If you do a search for the best coffee in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the name you’ll continue to see in your search is Alterra coffee. That being said, I knew that was the place I needed to check out while I was in town. My roomie and I make it a point to go to a local coffee house and a local ice cream shop on each trip. And Alterra certainly didn’t disappoint.
I had just finished running the Rock ‘N Sole Quarter Marathon and after downing some water, Cathy and I decided that it was time to hit up a coffee shop for a much-needed caffeine pick-me-up. Alterra was on our list…the big question was…which coffee house were we going to visit. There was one not too far from the Summerfest grounds, so we decided to see if we could make our way there and fulfill our need for caffeine.
It wasn’t hard to get to at all. And when we walked in, we could immediately smell fresh roasted coffee, hear the grinder, and get that quiet buzz you tend to find in coffee houses. Yeah…I immediately felt at home.
We took a moment to examine the boards and decide on what we wanted. For the first time ever, Cathy went with a small iced white mocha ($3.50). I was shocked. This woman never gets her coffee iced. And I went with a small, soy, sugar-free raspberry latte ($3.50).
My raspberry latte came up, but it wasn’t soy. So they gladly remade it for me the proper way without any complaint, eye-rolling, or attitude. LOVED that. I appreciated that to no end. And within moments, a proper iced soy raspberry latte was placed on the counter for my sipping pleasure.
I love testing fruity syrups in a latte. Raspberry tends to be one that pairs overly well with espresso. And this was no different. The raspberry syrup wasn’t too heavy-handed. In fact, it was the perfect amount to give the flavor to the drink without taking it over. And the espresso was a perfect shot. Oh yes. Smooth as silk. It wasn’t bitter, no harsh aftertaste. Perfect espresso pour. And the soy milk was icy cold, and delicious. I was one happy runner at that point to not only have something cold to sip on, but also have something so fantastic.
I also loved that their true small size was an 8 ounce portion. YES! You know, 12 ounces is all fine and good, but 8 ounces just seems like the perfect amount. And the usual price of about $0.50/each was applied for my change to soy milk and my added flavor. Couldn’t argue with that. It’s about what every coffee shop does.
Both my roommate and I walked out of Alterra quite content, with iced drinks in hand and smiles on our faces. Our drinks were the perfect strength and made just the way we wanted them. I was impressed with the atmosphere, the service, and the product at Alterra Coffee . I would go back in a heartbeat. Or visit one of their other locations throughout Milwaukee.
So raise a glass…and caffeinate yourself next time you find yourself in Milwaukee. Trust me…coffee is much better for you than beer, which is mostly what Milwaukee is known for.
Restaurant: Transfer Pizzeria & Café, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Eating out can be tricky. When food allergies come into play, well…there is a lot of guess work that goes on. So, when I go out of town and have to find places to eat, I’m pretty strict about where I choose. Coming up to Milwaukee, I had a great Italian restaurant picked out that had gluten-free pizza and pasta options. And then my roommate pointed out it was sort of a big, heap, fancy kind of a place that would require dressing up…and really, what runner wants to strap on a pair of heels the night before the race just to carb up? Not me.
So…dining the night before the Rock ‘n Sole Quarter Marathon was up in the air to the very evening before we left. And that’s when my roomie, using my favorite Web site/app available ever (Find Me Gluten Free), discovered the place we ended up dining. It was a great little pizzeria/café called Transfer Pizzeria & Café on W. Mitchell St. in Milwaukee. Let me tell you…this was one epic find.
On the outside, it doesn’t look like much. In fact, we almost missed it when we drove past. Thank goodness for the neon sign above the front door. We parked and made our way over to the restaurant, where we were greeted very warmly and shown to a table near the window. The inside was nothing like I imagined. Very bohemian. Very rustic. With a café/bar in the center, the kitchen behind it, and a dining area all around, with booths and tables. It isn’t a large space, but it was very nice.
We were handed menus and told our waiter, Mischa, would be with us shortly. And he was. Wearing an epic Dark Side of the Moon t-shirt, featuring the Death Star with the prism lights from the Pink Floyd cover art. Yeah…we had to comment on how much we loved his shirt. Anyway, we informed him that I am medically gluten-free and he said, “Ah, medically…you mean not one of these fad diets?” It made me laugh. And he was very helpful in telling me that all the toppings for their pizza are gluten-free. He went to fetch Cathy some Diet Coke while I stuck with water for hydration purposes.
