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.
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.
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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!
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.
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.
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.
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
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!
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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!
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!
Okay…I’m going to admit it. When I received my bin from my CSA, I had a major crisis in my kitchen. No, nothing hazardous or spoiling. In fact, the issue was more with one of the items in my bin itself. The culprit – Brussels sprouts.
Laugh it up, but these little mini heads of cabbage really threw me for a loop. While they have always been one of my mom’s favorite vegetables, we never had them when I was growing up. Ever. She never made them and never even attempted to get us to try them. I knew every joke from television shows and movies though regarding Brussels sprouts, so…yeah…I was sort of thrown for a loop. Not only had I never tasted these myself, but I had no idea how to prepare them.
My roommate claimed she maybe had them once…and she wasn’t a fan…but probably because they weren’t cooked correctly.
This didn’t boost my confidence in this vegetable at all. But…I was determined to find a recipe to make…where both of us would hopefully enjoy these little leafy greens. And after a few searches online, and a few recipes tossed at my roommate, she finally decided on one that would use a couple other items from the bin. Good thinking!
I embellished the recipe a little as I only had 16 ounces of Brussels sprouts in my bin and the recipe calls for 20. So, I substituted 4 ounces of broccoli. No harm no foul, right? So…for all of you lovers of Brussels sprouts and for those of you, who like me, have no idea if you like them or not…I encourage you to try this recipe. It’s compliments of Taste of Home…but this is my own take on it.
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened (I used Tofutti Better Than Cream Cheese)
1 cup (8 ounces) sour cream (I used Tofutti Better Than Sour Cream)
1/2 pound sliced fresh mushrooms
1 medium onion, chopped
2 tablespoons butter
16 ounces fresh Brussels sprouts
4 ounces fresh broccoli
3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Directions:
Onions, mushrooms, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts sautéing in pan
In a small bowl, beat cream cheese and sour cream until smooth; set aside.
In a large skillet, saute mushrooms and onion in butter until tender. Stir in Brussels sprouts. Remove from the heat; stir in cream cheese mixture.
Spoon into a greased shallow 2-qt. baking dish. Cover and bake at 350F for 25-30 minutes or until bubbly.
Uncover; sprinkle with cheddar cheese. Bake 5 minutes longer or until cheese is melted.
Serve.
Creamy Brussels Sprouts Bake (fresh from oven)
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I admit it…I was nervous going into this one. With not knowing what to expect from Brussels sprouts, I was actually quite nervous about taking my first bite. My roommate, as she so often does, threw herself on it immediately and assured me that it was actually really good. She said the Brussels sprouts had a bit of a nutty flavor to them…and she was right. And the cream cheese/sour cream soup that surrounded the greens, mushrooms, and onions was out of this world. This was actually quite delicious…and yes…quite filling.
But I am no longer afraid of Brussels sprouts. And, perhaps, next time I’ll try simply roasting them in olive oil and give that a go.
One of my biggest cravings since going gluten-free has been for, believe it or not, cinnamon rolls. Honestly. And it’s not that there aren’t gluten-free options out there. Udi’s makes some pre-packaged cinnamon rolls…which are…eh…okay, but definitely not one of their better products. And I attempted to make cinnamon rolls from a Chebe mix…and that was an epic fail of monumental proportions. Just…trust me on this one.
So, with the smell of Cinnabon lurking…everywhere…I resigned myself to the fact that unless I make my own (no easy task), that I would probably just have to stick with what Udi’s offers. Edible…but not a cinnamon roll in my mind.
And then, as luck would have it, I was in Dayton, Ohio for a chocolate festival. Yes…mock all you want…I am a female and I love chocolate. So the words chocolate festival will bring me to Dayton. Trust me. After sampling and buying a few items at the chocolate festival and doing a bit of antique shopping, my usual partners in crime (Jenn & Cathy) and I headed toward Centerville because, after dining at Sinfully Gluten Free before the Air Force Marathon 10K, I knew I had to go back. And I always will while in Dayton. Hands down.
Well, after placing our food order, I went shopping. Because here I am in a dedicated bakery/café…of course I’m going to buy some of their products. Among the items purchased…Sinfully Gluten Free Cinnamon Rolls. Happiness abounded. And it even came with its own little tub of icing. YUMMY!
Of course, as is the case…these weren’t devoured immediately. Nope. They went back to Columbus, Ohio with me first. And then made the trip back to the Louisville, Kentucky area with me, via a cooler. And from there…they went into my freezer. But then…a busy weekend left me with no time to make gluten-free scones for my gym days…so…lo and behold…the cinnamon rolls were about to make their debut.
