The Celiathlete

November 12, 2012

Zoë’s Kitchen prepares variety of delicious gluten-free foods that will bring you back for more

Restaurant: Zoë’s Kitchen, Louisville, Kentucky

It was a beautiful early November afternoon. And I was hungry. I was hungry and standing in Blue Mile, a local running store at The Summit in Louisville, Kentucky, shopping for reflective gear to wear while running since the days are growing shorter and the nights longer. And it hit me. I was hungry. So was my roomie. And we had no idea where I could eat.

Granted, I know I have the Find Me Gluten-Free app on my phone, but still…

At the mention of choosing somewhere to eat, the very helpful employee at the running store, who I know from group runs I go on every Monday night, suggested a few options, one of them being just up the shopping center sidewalk – Zoë’s Kitchen.

Now, I had been wanting to try out Zoë’s Kitchen for awhile now, but my roommate had been pretty certain that their gluten-free menu was either non-existent or just not very big. But, as I mentioned above, I have an app for that…so I pulled out my phone and the first place Find Me Gluten-Free listed was…yep…Zoë’s Kitchen. I pulled up the menu, and while much of the rather extensive gluten-free menu was meat-based…there were quite a few vegetarian/vegan options as well on there.

It was just up the way. I was hungry. I was sold.

So…with the reflective gear purchased, we thanked our food pimp/employee and away we headed to feed our bellies. Stepping into Zoë’s Kitchen for the first time, I was immediately reminded of how Noodles & Co. is run. You place an order and are given a number. The order is sent to the line and is prepared by the very capable staff in the back and then brought to your table. Simple. Easy. Effective. Right away, I informed the cashier taking the order that I am a Celiac and can’t have gluten. Then, I placed my order and the proper deductions from the dish were immediately taken. I loved that.

My order…the Gluten-Free Veggie Kabobs, which comes with a side of White Beans and a Side Greek Salad ($8.55). To make the dish gluten-free, the pita and the feta cheese are left off. This entree was not charged extra for being gluten-free. It was a simple button pressed on the cash register, and the computer took off the ingredients so that the kitchen staff knew how to prepare it. I loved that.

My roomie decided to give the Steak Stack sandwich a try, and got it with the highly recommended Rice Pilaf ($7.39). Her sandwich consisted of sliced steak, portobello mushrooms, mozzarella, caramelized onions, feta spread, tomato, and rosemary oil all piled into two slices of sourdough bread. She loved every bite of it, and is totally in love with the rice pilaf. It was recommended by a runner. Of course it’s going to be awesome.

My entree was much larger than I expected, despite not having pita bread to go with it. The Veggie Kabob’s are grilled to ultimate perfection, with just the right amount of charring on each vegetable. The kabob’s themselves are made up of charbroiled portobello, zucchini, peppers, onions, and tomatoes. A bowl of the braised white beans with fresh rosemary comes on the side, and a HUGE side Greek salad comes along with it. The salad was secondary, but I took a few bites of it anyway. What I really wanted to dig into were those kabobs. And that was what I did. I eased all the charbroiled vegetables off the wooden skewer and tried each and every one of them. They were very fresh and broiled to absolute perfection. The tomatoes were still juicy. The zucchini, peppers and onion were all cooked to perfection. But the star was the large chunks of meaty portobello mushroom. Cooked and charbroiled to a blackened perfection, these were my favorite part of the entire dish and what I kept saving for last when it came to what I chose to skewer with my fork.

The White Beans with Fresh Rosemary were delicious. Not overly seasoned, but packing a delicious flavor. The gravy that they were nestled and hidden in was absolutely amazing. And as for the side salad…the humungous side salad…what I could eat of it was very good. It didn’t even need any dressing. That was the best part. Trust me…that’s weird for me to say. But the greens, the onions, the chopped veggies were all very ripe and just worked. But, it was the least interesting part of the entree, so I focused on the kabobs and beans…and it satisfied and filled me up.

For the record, my roommate loved the Steak Stack sandwich and said that her portobello mushrooms were also the star of the entire sandwich. Leave it to a Mediterranean-inspired comfort food restaurant to nail mushrooms!! Honestly…we both raved about them and they were both cooked in different ways. That speaks volumes.