Gluten-Free note on the menu at Transfer Pizzeria & Café in Milwaukee, Wisonsin. Vasyl is the chef who hand makes the rice flour crust.
Left with the menu, we quickly glanced over the veggie pizza options and settled on a few to pick from. When he returned he asked if we had any questions and then volunteered to share some of his favorites and suggestions. Oddly enough, he was a big fan of the ones we had been eyeing. And with that recommendation, we placed our order.
Now…something rare happened at Transfer that doesn’t happen very often when I go out to eat…specifically at a pizza/pasta joint. First of all…I was not limited to a salad. YES!! Second of all…I was not just left to pizza. No, my friends. This went beyond what any other restaurant has done for the gluten-free pizza. At Transfer, I could have appetizers…and…wait for it…dessert!
So, already I was doing a happy dance of foodie joy. And we went ahead and placed an order to split the Gluten-Free Bruschetta as an appetizer (which was only a $2.00 upcharge). Then, we would split a small Gluten-Free Da Vinci Pizza (small pizza only, with a $2.00 upcharge). He went to put the order in and we happily discussed our upcoming meal and how much we already loved the atmosphere of the place.
Transfer Pizzeria & Café’s Gluten-Free Bruschetta
The Gluten-Free Bruschetta ($8.00) arrived in short order. Mischa kindly explained to us that all gluten-free products were brought out on red plates…completely dedicated to gluten-free foods. Sweet! On the plate was 10 halves of gluten-free toast that had been rubbed with garlic cloves. In a bowl, large chunks of tomato, fresh basil, and olive oil were ready for us to dish it up onto our toast. And that’s what we did.
The tomatoes were incredibly ripe and full of flavor. The large chunks were not unwieldy, but rather very refreshing, without taking away from the flavor provided by the fresh basil and the taste of the amazing olive oil. Yeah…it was good. I think we might have hoovered the appetizer. But, honestly, it’s been ages since I’ve been able to eat the bread at a restaurant. The bread had a nice toast to it, without being too hard. It was still soft and chewy, but held up the tomato chunks without a problem. I was in love…with an appetizer. Who knew tomatoes, basil, olive oil and gluten-free bread could be the most amazing thing ever? Well, when you usually have to watch everyone eat the bread…it makes a hell of a difference.
The gluten-free pizza was up next. It was tough to decide between the different varieties of veggie pizzas being offered. But I think we made a fantastic choice. The Gluten-Free Da Vinci Pizza ($14.00) consists of a gluten-free crust topped with tomato sauce and pesto sauce. It is then topped off with fresh tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, feta cheese, and shaved asiago cheese. I was quite excited about the pizza toppings. Cathy was a little nervous about the pesto…but her trepidation was soon put to rest once the pizza arrived.
It looked amazing. Honestly. This pizza really looked amazing. I mean, you can’t go wrong with cheese and tomatoes, right? Heck, no!! And the thin gluten-free crust was browned to a crunchy perfection. It’s made at the restaurant too. Not something that is pre-packaged. The chef makes a homemade gluten-free crust from rice flour. There is a special oven specifically for gluten-free. And utensils to take it in and out of the oven that are dedicated as gluten-free.
And how did it taste?
Transfer Pizzeria & Café’s Gluten-Free Da Vinci Pizza
AMAZING! The blend of tomato sauce and basil pesto was fantastic. Absolutely fantastic. They married together so well. The chunks of tomato were, again, fresh. Not slices…chunks. Love that. They were so ripe and packed with flavor. I absolutely loved it. The blend of three different cheeses (mozzarella, feta, and asiago) was fantastic. I love cheese as much as the next person…and this was…so amazing. SO AMAZING! Creamy. Sweet. Just melt-in-your-mouth fantastic. This might just be the best gluten-free pizza…or pizza in general…I have ever eaten. EVER!!
Oh…I was so full on pizza and bruschetta…but gluten-free dessert was mentioned. Yes. Dessert. And we’re not talking about just a bowl of ice cream. Nope. I actually got to have dessert. For real. I was told their gluten-free options were a brownie or a cupcake. I am definitely a brownie girl. And, let me tell you, I was brought an amazing Gluten-Free Brownie ($5.00). Rich. Decadent. Drizzled with chocolate. Amazing. I took one bite and I was sold. It was so rich. It was like biting into dream. Seriously. This brownie was soft and just…so good! Good isn’t even the word that best describes it. It was sinfully decadently delicious. Yeah…I was one happy gluten-free girl.
