small plates and ordered the Polenta Croutons ($8.00). The polenta croutons are cubes of fried polenta served with sauteed mushrooms, Parmesan and parsley. It was different and it looked really good. And Jenn even tried to eat the mushrooms…but in the end, they were left behind. The rest, however…she devoured. Cathy (the local) ordered the small plate of Mac and Cheese ($11.00), which was a rather big bowl of noodles, Gruyere cheese and chives. She got it with a side of the Brussels sprouts ($ Cathy’s sister, Sarah, ordered the small plate of Seared Scallops ($12.00), which consisted of two large scallops and was served with shaved Brussels sprouts with grapefruit and pomegranate. She got a side of the House Fries with it. As for me…I decided to go with a salad in the end. I chose to go with their Arugula Salad ($8.00) and, since it was marked gluten-free, give their House Fries ($7.00) a try.
Anisa went to put our orders in and for the rest of the time before food arrived, all of us were chatting up a storm. We talked movies, books, music, concerts, work…you name it. And conversation continued even when food arrived to the table. It took some time. I was okay with that. Again, I don’t mind having to wait on my food. It means that it is prepared fresh and to order. Not sitting under some heat lamp somewhere or getting to know a microwave.
Deagan’s House Fries
My Arugula Salad was stunning, by the way. Simple. Very pleasing to the eye. Not a lot of color, but what was there popped. Deagan’s Arugula Salad consists of arugula, shaved fennel, Parmesan and pine nuts. It is lightly dressed in a lemon oil. Now, normally I find arugula to be too peppery on its own…but with the saltiness of the Parmesan and the pine nuts, it all balanced out. The lemon oil, however, is what really tied it all together. While the salad looked simple, the layers of flavor in there seemed complex. It all worked. It was fantastic and delicious. And I enjoyed it more than I normally enjoy a salad at restaurants. Honestly. This one was really good.
There were a lot of House Fries in my side order, so I shared with Jenn and Cathy (the roomie). They were fantastic cuts of potato that were topped with shaved Romano cheese and truffle oil. It was served with a spicy mayo. Oh. My. Potato. Gods. These fries were really good and really addictive. No joke. The simple addition of shaved Romano cheese and a hit of truffle oil just took them from standard fries to something that was out-of-this-world good. And different. The spicy mayo that it was served with was delicious and I took great pleasure in dipping my fries into them. Yeah…for a different twist on fries…I highly recommend these.
In the end, we all agreed that Deagan’s was the perfect place to end up when all was said and done. Our waitress took fantastic care of our table. We all enjoyed and devoured our food. Cathy (the local) had left over mac & cheese…which she took home in a box. There was a lot in that bowl they brought her. She and Sarah ended up splitting the special dessert of the night, a bread pudding with caramel and pear. It sounded divine…and looked it too.
Afterwards, we paid our checks and headed out. Cathy and her sister were heading back to her place. We had The Monkees to go and see. In the end, I am happy we ended up at Deagan’s. Sure…this meant I didn’t get my traditional gluten-free pizza the night before a big race (yeah…I was running a 15K the very next morning back down in Columbus, Ohio)…but I did get some carbs (thank you gluten-free House Fries) and had great company and amazing food. I’d go back to Deagan’s Kitchen & Bar in a heartbeat next time I’m in the area. Sometimes the best laid plans have to change to lead you to somewhere even better.
Sometimes being gluten-free can be difficult. I don’t say that to garner sympathy or anything. The fact is…sometimes I just want a bagel. Or a doughnut. Or even cinnamon rolls.
YES!! Cinnamon rolls.
In fact, this past couple of weeks I had been out-and-out craving gluten-free cinnamon rolls. While I could easily go to the grocery store and pick up some from Udi’s…let me tell you…that is not what I wanted. In fact, Udi’s Gluten-Free Cinnamon Rolls are the one item by Udi’s that I have not liked or praised up and down. I am just not a fan of the texture and taste of them. I wanted something with a crust on the outside and that was still gooey on the inside. You know…just like mom used to make…back when I was little and could still eat cinnamon rolls whenever I wanted.