What also speaks volumes is that we returned for lunch…today. Yep. We were out that way to finish off grocery shopping and lunch was needed. We didn’t even hesitate to stop back into Zoë’s Kitchen once again. I got the same thing as yesterday, but with the Fresh Fruit instead of the beans. And my roomie…she opted to try the Greek Chicken Pita with the Rice Pilaf ($7.39), although originally had thought to get the Steak Stack again.

Yeah…twice visited in two days…and amazing food each time. That definitely speaks volumes. Now, Zoë’s Kitchen is a minor chain, which crops up in 12 states. They have around 54 stores scatted in these 12 states, and are based out of Birmingham, Alabama. Nothing on their menu is fried. Everything is made fresh. And you can tell. The quality of the food really shines. And that’s what is important.

I’m already anticipating my next visit back. Maybe this time I’ll get the Hummus…but it’s so hard to even consider not getting those charbroiled portobello mushrooms again. They still make me crave.

If you happen to live in Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, or Virginia, chances are you can find a Zoë’s Kitchen somewhere nearby. Otherwise, you’re going to have to do some traveling if you’re seriously interested in this fast, delicious, Mediterranean-inspired food. I promise…it’s worth seeking out. I’m glad I did.

Zoë's Kitchen's Veggie Kabobs with White Beans and a Side Greek Salad — Zoë’s Kitchen’s Veggie Kabobs with White Beans and a Side Greek Salad

November 9, 2012

A different sort of vegetarian burger in Earth Fare’s Mushroom Rice Burger (gluten-free)

Product: Earth Fare Natural Mushroom Rice Burger – $3.99+

I have fallen into a veggie burger rut. That sounds strange…I know. But it’s true.

The marketplace for gluten-free veggie burgers is booming. And I’m happy about that, because as a gluten-free vegetarian, sometimes I just want to have a good veggie burger. And many of the ones I have tried have been awesome. Some have been better than others. Despite being one of the more pricier ones, I absolutely can not step away from Amy’s Kitchen Sonoma Burger. It’s delicious. And one of the more sane ones when it comes to nutrition.

You might recall my run-in with the epically off-the-chain deliciousness of Sunshine Burgers…but the calories and fat content in them totally derailed my moment of joy.

It’s hard to find decent gluten-free, vegetarian food that isn’t laden with high calories and a lot of fat.

But, one day while shopping at my area’s newest grocery store, Earth Fare (I call it Earth Joy because it makes me happy!), I stumbled across their house brand of veggie burgers in the freezer section. As I was on my last Amy’s patty, I figured…why not try something else? And with a quick glance at the nutrition information, I felt so much better about this selection than any of the ones that have come before it. Now, I just had to hope it tasted as good as it sounded.

The veggie burger I chose this time around is Earth Fare’s Mushroom Rice Burger. And when I removed it from the freezer last night to cook up for dinner, what I loved seeing was the bits of rice that are actually part of the burger. You can also see the various vegetables that are incorporated into the patty itself. Love that. In fact, the Mushroom Rice Burger is composed of portobello and button mushrooms, onions, carrots, red and green peppers, black olives, potatoes, and garlic. Organic brown rice is added to that flavorful mixture, and they are seasoned with wheat-free organic tamari, sea salt, garlic, and some herbs.

A single burger is the serving size, but for once, the nutrition facts on the back of the box didn’t send me throwing it back in the freezer. One patty is only 90 calories (I think this is the first gluten-free veggie burger I’ve had that is under 110 calories) and contains only 1.5 grams of fat (THIS IS A FIRST!). It is a lean burger that is low fat, gluten-free, vegan, non-GMO, and free of saturated fat. The sodium level is very low (290 mg). And one patty contains a whopping 8 grams of protein. Love that.

Last night, because I had some red onion, local bibb lettuce, and some tomato on hand, I decided it was time for another veggie burger. So, I busted out the Earth Fare Mushroom Rice Burger to cook up and give a try. I put it in my skillet to cook and heat through. This was actually very easy to do. I just made sure that it wasn’t cold anywhere in the middle, and flipped it a couple of times until it was nice and golden on the outside and warm throughout.

As I am out of my gluten-free hamburger buns, I have been opting to sandwich my burgers in…gluten-free bread. I happened to only have one slice left of my Glutino Genius bread, so I did sort of an open-face burger thing in lieu of getting more gluten-free bread or some gluten-free buns. I threw a slice of Veggie Slices Provolone Flavor cheese over it to melt down. Then, I plated it with the fresh vegetables and sat down to enjoy.