Stuffed to the max, I walked out of Transfer Pizzeria & Café with a three-course meal under my belt. That never happens anywhere these days. Not only was I full, but I was impressed. The atmosphere, the food, the people…I felt right at home there. And I was taken very good care of. Everything was safely prepared and kept high standards. I felt good to go into a restaurant where the staff was so knowledgeable about gluten-free items, made sure safety precautions were taken with the food, and served up something amazing with each dish that came out.
Color me impressed. No…color me jealous that this place is located in Milwaukee and not where I live.
Gluten-free is no problem at Transfer Pizzeria & Café. They not only know how to safely prepare food, they even host a gluten-free night, every Monday, called “Defeat the Wheat” where they offer no upcharge on gluten-free items on the menu and give a 2 for 1 special on bottles of Lakefront Brewery New Grist gluten-free beer. Gotta love that.
And I do. I’m in love with this restaurant. Well, I guess I found yet another reason to return to the Milwaukee area. And the sooner…the better!
I totally blame my friend, Heather, for my newest fascination with frozen custard. It is just rich, smooth and amazing. Simply amazing. Why simply? Because it is a rich, decadent, but simple treat.
After a long day on the road and hitting up the race expo to pick up my packet for the Rock and Sole Half and Quarter Marathon tomorrow, my roommate and I hit the town for some shopping. And as we were headed to a Half Price Books, we suddenly realized we were hungry. And dinner was still hours away. And there…as if a indulgent oasis suddenly appeared before us, we saw a beacon known as Kopp’s Frozen Custard. Now, I had been browsing Travel Channel and other sites and when it comes to frozen custard, Milwaukee is the place to be. And Kopp’s Frozen Custard is truly a staple to the Milwaukee area.
Founded in 1950, Kopp’s Frozen Custard is a true landmark in the Metro-Milwaukee area. What has brought longevity to their business? The great, unmistakeable taste of their custard. No doubt about it. And, as a little bit of trivia here, Kopp’s was the first to offer something other than the standard vanilla and chocolate frozen custards. This became known as the “Flavor of the Day” and is still put in affect today.
And when we stopped in, there were two additional flavors today. Mint Chip and Chocolate Peanut Butter Chocolate. Um…no guess as to which one my roommate and I decided to get.
You guessed it. Chocolate Peanut Butter Chocolate. One scoop. ($2.29)
Yum.
And yum doesn’t even really begin to cover the smooth, rich, creaminess of this frozen custard. I raved about the one I had in Minnesota…but this was above and beyond. This was full of rich, deep chocolate flavor, loaded with peanuts, and dark chocolate chunks. It was…a salty-sweet party in my mouth. And we all know how much I love frozen treats anyway. Well, this was one of the richest, decadent frozen treats I’ve indulged in. SO good. I might have hoovered it. Just maybe.
The taste of this custard truly is unmistakable. I thought I had the absolute best before…but this blew it all away. Just really, really fantastic. And the setting was so space-agey…while still maintaining a bit of a drive-in/diner vibe. I loved standing at my table, people-watching, and spooning down my frozen treat. I was in heaven.
If you happen to be in the Milwaukee area, check out one of the three top frozen custard places. But…speaking from experience here…I really recommend trying Kopp’s Frozen Custard. This landmark is worth standing in line for one of the flavor’s of the day…or just the plain vanilla or chocolate. For a business to last this long…you know it’s more than good. It’s great. It’s amazing. It’s..sinful…in an amazing, rich, delicious way.
Grab a spoon…because you’ll want to dig in immediately.
Product: GoPicnic Hummus and Crackers All-Natural Meal – $4.99+
It never fails. You’re trying to save money on a road trip by not eating out every time you get hungry…and sure enough…hunger strikes. You don’t want to stop off somewhere and pay an arm and a leg for either a snack or a meal. And with my food allergies…that’s not exactly the best option anyway. So…this time…I came prepared.
On a trip up to Milwaukee, Wisconsin for a Quarter Marathon I was running in, my roommate and I were up before the sun and on the road at 6 a.m. That meant we downed our breakfast at 5:30 before finishing with preparations and last-minute packing before taking out the garbage and heading out with the luggage to hit the road. Regardless…by the time 10 a.m. rolled around…we were starving.