Sinfully Gluten Free Cinnamon Rolls
Sinfully Gluten Free’s Cinnamon Rolls come in a container of 4. Each roll is around 4 ounces in weight. Since I froze them, I pulled them out of the freezer to thaw in the container overnight. After my hard gym workout, I carried it into work with me and settled in the kitchen with two plates and four cinnamon rolls. My roommate received two of them and I received two. I saw that you could just go ahead and microwave the lot of them in the container they came in (minus the lid), but I needed time to ice them and keep mine warm while I took the roomie hers. So…I slid them onto a plate, and put them in the microwave for about 1 minute. They emerged piping hot and ready for a schmear of icing. I topped them off, put the other two for me in the microwave, and heated them up while I delivered the other pair to my roommate across the office.
I returned soon after just as the microwave beeped. Out they came, hot and ready for icing. I topped them off and happily carried them into my office and settled in at my desk with a fork. They looked absolutely perfect. Just like the ones my mom used to make…but better…because these didn’t come from a can marked Pillsbury. With much anticipation building, I slid my fork through one of the rolls, feeling the dough happily give way, how soft it was on the inside, and with that…I took my first bite.
These made me beyond happy. They were a perfect texture, despite being nuked in the microwave. They were gooey on the inside. The icing complimented them, without being too sweet and overpowering. It melted right over the top and into the rings of the cinnamon rolls. The rolls themselves weren’t too dense. They were light, with a little weight from the cinnamon rolled up inside. Sweet. Savory. And just phenomenal. Honestly. I savored each bite for as long as I could, dragging out my breakfast because I didn’t want it to end. I didn’t want to reach that last bite.
But…sadly…like all good things…this did come to an end. One final bite and I messaged my roommate and said, “I wish we had more of those in the freezer.” So, needless to say, next time I’m in or around Dayton, I hope Sinfully Gluten Free has some of those on hand because they have to be the best gluten-free cinnamon rolls to exist in the gluten-free world. Honestly. I have yet to find better. They got it all right and I was totally lucky enough to have the chance to indulge and enjoy.
I hate to sound like a broken record, but they deserve the high praise again. Sinfully Gluten Free…you take gluten-free goodness to sinfully divine levels. This gluten-free girl is one happy customer, always hoping to find herself in or around Dayton…just so I can come by and purchase more of your scrumptious goodies. I hope the cinnamon rolls make it back into my life…and soon!
A couple weeks ago, my CSA bin contained an item that I wasn’t too sure what to do with. Hey…it happens. Honestly. Not that this item was exotic or anything…it’s just not something I’ve done much with. The item in question…a pie pumpkin.
Naturally, one would think…make pumpkin pie! The thing is…aside from being a Celiac…I do not like pumpkin pie! Never have. So, baking a pie was out of the question. I had to come up with something else to do with it. But first, I had a few out of town trips and the like to do…which actually allowed the pumpkin to ripen quite a bit while I was away. So, on Sunday…I settled on spending time, chopping, peeling, seeding, and roasting up the pumpkin. For what?
Only one of my favorite things in the world. SOUP!
I found a great recipe from Eating Well that would also use up some of the apples that I got in my numerous bins over the past couple of weeks. Let’s face it…one can only eat so many apples. And when you go out of town…well…there they are. They are the hot item in the bin I get right now. Every week means more apples. I’m okay with that. I like apples. But I have a lot of them now. So…this soup was ideal because it included roasted apples as well. The recipe…super easy with only 9 ingredients. And trust me…this soup is awesome and creamy without the addition of milk, cream, or flour!
4 pounds pie pumpkin or butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into 2-inch chunks
4 large sweet-tart apples, such as Empire, Cameo, or Braeburn, unpeeled, cored, and cut into eighths
1/4 cups extra-virgin olive oil
1-1/4 teaspoons salt, divided
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage
6 cups reduced-sodium vegetable broth
1/3 cups chopped hazelnuts, toasted
2 tablespoons hazelnut oil
Directions:
Preheat oven to 450°F.
Toss pumpkin (or squash), apples, olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Spread evenly on a large rimmed baking sheet.
Roast, stirring once, for 30 minutes.
Stir in sage and continue roasting until very tender and starting to brown, 15 to 20 minutes more.
Transfer about one-third of the pumpkin (or squash) and apples to a blender along with 2 cups broth. Puree until smooth.
Transfer to a Dutch oven and repeat for two more batches.
Season with the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and heat through over medium-low heat, stirring constantly to prevent splattering, for about 6 minutes.
Serve each portion topped with hazelnuts and a drizzle of hazelnut oil.
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Now, I have heard of the goodness of pumpkin and apple together, but this was the first time I tasted it for myself. And OH MY GOD! Yeah…it’s good. The pumpkin-apple combination brings a bit of sweet and savory to the soup. It is so yummy.
A word of warning…I had to hand peel, slice, seed, and chop my pumpkin and this took FOREVER. If you can buy it pre-done…DO IT! Trust me. Just do it. I have a great, sharp set of knives and this was still a struggle. It was totally worth it in the end…but, wow…it really took a lot of time to get it right and done. But, once it was roasting with the apples…my kitchen smelled awesome and I couldn’t wait to make it into the soup. Don’t bypass the hazelnut oil (it can be pricey!) or the chopped hazelnuts on top either. I found these to be key ingredients to the finished product.