Yeah…the gluten-free gig is a bit of a challenge at times, but I have no choice. Thankfully, however, I have a local bakery in Louisville, Kentucky that caters to those with food allergies. Everything they make is free of gluten, nuts, tree nuts, and soy. Upon request, they can make most of their goodies vegan as well (minus dairy/eggs). You gotta love that.
Well, I absolutely LOVE Annie May’s Sweet Café. I try to get over there for something whenever I am in town. This past Friday was the exception. I was actually heading out of town, but saw on their Facebook page earlier that week that they had Take And Bake Cinnamon Rolls. Oh…that hit the craving switch again so I inquired if they might have them in on Friday. They said they would, so I asked if they could hold one package of them for me. They said they could…and all I had to do was get to Friday and go pick them up.
After leaving work at noon, I headed into Louisville, Kentucky and swung by Annie May’s Sweet Café to pick up my order. As promised, they had a package there for me, along with the delicious icing to go with it. I was thrilledto say the least. And they looked awesome too. Nothing tiny about these cinnamon rolls. Each one weighed around 6 ounces and they just looked fantastic…even without being baked yet. The package of 4 cinnamon rolls ran me $12.00, but it was totally worth the cost. I was already wishing it was Saturday morning in Ohio so I could bake them up and devour them with my roomie and my friend Jenn.
Into the cooler in the car they went…and they made the long journey to Columbus, Ohio. Upon arriving at my friend’s house, I put them in the refrigerator until the morning.
When morning came, I sent my roomie out for coffee while Jenn and I prepared the rest of breakfast. I got out the cinnamon rolls and preheated the oven, according to the directions on the package. The oven was at 325 degrees and in went the pan. The package said to cook for around 7-9 minutes. I went with 7 to start with. And at the end of it, they weren’t yet golden, so I let it run a little longer. After 9 minutes passed…still not golden. The scrambled eggs we were having with them were done, so we dug in and I got a bit daring and set the timer for 2 more minutes. Still not golden. And still doughy in the middle. Not good doughy…but raw doughy. So…back into the oven they went. This time…for 5 more minutes. I was aiming for that golden brown that I associate with cinnamon rolls. When the timer went off this time, they were starting to turn a light shade of brown. So, I decided five more minutes, and after that I would call it done regardless.
We finished up our eggs and I impatiently waited for the timer to sound. When it did, I removed them from the oven and prodded them momentarily with a knife. Still not a rich golden color. Still a little soft in the middle…but it was good enough for me.
Annie May’s Sweet Café Gluten-Free Take & Bake Cinnamon Rolls (baked and iced)
I set them down on a hot pad holder and pulled out a knife to apply the icing to the tops. Do it while it’s hot and it sort of just melts over the tops. Yummy. There were three of us and four cinnamon rolls, so I split one of them into thirds and began to serve them up.
For the amount of time it took to bake them, I can say this much…it was worth it. Not only did these cinnamon rolls leave me stuffed (perhaps we really didn’t need the eggs like we thought), but they did have a bit of a golden crust on the outside and that delicious soft middle going on. I was in cinnamon roll heaven. I love having a place nearby that can satisfy that craving for me whenever I need it. Really good gluten-free cinnamon rolls are difficult to come by…but Annie May’s Sweet Café really, really does it right. And I love that these are big. Like…Pillsbury Grand big. Size of a fist big. Just…big and packed with flavor. The icing, the soft middle…it was cinnamon roll nirvana for me.
I don’t know what I would do without Annie May’s Sweet Café in my life. Honestly. How I had never heard of them before this past year is beyond me. Now that I know about them…I can’t help but go back weekend after weekend. They are often my source of a breakfast if I am running in Louisville that Saturday morning. They have so much to offer, not just baked goods, but also soups, sandwiches, and pizza. Oh…I have got to go in sometimes for their pizza.