Thankfully, I came prepared with a couple of varieties of GoPicnic meals. I had a couple that I got for free from the Gluten-Free Expo in Birmingham, Alabama. But they included hummus and I was unsure of whether or not my roommate would eat that as she has a love/hate relationship with hummus. So, when they ran a 1/2-off special on GoPicnic’s Web site, I ordered two of the Peanut Butter and Crackers for her, part of their All-Natural, Healthy Meals. For me, I was quite content with my Hummus and Crackers pack. Hers is not gluten-free. But the Hummus and Crackers one is.
And it is full of delicious, healthy treats.
Open the box and you are greeted with a tube of Wild Garden Hummus Dip, Crunchmaster Multi-Seed Crackers, Seapoint Farms Dry Roasted Edamame, Sweet Perry Orchards Baja Blend Fruit & Nut Mix and an Endangered Species Dark Chocolate Square. Every component of this meal is all-natural, gluten-free, vegan and kosher. Gotta love that!!
The biggest decision now was where to start. I opted to hit up the Wild Garden Hummus Dip and the Crunchmaster Multi-Seed Crackers first. I’ve enjoyed the delicious Cruchmaster Crackers before, but this was my first time trying Wild Garden Hummus Dip. Let me tell you…it was absolutely delicious. I even had my roommate try some of it and she actually liked it too. Go figure. It was creamy and full of flavor. It tasted like really good refried beans…but much healthier for you. In fact, this hummus packs a whopping 6 grams of protein. Most store-bough hummus has maybe 1 gram. This made me a very happy girl. Pairing it with the Original Flavor of Crunchmaster Multi-Seed Crackers was brilliant. The hummus only has 60 calories and the Crunchmaster Cracker pack also has only 60 calories. NICE!
The next component that I tore into was the Sweet Perry Orchard Baja Blend Fruit & Nut Mix. This was a simple blend of all natural dried fruits and nuts, which includes habañera almonds, sweet and salty peanuts and mango cranberries. It was pretty good too. A nice mix of salty and sweet. The flavor from the dried fruits and the salty nuts was fantastic. The pack that comes in the GoPicnic box has 100 calories and packs 3 grams of protein.
My next indulgence in the GoPicnic box of goodies was the Seapoint Farms Dry Roasted Edamame. This is another snack I have eaten before…but I don’t think I ever blogged about it. I love this stuff and prefer it over chips any day. Honestly. These dry roasted beans are absolutely delicious. Not too salty. And packed with flavor. Like eating a peanut…but better. This pack has only 130 calories in it, but packs a protein punch of 14 grams. NICE!
And…for dessert…my GoPicnic box had an amazing square of Endangered Species Dark Chocolate. It was a very dark chocolate blend too, of 72% cocoa content. It was smooth, delicious, and sinful. But not too sinful. The square only sets you back 50 calories. Mmmm…that’s an indulgence worth taking.
What I loved about GoPicnic is how easy these are to travel with. My roommate and I were satisfied after eating our meals. And, on a whole, definitely worth every bite. My Hummus and Crackers meal was only 400 calories for the entire thing, had 12 grams of fiber, and a powerful 25 grams of protein. For a vegetarian who is also gluten-free…that protein is exactly what I needed. And it was just so good too. I absolutely appreciate the simplicity of these meals, but how filling they are without breaking a diet or the fat/carb/whatever bank.
GoPicnic offers up quite a variety of meals for the busy-body or traveler. But only two fall into my dietary needs. The Hummus and Crackers GoPicnic meal was fantastic and I recommend it to any vegan, regardless of gluten-free status. It’s a delicious on-the-go treat that held me over until early afternoon.
GoPicnic…I love you. For (deliciously) real!
Inside the GoPicnic Hummus and Crackers All-Natural Meal
Okay…I’m going to admit this straight away. When my CSA put turnips in my weekly bin, I was completely stumped on what to make. I mean…turnips? What do you do with turnips?
A lot actually. There are so many delicious sounding recipes to try, but as I had a limited amount of time, I got online and started to try to figure out a meal I could make from these amazing little root vegetables. With a little help from the Fat Free Vegan, and a little recipe tweaking (I forgot to buy leeks at the grocery store and wasn’t going back out), I ended up cooking up my first Ethiopian-inspired dish.
The end result was a Chickpea and Turnip Stew with Ethiopian Spices, which is fine to eat as a stew, or to pour over rice, which is what I did. The best part is, this recipe is completely vegan and virtually fat free. Gotta love that. And, surprisingly enough…my roommate and I both enjoyed our stew.