My first order of business was to get a piece of the burger itself, with no veg or bread. Why? Because I really wanted to see how it tasted, unmarred by the flavors that accompanied it. One bite…and I fell in love. This veggie burger is packed with amazing flavor. All organic. All delicious. I haven’t been this impressed by a veggie burger in a long time (especially one that is at least a little more nutritious for me to eat!). Gluten-free veggie burgers are becoming a little more common, but these…these not only have the best nutritional stats of any that I have tried, but they were moist and rich with flavor. All of the vegetables, the rice, the seasonings…they all mingled and mixed to form this perfect bite of a burger.

I’m not ashamed to admit that I hoovered it. Just completely devoured it.

Yes…it is that good.

I have noticed that Earth Fare markets are opening up throughout the country. If you have one nearby, I encourage you to go inside and try some of what they have to offer. It’s a great little healthy supermarket. And I have fallen in love with their selection (especially for someone like me!) and their products. Their very own brand of veggie burgers has now become my absolute favorite. Now…how’s that for amazing?!

Earth Fare Natural Mushroom Rice Burger, topped with melted non-dairy provolone cheese, bibb lettuce, and tomato

November 8, 2012

Cheese Bites Smoked Cheese crackers a more flavorful snack

Product: Unismack Cheese Bites Smoked Cheese Crackers – $1.80+

You know…one thing I have yet to learn is when a deal or sale is going on and I’m purchasing a new product…I shouldn’t immediately load up on every flavor available. Honestly. Because there is absolutely no guarantee that I’ll like the product in the first place.

I recently reviewed the Unismack Cheese Bites Parmesan Crackers…claiming that while they were good…they weren’t exactly something that stood out. Not memorable. In a world of gluten-free cracker options, I’d eat them again…but not actively seek them out. Of course, while on that outing to Big Lots that day, I grabbed pretty much every snack cracker that said Gluten-Free on the box. Because…it’s labeled. WOOHOO!! And the Cheese Bites Smoked Cheddar Cheese was the next snack on my gluten-free pantry list. I was less than thrilled to pull down another box of these, but…you know…the rule is…unless you really can’t stomach it…you eat it. No gluten-free things go to waste in my house. None.

So, I dished up a serving to take to work with me today. And my 3 p.m. snack time rolled around. I pulled out these crackers, popped the lid of the container, and took my first bite.

And this is why I am on the fence with these.

They taste like…BACON.

There is nothing bacon related in these. But that’s what they taste like. Like greasy diner bacon. Or, as my co-worker said after I let her try one…that it tastes like a bite of a McDonald’s Bacon Egg & Cheese Biscuit.

Normally, this wouldn’t be a bad thing. Not at all. But I’m a vegetarian. So when your vegetarian crackers taste like bacon, it is a little jarring at first. I didn’t know what to make of it or how to react. I know it’s just from the cheese being smoked, but…it confused the hell out of my taste buds.

You can’t say that these snack crackers lack anything for flavor. The very opposite is true for these. These pack the flavor. Enough that to some people it tastes like a fast food breakfast sandwich. Go figure. To me, it just reminds me of bacon. Maybe it’s because of that smokey flavor that is in the cheese. I had to get beyond that in order to really enjoy these crackers, but I ate them. No fussing on flavor this time. It’s there. I’m just not sure what to make of it just yet.

On the flip side, these crackers are rather low in calories (120 calories for a 1 cup (or 29g) serving) and only have 5 grams of fat for each serving. That’s not bad for a snack cracker. These are low sodium and also pack 4 grams of protein per serving. Not bad for a cracker, yes? All the ingredients are recognizable…probably due to the fact that these are produced in Greece. No strange chemicals or preservatives. Just the real-deal when it comes to ingredients. And these crackers are puffed up triangles of smoked cheese flavor. And they are light, so they won’t fill you up and spoil your appetite for dinner either.

So, if you love bacon…these might be the crackers for you. As for me, after my 3 servings that are in this box…I think I’ll pass. It’s just…weird to me. But, if you aren’t a vegetarian…these might be the best cracker you’ve ever tasted. But you’d have to buy them to find out.

November 8, 2012

Recipe: Oven Roasted Potatoes, Peppers, and Collard Greens in a Vegan Cream Sauce

Okay…I lived in Birmingham, Alabama for six years…and never once ate collard greens! Never. Not once. Why? I don’t know. Perhaps it was the ill-fated attempt my mom had cooking okra that turned me away from those “southern” vegetables. I can’t say for sure. But I never felt the need to try them, nor the desire.