As it stands…cinnamon rolls were a huge hit with me. I am addicted. My mouth is watering even as I type this up. Another craving is hitting. But it’s Thanksgiving week…and their orders are at capacity. So my craving might have to wait a week or so before I can satisfy it again. Whether it was a temperature flaw or something with the oven…I don’t care. What emerged….in the end…was just like the cinnamon rolls my mom used to make.
In fact…they were better.
Annie May’s Sweet Café…thank you for setting up shop in Louisville, Kentucky and giving people with food allergies amazing, delicious food. My roommate and my friend don’t have to eat gluten-free…but when I am there…they do. And they agree…the cinnamon rolls were nothing short of awesome. I might have been full sitting at that kitchen table on Saturday morning…but I was full from your really good product. You haven’t let me down yet.
Annie May’s Sweet Café Gluten-Free Take & Bake Cinnamon Rolls
Restaurant: The Claddagh Irish Pub, Columbus, Ohio
I love pubs.
I love pubs a lot. But as a vegetarian, I was already limited on what I could eat there. When I had to go gluten-free…my options got even smaller. In most cases, I hope for an amazing salad. It has happened before. The right flavor combinations, the right ingredients, and yes…even a salad can be magic.
It was Friday night…the beginning of an exciting and busy weekend…and I was in Columbus, Ohio visiting my friend Jenn. I had actually purchased a Living Social deal for The Claddagh Irish Pub in Columbus knowing that there would be a cause to use it at some point. And that night was Friday night after a long trip up in the car.
We arrived and found parking and made our way toward the front of the pub. We entered and were immediately greeted and asked if we had a reservation. Uh oh. Did that mean that there was something going on that evening? I replied that we did not have a reservation and the hostess didn’t even flinch before picking up three menus and guiding us toward the back room. We were seated at a low-lit table in the corner and given our menus to look over.
Although…when it comes to pubs, Jenn, my roomie and I pretty much already know what we want. Our waitress came over and introduced herself and asked if we knew what we wanted to drink. Cathy grabbed for the folder of booze and looked for the one word that makes her happiest at pubs. Yep. They had it. Magners. She and Jenn both ordered a pint of that. I stuck to water as…well…I was running later that weekend and I wanted to hydrate properly.
After our drink orders were taken and water was brought out to all three of us, we placed our orders. Both Jenn and Cathy went with their most favorite pub offering on any menu. Fish and chips ($13.99). As for me…I was down to two salads that interested me. I was having a hard time choosing and Cathy wasn’t helping me make the call. So after a little debate…I made up my mind.
My order…the Galway Salad ($7.99). I stuck with the Balsamic Vinaigrette for my dressing.
With orders in, we sat and talked. Magners were delivered. We discussed upcoming plans we all had, the concert we were seeing the next night, and just whatever we felt like talking about. Why? Because we are good friends and conversation is never an issue with us. Love that. And soon, we found our orders being delivered safely to our table. Jenn and Cathy had big planks of fish (they use cod in an ale batter) over a bed of pub chips (fries). They came with a side of slaw and tartar sauce as well. Cathy, who has taken to at least trying the tartar sauce, was quite impressed with it and alternated dipping her fish in the pool of ketchup on her plate and the tartar sauce. Needless to say…they enjoyed their fish and chips.
The Galway Salad looks like…a basic salad. It basically consisted of a bed of mixed greens that was topped off with a boat-load (seriously…it was crazy and a bit overwhelming to the palate) of sun-dried tomatoes, a pile of goat cheese, and a scattering of candied walnuts. They thankfully kept the balsamic vinaigrette to the side so I could add however much I wanted.
The salad was good…but there were just way too many sun-dried tomatoes. They were clumped together at times and would definitely overpower a bite if too many were on the fork. I had to scatter them out and really make sure that they were balanced out by the other components of the salad itself. And, let me tell you, when you are working with four ingredients, that can be a challenge. Thankfully the balsamic vinaigrette helped offset some of that as well.