So go ahead…give yourself a little taste of Ethiopia.
Recipe: Chickpea and Turnip Stew with Ethiopian Spices
1 teaspoon minced ginger root (I ended up using 1/2 tsp ground ginger as my ginger root was old)
2 teaspoons berberé seasoning (I substituted Garam Masala)
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
2 carrots, chopped
4 cups vegetable broth or stock
1 15-ounce can chickpeas, drained well
1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1/2 cup plain soymilk (I used unsweetened almond milk…but I bet coconut milk would rock!)
Directions:
Clean the turnips well. Trim off the tops and bottoms and then peel them. Cut them into 1/2-inch cubes.
Coat a large pot lightly with non-stick spray.
Add the onions and sauté until they begin to turn brown.
Add the ginger root, garam masala, and turmeric and sauté for another minute.
Add all the remaining ingredients except the soymilk.
Cook, covered, until the turnips are tender, about 20 minutes.
Remove about 1-1/2 cups of the stew and puree it in a blender. Return it to the pot, along with the soymilk.
Stir well until heated throughout and serve.
Serving option: Chickpea and Turnip Stew with Ethiopian Spices over Jasmine Rice
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The flavor of this dish has a very distinct Indian feel to it. As I love Indian food, that’s fine by me. It’s not spicy at all. I sort of wish I had remembered to buy the leeks, but the stew didn’t suffer any from the lack of them. If, by chance, you give this recipe a try, the original one called for 3 leeks, white parts only, washed well and chopped. You add them when you put in the rest of the ingredients after the seasonings. But, since I forgot to buy them, I just added more turnips and carrots and called it even.
This stew was so easy to make. And when you taste it, you’ll definitely be taking your palate on a flavor journey. And with that said, I’m now hoping to receive some more turnips sometime in my CSA bin because I have other recipes to try.
Wanting to give some Ethiopian food a try? This recipe is simple, easy, and…yes…delicious!
So, my roomie and I just started getting local, organic produce from our CSA. And I absolutely love it. And part of doing that, we’re not only incorporating more fresh fruits and vegetables into our diet, but it is giving me something to base a meal around. I love, also, that we are supporting local farmers in the process.
In our first bin that we received, one of the little goodies was two avocados. Now, I love avocado. My roommate…she’s been pretty reluctant about them. I asked her if I made a guacamole if she would eat it. She said she would at least try it. So, I hunted online for some recipes and then it occurred to me that if anyone was going to have exceptional guacamole, it was going to be Rick Bayless.
So, I discovered a recipe for guacamole three ways. And I ended up choosing one that would have a little kick to it. The only ingredient that I didn’t receive in my CSA bin or already have on hand for the guacamole was the Serrano chile I went out to buy. But what emerged was a guacamole that my roommate absolutely devoured. I have Rick Bayless to thank for that…my local CSA…and one chile. Go ahead…try it.
Recipe: Luxurious Guacamole
Luxurious Guacamole
Servings: 4-6
Time: Prep 15 minutes
Ingredients:
2 medium ripe avocados
1 clove garlic, peeled and finely chopped or crushed through a garlic press
Salt
Fresh hot green chile to taste (I like 1 Serrano or ½ to 1 jalapeño), finely chopped
1/4 small white onion, finely chopped
1/2 medium tomato, chopped into 1/4-inch dice
Directions:
Cut the avocados in half, running your knife around the pit from stem to blossom end and back up again. Twist the halves in opposite directions to free the pits and pull the halves apart. Dislodge the pits, then scoop out the avocado flesh into a medium bowl.
Mash the avocado with a large fork or potato masher.
Stir in the garlic and about 1/2 teaspoon salt, plus any other sets of ingredients you’ve chosen. Before adding the white onion, rinse it under cold water and then shake well to rid of of excess moisture before adding it to the avocado. (This reduces the risk of having onion flavor overwhelm the guacamole).
Taste and season with additional salt if appropriate.
If not using immediately, cover with plastic wrap pressed directly on the surface of the guacamole and refrigerate—preferably not more than a few hours.
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I never thought I would see the day that my roommate ate guacamole. But she absolutely loved this stuff. Devoured it. Scoop-for-scoop she loved it. Like I said…if you want to to guacamole right, turn to an expert like Rick Bayless. He’ll lead you to the promised land of mashed avocado goodness. Go ahead. Mash it, mix it, and get creative. But enjoy it.