But, much like with the Brussels sprouts, along came my CSA bin and inside…collard greens.

Now, my roommate happened to scoop up a recipe card for a Collard Green Hash while we were out at the grocery store, but the problem was, it was going to take an hour and fifteen minutes (not including prep time) to throw that together. And I was hungry and not wanting to deal with it. So, instead, I had one of my “I’m just going to make this up” moments and created my very own recipe using a leafy green vegetable that I had never tasted nor cooked with before.

And surprisingly…it worked!

Recipe: Oven Roasted Potatoes, Peppers, and Collard Greens in a Vegan Cream Sauce

Potato, Sweet Peppers, and Collard Greens in a Vegan Ancho Chile Cream Sauce

Servings: 2-4
Time: Prep 10 minutes; Cook 30 minutes

Ingredients:

2 small Russet potatoes, cubed
6 mini sweet peppers, chopped
5 collard green leaves, stalks trimmed and cut into strips
olive oil
salt
red pepper flakes
garlic powder
3 tablespoons sour cream (I used Tofutti Better Than Sour Cream)
1/4 teaspoon Ancho chile powder
dash of lime juice

Directions:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray and set aside.

Wash the potatoes and pat them dry. Slice the potatoes into cubes and place in a zip lock bag. Drizzle with a bit of olive oil and season with salt, red pepper flakes, and garlic powder. Seal the bag and shake to coat the potatoes.

Next slice the sweet peppers away from the seeds. Chop them and add them to the bag with the potatoes. Give another shake. Then pour the peppers and potatoes out onto the baking sheet that has been sprayed with cooking spray to prevent sticking.

Pour the potatoes out onto a baking sheet and spread them out over the surface. Place the baking sheet in the oven for 15 minutes.

While the potatoes and peppers begin to roast, wash the collard greens and cut away the stems. Slice the collard greens in half, then into strips. Place in another zip lock bag and drizzle with a little olive oil. Season with a little red pepper flakes and garlic powder. Seal the bag and shake to coat the greens. Set aside.

In a bowl, place 3 tablespoons of sour cream (I used a vegan sour cream) and add 1/4 teaspoon of Ancho chile powder. Stir until combined. Add a small dash of lime juice and stir. Set aside.

After 15 minutes, remove the potatoes and peppers and give them a stir. Spread the strips of collard greens over the potatoes and peppers and place in the oven for another 15 minutes.

Remove from the oven and transfer the mix of potatoes, peppers and greens to the bowl with the cream sauce in it. Stir to coat.

Serve.

~*~*~

I was actually surprised with how much I enjoyed this side. I probably could have eaten it as my meal and been completely content with it. But I had a veggie burger calling my name. I’m actually excited to be making this again tomorrow night with my dinner, I loved it so much. If you have never tried collard greens before, or if you are looking for a new way to enjoy them…I recommend this recipe. Not just because I made it up…but because it is actually quite yummy!

November 7, 2012

Recipe: Vegetable Curry

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

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

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

Recipe: Vegetable Curry

Vegetable Curry (served over jasmine rice)

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

Ingredients:

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

Directions:

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

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

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

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

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

Serve.

~*~*~

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

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

November 7, 2012

Cheese Bites Parmesan Crackers a light, gluten-free snack

Product: Unismack Cheese Bites Parmesan Crackers – $1.80+

So…here’s the thing.

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

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

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

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

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

But…how do they taste?

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

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

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

November 7, 2012

Louisville Sports Commission Half Marathon – Louisville, KY (November 3, 2012)

Me crossing the finish line of the Louisville Sports Commission Half Marathon – Louisville, Kentucky

Race: Louisville Sports Commission Half Marathon

Place: Louisville, Kentucky

Date: November 3, 2012

Time: 1:52:22

Ever do something that completely surprised you and surpassed all your expectations? That’s kind of how I feel about the Louisville Sports Commission Half Marathon. Honestly. In all truth, the way I was able to run it shouldn’t have happened. I should not have been able to do it as quickly as I did. Or as well as I did. In fact, I probably shouldn’t have been able to run this one at all. And there are a few factors that go into why I feel that way.

I was only 2 weeks off of another half marathon, and never let up on my training, including that 10 mile run the weekend before.
It was my first half marathon in bitterly cold conditions.
Rain and sleet…yeah…that was interesting.