Was it amazing? Not really. It was okay. Not bad. Just a bit unbalanced when it came to how it was topped. I mean…it was a very simple, basic salad. It was good. It was delicious. But it was a bit much at times when it came to the heavy-handed sun-dried tomatoes that topped it off. But, I got through it and polished off my plate, leaving the pub with a happy (and full) tummy.
The Claddagh served me a delicious salad. I will give them that. I left there full. But I think the chef needs to learn take a lighter hand with the sun-dried tomatoes as it was way overpowering at times. Thank goodness for the goat cheese and walnuts to help tamper that flavor down some.
The Claddagh’s Galway Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette
Product: Go Picnic Black Bean Dip and Crispy Plantain Chips – $5.99+
Fast food, shmast food.
Being a gluten-free vegetarian means a stop-off at any regional fast food joint is just not an option. I mean, I got sick for 5 days after eating Chik-Fil-A’s supposedly gluten-free waffle fries this past summer. Let me tell you, I have yet to go back.
So, when someone like me – someone who is constantly on the go and on the road – needs something to eat…what then? Well…thanks to Go Picnic my options just got a little more exciting and much healthier than any fast food stop would have been.
Now, I’ve blogged about Go Picnic before. I am a HUGE fan of the gluten-free Hummus + Crackers meal, which is usually my on-the-road poison. However, when I attended the Gluten-Free Expo in Indianapolis, Indiana a month or so back, I dropped by the Go Picnic booth and raved to them about how much I appreciated their gluten-free boxes (especially the ones that are also vegetarian/vegan). It just so happened that they had some of their brand new on-the-go meals at the expo…and if I bought them that day, I’d be saving some money, for sure.
So, my roomie and I made a decision to purchase six meals. She got two of the Sunbutter + Crackers plus the Turkey Pepperoni + Cheese boxes. As for me, I went with two of my favorite…the Hummus + Crackers and one of the brand new offerings…the Black Bean Dip & Plantain Chips box. I was pretty stoked about that one as it was new, vegan, and gluten-free. And it just sounded…different and interesting.
Well, the perfect opportunity to break out the Go Picnic meals came this past weekend as my roomie and I were venturing out to Ohio to visit our friend Jenn. Our plan…to see The Monkees on Saturday night and then on Sunday morning…I was off to the races. Literally. I was running in the Hot Chocolate 15K in Columbus. So, we left work at noon on Friday and went to run a few local errands before settling in for the 4 hour car trip up to Columbus, Ohio. With the errands out of the way…it was lunch time. And for me, lunch was the Go Picnic Black Bean Dip & Plantain Chips on-the-go meal.
After opening the box, I settled on starting with the star of the actual box…the Go Picnic Garden Black Bean Dip with the Sweet Perry Orchards Crispy Roasted Plantain Chips. I thought, at first, that this was an interesting combination and wasn’t quite sure how it would work in the end. However, the combination was actually quite delicious. What I loved was how the sweetness of the dried and roasted plantains made into chips complimented the rich, sweetness of the black bean dip. The Go Picnic Garden Black Bean Dip is amazing. A creamy, somewhat sweet and spicy blend of black beans, green chilies, jalapeno peppers, spices, garlic, and onion made for a fantastic base to dip the chips in. And Sweet Perry Orchards Crispy Roasted Plantain Chips made a fantastic alternative to crackers or corn chips. Honestly. They provided a hint of sweetness as well. They were crispy, crunchy, and just the perfect compliment to the rich dip. I was so happy with this flavor combination. The Go Picnic Garden Black Bean Dip is only 40 calories of this box’s total 360 calories and provides 2 grams of protein. Let’s hear it for the protein magic of beans! And the Sweet Perry Orchards Crispy Roasted Plantain Chips also only contain 70 calories in the provided 0.5 ounce bag. It also only sets you back 3 grams in fat. They are also very low in sodium (50 mg).