We layered some between two gluten-free spinach tortillas and added some cheese to make quesadillas, and then enjoyed the rest with gluten-free blue tortilla chips.
One of the first brands anyone in the gluten-free community thinks of when you mention any sort of bread product is Udi’s. Trust me. They have made a name for themselves by proving time and again that they can push out a quality gluten-free product that rivals not just the competition, but also the real thing.
Udi’s was my first love affair with gluten-free bread. I think I cried a little the first time I took a bite of a sandwich using their bread.
So, after having the opportunity to eat a veggie burger at a restaurant with a gluten-free bun, I realized how much I missed being able to pick up my burgers at home. It’s such a small, simple thing…but you don’t realize how much you miss it until you can’t do it anymore. And with all the gluten-free products out on the market, hamburger buns aren’t too difficult to come by, right?
*cough*
Well, probably in most areas. Not here. Thankfully, however, there are a couple of stores around that do stock Udi’s products. And the Udi’s Whole Grain Hamburger Buns were one of the options available. They weren’t the first one I snatched up to buy…I shopped around to see what else was out there. But there was nothing. So, I returned to Udi’s once more and trusted them to give me a quality product to pair with my veggie burger.
And, as always, they came through for me.
Udi’s Gluten-Free Whole Grain Hamburger Bun
My veggie burger was being cooked in my skillet, and my veggie sides were in the oven and on my grill pan. As they were finishing up, I pulled out a Udi’s Whole Grain Hamburger Bun to warm up in the microwave for a couple of seconds. What emerged was soft and delicious, by the way. When first taking it from the container, the bun seems a bit too…sturdy. But a quick flash in my microwave remedied that. Press on the top and it bounced back.
Udi’s Hamburger Buns do come pre-sliced. YAY!! This is one detail that makes me incredibly happy. No needing to search out a sharp knife and attempt to make a decent cut through the roll itself. I loaded it up with my vegan-cheese covered veggie burger, some bibb lettuce, a slice of tomato, and some onion. A little ketchup and mustard topped it off. And viola…my dinner was served. A veggie burger…IN A BUN!!
It’s the little things in life, folks. Trust me.
I settled in with my plate and eagerly picked up my veggie burger (YAY!) to take a bite. The bread, the veggie pattie, the vegetables on top…it all worked well. And the bun itself was quite the star. Soft, amazing texture, and delicious. It tasted like the regular whole wheat buns I used to buy and eat. Honestly. I was blown away, again, by yet another Udi’s product. I was very impressed. And the bun held up, even with the tomato, which does get the bread soggy. It did get soggy, but it didn’t crumble and fall apart on me. And I loved being able to give my entire burger a nice squeeze as I took a bite.
Udi’s Gluten-Free Whole Grain Hamburger Buns are made from all ingredients that I recognize. YAY! This is a step in the right direction. One bun does set you back 180 calories though, so be aware. These buns do contain more calories than most regular buns out on the market. *sigh* But, small price to pay. In addition, each gluten-free bun has 6 grams of fat and also 6 grams of protein. Love getting that protein!
Udi’s is a star with the gluten-free community, pushing out new and different products. They nailed it with these hamburger buns. So, if you are gluten-free and need something for your next family barbeque or a picnic, Udi’s is pretty much available everywhere, unlike other brands out there. I guarantee you can find these in your local grocery store. Gluten-free goodness…just in time for grilling season. Love it.
Go ahead…stop eating your patty with a fork. You can now pick up your burger and enjoy it like everyone else…in a bun even more spectacular than the one they have.
Udi’s Gluten-Free Whole Grain Bun, topped with a Sunshine Burger Garden Herb Veggie Burger with vegan cheese, organic bibb lettuce, tomato, onion and served with honey-balsamic glazed carrots and roasted brocollette
Product: Sunshine Burgers Garden Herb Veggie Burger – $3.99+
I have been lamenting the serious lack of vegetarian proteins that are gluten-free as well. They are nigh on impossible to find. Trust me. I’ve been searching for over a year now. And while I have uncovered a few…some things still escape my grasp.
One of the easier faux-tiens to find that are both gluten-free and vegetarian are veggie burgers. There are a wide variety out there, and while most of the big name brands (Morningstar, Boca, Gardenburger) all have gluten containing ingredients in them…there remain a few on the market that are gluten-free as well. I’m sort of working my way through them.