Needless to say, when I crossed that finish line I couldn’t believe the time my Garmin told me. Honestly. My plan was to run this one easy, and that’s what I did. Which means…I might actually be capable of breaking 1:50:00…one day. You know…but pushing it some (but not too early), but only if the conditions are right.

The conditions last Saturday morning, however, were anything but ideal.

The night previous, after having my mandatory gluten-free pizza meal (it brings me luck!), I headed over to Dick’s Sporting Goods. Why? Because I really didn’t want to wear my jacket during a half marathon, fearing I would definitely get too hot and then I’d be stuck wearing it for the rest of the race. My intention, being that it was going to be in the high 30s, was to find a long sleeve tech shirt with some sort of ‘keep you warm’ technology. There were a few options, actually, but I went with one from Nike. Purchase made…off I went to grab a dessert of ice cream and head home to get some rest.

And then came morning. I could tell it was cold when my alarm clock went off and I had to fight with myself to peel back the covers and get out of my warm cocoon of blankets. But, I did have a race ahead of me and I needed to get a little water into my system before that. So…I got up and got dressed in my compression tights and my new thermal top. For a moment, after seeing the exposed skin at my neck, I thought about putting on the running jacket anyway, but logic told me it would warm me up too much…so I skipped it. An hour later, my roommate got up and we had some cereal for breakfast. Then came the rush to get everything together. We played this morning very casual because the race was simply across the river, not miles and miles and miles and a lengthy car ride away. I decided, that since we were in close proximity to home, I wouldn’t bother with a change of clothes this time. I always have a change of clothes, even at local races…but I knew that post-race I was going to get some gluten-free goodies from my favorite allergen-free bakery and coffee from my favorite Louisville coffee shop before heading home. Why bother?

THAT decision came back to haunt me…so lesson learned.

We got my protein shake, some snacks, and my water bottle together. I filled up my race water bottle with Smart Water (my beverage of choice…yay electrolytes!) and then I shrugged into a few layers to wear pre-race and we were off. As we were driving across the bridge, my friend Keith, who was also running, texted to see if I was down there yet. I told him I was on my way and he said he was near the start line by bag check.

When we arrived, Cathy picked a close parking garage and for $5.00 we parked and headed out toward the start line. Which just happened to be right outside the parking garage. WOOHOO! How is that for some good race day mojo, yes? I couldn’t see any signs that said Bag Check, so Cathy and I meandered over to the Pure Tap 5K Registration booth…but still nothing. I texted Keith to let him know where I was. Then, I ate my mandatory pre-race banana while he made his way over.

Now, Keith and I had been going back and forth on what we were wearing during the race that day. He kept telling me he was wearing a parka…because he doesn’t do cold. Well, he wasn’t too far off. He arrived where I was waiting for him, dressed in his running tights that heat up when you begin to sweat or they get wet, a thermal shirt, a windbreaker, gloves, and a hat. I asked him if he was going to get too hot wearing all that. He joked and said he’d be the guy scooping up the discarded clothing of other runners and crossing the finish line with more on than he started with. We got a good laugh from that. We stood around and talked and then the Pure Tap 5K was about to start, so we stood there during the National Anthem and cheered when they took off, after a call to post by the official bugle player from Churchill Downs. Pretty awesome. A gunshot…and they were off.

This left us about 30 minutes before the start of the half marathon. While we were standing around and talking, the fountain we were standing next to came on. Yeah. Moments ago, runners were standing in there. And on a cold morning, starting off soaked to the skin due to a sudden fountain surprise would not have been good. Thankfully, they had all cleared out by this point so no one got soaked.

And soon, I was saying goodbye to Cathy and Keith and I were making our way to the starting area of the race. We hung back a bit. He said he was going to use me for pace as I was going to run this one easy being only 2 weeks off my last half marathon. I said that was fine and promised to run faster than a 10:00 mile. The National Anthem was played again…as was the call to post. We were told to go on the gun. But…no gun was heard. And I hadn’t started my iPod yet. Apparently it was fired because Cathy ended up getting the bullet for me as a souvenir. Yeah. Best souvenir EVER. We walked with the group toward the start line…and soon we were jogging…then…we were off.