My next taste from the box that I chose to devour was the Sweet Perry Orchards Ginger Zip Fruit and Nut Mix. This was a surprisingly delicious mix of peanuts coated in ginger, dried cranberries, and banana chips. The ginger was the part that concerned me, as often it can be a little too strong and too much. Thankfully, pairing it with lightly salted peanut, banana chips, and the tart sweetness of the dried cranberries, the blend worked. It worked fantastically, actually. I was digging down into the little 0.75 ounce bag that came in the Go Picnic box in hopes of finding more of the mix in there. But, alas, when I said devour…that’s what I did. This one surprised me and it was a nice surprise. The ginger was just enough to add a bit of heat to a few of the bites, but it didn’t overwhelm the mix. It was nicely balanced. And the little snack bag you receive in the box is only 90 calories of the entire 360 in the box itself. And the rest of the nutrition information is nice as well. The little pack provides 5 grams of fat and 2 grams of protein. Not bad for a fruit and nut mix. Not bad at all. Oh, and the sugar content on this one isn’t bad either. Most “trail mixes” are laden with sugar. Thanks to the ginger, this one only has 10 grams of sugar. Other trail mixes would be at least twice that per serving.
My next choice to eat from the box was the Sweet Perry Orchards Power Play Tasty Seed Blend. Now, one of my favorite parts of the Go Picnic Hummus + Crackers box is the packet of dry-roasted edamame. Well, this is a different twist on that pack. Sweet Perry Orchards Power Play Tasty Seed Blend is a mix of dry roasted edamame, pumpkin seeds, and watermelon kernels. Sound weird? It’s not. In fact, what this little 0.75 ounce pack provides is a heap of protein and healthy fats. Yep. While salt is added, it’s not overdone either. The seeds really stand up for themselves and pack a bunch of flavor in each bite. The blend is interesting and different. I mean, who can say they’ve really enjoyed a watermelon kernel before? Well…truth is…I did. And the pumpkin seeds and edamame were also fantastic. Sweet Perry Orchards Power Play Tasty Seed Blend provides 110 calories of the entire 360 calories in the box and 5 grams of fat. This blend also provides 8 grams of protein. That’s awesome. As for the sodium…which can be a real sticking point, this bag only has 70 mg of sodium in it. Yep. It really is a healthy choice.
And finally…dessert. Because that’s what we look forward to at the end of a meal. Even lunch on-the-go. The Go Picnic Black Bean Dip & Plantain Chips box comes with dessert of dark chocolate. Oh yes…almost like it was made for me. Dark, delicious chocolate. The little piece is Professor Zim Zams Extraordinary Sweets Dark Chocolate with Orange. It’s a little circle of orange-flavored dark chocolate goodness. Now, sometimes the orange and chocolate combination works for me. Sometimes…it doesn’t. In this case, the bittersweet dark chocolate meshes so well with the tart orange. It’s a seamless marriage of flavor to be honest. And it was a decadent enough bite to satisfy that need for dessert or something sweet to cleanse the palate. Professor Zim Zams Extraordinary Sweets Dark Chocolate with Orange is only 0.35 ounces of rich chocolate flavor…but it’s just enough. This little disk of sweetness provides the Go Picnic box with the remaining 50 calories. It contributes 4 grams of fat into the serving and 2 grams of protein. And it is good to the last little bite. Because…I admit…I savored the chocolate. I love a good, sweet ending.
In the end, Go Picnic provided a hearty on-the-go meal in a little box that really satisfied every taste. Sweet, sour, salty, and bitter. It meant that I felt satisfied at the end of the box. And with only 360 calories, it’s a nutritious meal that you can take with you on the road, on a hike, on a picnic, or just for something easy on a busy day at the office. This little box also provided me with 13 complete grams of protein at the end of it, which is fantastic as I am a gluten-free, vegetarian athlete (distance runner!) so making sure I get enough protein in my diet can be a huge challenge. This satisfied.
I haven’t been able to find this actual box listed yet on Go Picnic’s Web site. But it is one of the new offerings from the company. I say…give it a bit of time and it will be there. As for me…I hope to find this one in the stores soon because I loved every bite of it. If you can find it…pick it up and try it. I promise…you’ll be as hooked as me. Go Picnic…you won me and my taste buds over again with simple flavors and nutritious snacks.
The Celiathlete 