When life hands you a pie pumpkin…seriously…make soup!
I know a few Celiacs and gluten-free peeps around here. I run with a couple of them too. And one of them, my friend Keith, has been raving about Uncle Maddio’s for just about as long as I’ve known him in our running group. And for some reason…I fell into the black hole of all the other local gluten-free pizza places, not branching out or just not going for pizza at all. Despite the high recommendation and regards concerning their safety procedures when it comes to preparing gluten-free pizza for their customers…this one just kept sliding through the cracks.
I am happy to report, however, that this past Saturday…I went to Uncle Maddio’s…and yeah…I can see why Keith and so many other people have raved about this place.
First of all, Uncle Maddio’s looks to be a very small chain that is expanding. They have a few locations in Georgia and the one here in Louisville, Kentucky. I am so thankful for the location here in Louisville now that I have checked them out.
It was just about right after they opened when my roommate and I made our way over to Uncle Maddio’s for lunch. One reason, aside from meaning to have checked it out long ago, was that we were already in the area. I had been in the local park running a 5K race that morning. After some coffee and a bit of shopping on Bardstown Road, we were ready for some actual food. And there it was…conveniently…offering me gluten-free pizza. Yeah…this was ideal.
So, my roommate and I entered and were greeted by the guy behind the counter. We explained that it was our first time there and that I am gluten-free. He immediately began changing his gloves. “Oh, gluten-free? No problem.” So, we eyed the menu for a moment and finally I told my roommate to pick a pizza, because as long as it is vegetarian, I’ll eat any topping. I’m not as picky as she is. So with a moment of consideration, she decided to go with one of their signature pizzas. Her choice – the Portobello Pesto ($9.99 (regular $7.99 + $2.00 up-charge for gluten-free)). What I really felt good about was when we placed the order, the other guy behind the counter pulled out a list to check the ingredients to make sure they would be gluten-free. Wow…that was an amazing thing.
Granted, Uncle Maddio’s does not make their own gluten-free crust. They have a pre-made vegan/gluten-free crust that is made from: rice flour, tapioca flour, potato flour, water, olive oil, sugar, yeast, and salt. It is only available in one size, a medium, which means six slices. I am certain this has everything to do with cutting down on any sort of cross-contamination. They have an extensive list of gluten-free toppings for the pizza as well. It’s kind of cool because of the way they are set up, you can watch as your pizza goes down the line if you so choose…like someone would watch their sandwich get prepared at Subway.
The Portobello Pesto Pizza is basically the gluten-free crust topped with their herb pesto sauce, mozzarella , portabella and white mushrooms, feta cheese, Roma tomatoes and fresh basil. Simple ingredients on a simple pizza, yes? My roommate made a fantastic choice, because the toppings would mean that I could really get a taste of the crust without sauce overpowering it…and also be able to clearly taste all the toppings on this, one of their signature pies.
We went to fill our drinks and take a seat at a booth. It actually took a little bit of time for the pizza to be prepared, which I actually do like. It means they aren’t being careless or taking shortcuts.
The pizza did arrive at our table and man…it looked absolutely delicious. Stunning. A work of gluten-free pizza art. I hated that I had to take pictures of it, because, honestly, I was ready to dive in for a slice. But I have to make sacrifices for this blog at times. Pictures first. Then…pizza time!
I served my roommate up a slice of the pizza, then placed a slice on my plate. With a fork and knife, I cut through the toasted crust, hearing the knife cut through the pre-made crust. I liked the thin-crust and the crunch that they achieved without burning it. Sometimes some places overcook those thin-crust gluten-free pizzas…but not Uncle Madio’s. It was perfection. And with the very first bite…I knew that this combination of toppings was now one of my favorites. Enough for me to declare that I needed to start making pesto. Hey…I love to be in my kitchen and lord knows I keep olive oil on hand. It all worked. The basil pesto didn’t overwhelm the pizza as a base. It wasn’t too strong…just right. And the rest of the toppings were seasoned and fresh. The portobella mushrooms were cooked to perfection. Not drippy or wet. They were absolutely stunning, laying on top. I could taste the freshness in the Roma tomatoes and the basil. The feta and mozzarella cheese were not piled high on top, but used more as a compliment to the other toppings. It wasn’t overwhelmed with cheese so the flavors really shined.
Yeah…I was impressed. I was beyond impressed. I was happy to be eating there. I was already trying to come up with the next vegetarian pizza to get there and try out. See how it does. Or…maybe get this one again. Because it truly wowed me. When in doubt…go with a signature pizza. They are signature meals for a reason, yes? And this one totally deserved its spot up on that board.
Peace of mind and a great serving and slice of pizza. I left there after eating half of the pizza and wasn’t crazy-full…a definite plus as well. The fact that they take such care with their customers who order gluten-free makes me feel confident about my next return. And yes…there will be a next time!
The Celiathlete 