And so a comedy of errors began immediately when it came to me. I started my watch…and it stopped. So I had to hit it again. My start line photo that Cathy took of me has me futzing with the damn Garmin. Then, only a few moments later as I’m taking off down the first stretch of road…my iPod falls off my belt. Seriously? It was just dangling as I ran, so I had to scoop it up, reel it in, and reattach it, all while running, and dodging people in that first initial sprint from the start. Blah. Not the best way to start the race. Kind of like getting off on the wrong foot.

Oh…and I left Keith behind…somewhere…

Mile 1 flew by, however. I have run the streets of Louisville numerous times. But nothing was as bad as coming out of the first mile and into the second mile and having to smell the fresh manure that was out in one of the feed store lots. Yeah. Not pleasant at all. The worst part…we later had to run by there again as we were coming into the finish.

Just after Mile 2…it began sprinkling. Nothing hard. Just a little bit of water. I had checked and the rain wasn’t supposed to get here until afternoon…so this was unpleasant, but if it stayed light…it would be okay. And for the most part…it did. I got through the third mile and headed into Cherokee Park for the next 3.5 miles of the race. This is where the hilly portion was. And I figured I was as ready as I could be at this point for it. Why? Because this is where I do a lot of my running. And the day I accidentally ran 11 miles instead of 9 was done on the path I would be taking for this race. Hills…I had this. I could eat these hills for breakfast, brunch, and second breakfast.

Cherokee Park was great. People who had been out getting there walk were cheering on the runners and just really keeping us motivated, even in the light sprinkling of rain. No better way to get over the steep hills of Cherokee Park than with a lot of crowd support. We had it here. And as we exited the park, near Mile 6, that was when the rain decided to really kick it up.

As in pour. As in downpour.

So, not only was I running in the cold weather…it was now cold and wet. And as I stated before…cold and wet are my two least favorite conditions to run in…especially simultaneously. BLECH! And…even better…the rain didn’t let up. Not one bit. So, for the last half of the race…I did it in the pouring rain.

I had my sunglasses on, and I was glad I did to keep the rain out of my eyes. However, my sunglasses were steaming up, so I’d have to use my gloved hands to rub them and clear them up. In addition to that, my Nike shoes, which are about a full size bigger than my normal shoes, were now getting soaked. Which, no big deal, except with how big these are, the water would slosh into the toes of my shoes and it just felt…weird.

So…the last half of the race was quite miserable…but you just have to make the most of it. I was actually just enjoying the run, regardless of the chill and dampness. I even broke a cardinal rule of mine and gave one of the announcers, around Mile 10, I think, a high five. Why? Because he asked for one. And it was awesome. Made me smile.

Coming back through the city meant that I was in the home stretch. I ticked off Mile 11. And then the announcer just after Mile 12 really lifted our cold, drenched spirits. He’d call out the bib numbers as you were running toward him and just tell you how great you were doing, that you looked amazing, and that the finish line was just down the road. Almost there. Yeah…that’s what we needed to hear.

And yes…about half a mile later, I could see the finish line ahead. I didn’t know what time I was coming in it, but I did pick up my pace. Slightly. Awesome. I made my final push for a strong finish and crossed the finish line. I went to pause my Garmin and saw that it said 1:52 with some seconds. And then I moved on through the recovery area with Cathy screaming her excitement from the sideline.

I was handed a Finisher’s medal and then made my way through the lines for a space blanket, water, Powerade, chocolate milk, bananas, and whatever else was being offered. I grabbed a couple of items. And then I met Cathy in the recovery area. She took my stuff and told me to go check out the runner’s afterparty to see what stuff they offered. I went to move around through there, keeping that space blanket wrapped around me because…I was cold. Nothing really grabbed my attention, so I went to find Cathy again. As I had been getting ready to head that way, I had dropped my Vitamin Water and my regular water, so I ducked back through the line to get those again. And then hurried back. She had my protein shake out and ready for me and I downed it. We went over to one of the buildings that acted as a buffer against the cold wind, and laid out the space blanket…and I propped my feet up to hopefully prevent any muscle cramping. I kept them elevated for about 10 minutes. Then…I was ready to get going. The race was great, but it was still cold and wet and I was beyond shivering now.

We had plans to stop by the allergen-free bakery (Annie May’s Sweet Café) in Louisville, KY so I could grab some breakfast and then we were heading to Highland Coffee for some warm coffee goodness and so Cathy could have one of their breakfast wraps. We did just that…and after devouring our breakfast at 11:00 a.m…we headed home. Because I needed a hot shower to get warm after being chilled down to the bone. And…we had the Bruce Springsteen concert in Louisville that night. Whew…busy day and a busy night still ahead.

LOVED this race. And fared very well in it, considering the conditions I was running in and how soon I was doing it after my half marathon in Hershey, Pennsylvania. I wasn’t running to set a new PR, but I sure as hell came close to doing it.

Official results of the Louisville Sports Commission Half Marathon are that I finished it in 1:52:22!!! That is less than 1 minute slower than my PR I set in Hershey. WOOHOO!! I was 490/2143 overall; 107/1066 women; 21/194 in my division. Beyond thrilled and quite surprised at how well I was able to do two half marathons with so little recovery time in between.

I guess what Bruce Springsteen says is right…Baby, I was born to run.

On to the next…

November 3, 2012

Two weeks recovery to a second half marathon…but baby, I was born to run…

Louisville Sports Commission Half Marathon

Two weeks ago, I ran my best half marathon to date at the Hershey Half Marathon in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Two weeks ago. So, when it came to training for this half marathon I am running in Louisville this morning, it consisted of a few short, easy runs, and a 10 mile run last Sunday morning. And that was all the time I had.

The only reason I signed up for this half marathon was that it is literally in my backyard. One short drive over the river into Louisville, Kentucky and…there we are! I promised to treat it as a training run. A recovery run. I promised to take it easy.

And…I know that I will. I know I will because it’s freakin’ COLD out there. The Weather Channel claims that the temperature is currently 39°F outside, but feels like 37°F when you factor in the wind. Pardon me while I say…BRRRRR! Granted, I would rather run in cold weather than warm, despite not liking being cold. Even at little 5K races, I’m a wimp when the weather turns cold. I like a nice 55°-65°F temperature to run in. It’s ideal and perfect. But, after experiencing a half marathon in brutal heat and humidity, I’ll take cold. Even bitter cold.

So, this morning, I am taking to the streets in the Louisville Sports Commission Half Marathon. This is the second year that it has run. Last year, I was going to run it, but I just hadn’t prepared for it and honestly wasn’t ready. And when I saw the people at the mall walking around in the t-shirts with their finisher’s medals on…I was sad I hadn’t done it. I knew when they announced this one that it was only two weeks after Hershey, but I wanted to run it. No excuse. It’s right where I live.

My greatest source of nerves and concern, however, has not been with my training. I know I’ve trained for this. I’ve run three other half marathons this year and still have one more to go in December. Nope. It was with what I was going to wear. Before you get the wrong idea, let me explain. I have never, as a runner, had to run 13.1 miles in 30 degree temperatures. This is not be trying to be a fashionista runner and look as cute as possible at the start and finish. Nope. I just didn’t know if it was better to wear compression tights…or go with shorts and compression socks. I didn’t know if I should wear a jacket over my tech shirt, or just go with a cold weather tech shirt. This is all a guessing game with me. I went ahead and bought knit gloves I could wear at the start of the race and then simply discard them as I warm up. The fact of the matter is…this race isn’t going to get much warmer than the temperature when it starts. A couple degrees…and that’s it. And that was my biggest source of nerves this time around.

I’m not concerned with my time on this race. I’m not out to set a new PR (although it would be awesome…it won’t be happening). I just want to make sure I am prepared for the conditions. There is a chance we might see a bit of rain at the beginning of the race now. I didn’t prepare for that because the rain wasn’t supposed to hit until late afternoon. I’m hoping it stays north of Louisville.

So, yeah…as you can tell, I’m still a little worked up over it all…but I’ve settled on compression tights and a cold weather tech shirt. Gloves. And, of course, my BondiBand, which I can pull down over my ears to keep them warm. This morning, I am going to just go for a run. A really long, quite chilly run.

And when I’m done…I’m going to go get some food and some coffee…then come home and take a nice warm shower. Because, tonight…I am heading back to the site of the start of the race for a very different sort of event.

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN at the Yum! Center. I can’t wait for that either. Lots going on today…but now, I’m turning my focus to the race ahead of me…and just running it the best I can in whatever conditions await.

November 2, 2012

Recipe: Gluten-Free S’mores Hot Cereal

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

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

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

Recipe: Gluten-Free S’mores Hot Cereal

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

Ingredients:

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

Directions:

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

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

Split between two bowls.

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

Enjoy!

~*~*~

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

November 2, 2012

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

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

It is fantastic!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

And, beyond that, it’s delicious.

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