So, my palate was jazzed to find another brand that is not only vegan, but gluten-free. These are Sunshine Burgers. I have spotted them at my local natural food stores, but they tend to be pretty widely distributed. I had gotten quite cozy with my normal brand, so I decided it was time to branch out and try something new. So, into my shopping basket these went and then into my freezer.
Since joining a local CSA group, fresh produce arrives weekly at my door. This week I not only had onion and tomato, but also local organic bibb lettuce. NICE! So…what works well with onion, lettuce and tomato? Burgers. Yes…burgers. So last night, I got out my skillet, lightly spritzed it with oil and got to cooking.
Sunshine Burgers are free of soy, wheat, gluten and dairy. They are, in fact, vegan! The ingredients used are all natural and all organic. And the list is composed of the following: Organic Ground Raw Sun-flower Seeds, Organic Brown Rice, Organic Carrots, Organic Herbs, and Sea Salt. Yep. Recognize all of those ingredients because I sure do.
Sunshine Burger Garden Herb Veggie Burger (in the skillet)
These veggie burgers also cook up really well. I find, at times, the gluten-free veggie burgers crumble as you cook them up. Not these. They held together really well. And they smelled absolutely delicious as they were cooked up in the skillet. I was very excited to be trying them out.
As the patty finished up, I warmed up my gluten-free hamburger bun. Some vegan cheese went onto the burger and I steamed it down to a perfect melted goodness. Then onto the bun with the lettuce, tomato and onion. A squirt of organic ketchup and gluten-free mustard and viola…dinner was served (with a side of roasted brocollette and honey-balsamic glazed carrots).
I settled in with my plate and happily took my first bite. It was heaven. Heaven on a gluten-free bun. Seriously. Bursting with flavor. You could taste a little bit of everything. It was beyond good. It was divine. Honestly, it was a surprise to take a bite and get such a rush of flavor. SO delicious. I was ready for more. In fact, I was ignoring my sides at first because I was so focused on the veggie burger. I can’t rave enough about these. But I’m going to. They are fantastic. And even if you aren’t a vegetarian or don’t have food allergies, I think you would really enjoy sinking your teeth into one of these.
The only downside I have to these delicious veggie burgers is…the calorie count. OUCH! One burger will set you back 190 calories. The other flavors top off over 200 calories. Pair that with a bun and…yeah…your calorie count is climbing. Oh…and let’s also discuss the 13 grams of fat as well. YIKES! My other gluten-free veggie burger of choice has 140 calories and only 5 grams of fat. The same company but different gluten-free veggie burger also has one for 110 calories and only 3 grams of fat. And one of the first versions I tried only set me back 100 calories and only 2 grams of fat. So…what gives? These may taste delicious…but they are definitely not one of the healthier varieties out there if you watch your calorie and fat intake. I’m an athlete…so I monitor mine closely. So…YIKES YIKES YIKES!!
That being said, I will hand it to Sunshine Burger for making a fantastically delicious gluten-free and vegan burger. I am in love with it. I am not, however, in love with the nutrition information…and will probably shy away from this brand in the future because of it. If calories and fat are not an issue for you…or if you want to treat yourself to a delicious veggie burger, and damn the nutritional content…then these should be the first ones you snag out of the freezer. Honestly…they are one of the best I’ve tasted. It’s sad that the three patties in that box will probably be the only ones I ever taste.
Sunshine Burgers are fantastic. I mean…a dream. But the nutrition information is a bit shocking. And while it’s okay to indulge every now and again (and believe me…I do). I have a hard time swallowing so many calories and so much fat with just one small veggie burger patty. Delicious…and sinfully so.
Sunshine Burger Garden Herb Veggie Burger on an Udi’s Gluten-Free Whole Grain Bun, topped with vegan cheese, organic bibb lettuce, tomato, onion and served with honey-balsamic glazed carrots and roasted brocollette
Product: thinkThin Chocolate Dipped Mixed Nuts Crunch Bar – $1.99+
Pssst.
Let me let you in on a little secret. I am the worst person at properly fueling pre-race and during running. I just can’t seem to get a handle on what I need to eat before certain distances to get my body working without making me uncomfortable during my distance runs. And today…was no different.
I was prepping to run in a 5 mile race, away from the city I live in. Travel. Not far. It just meant an early morning. So I ate some cereal at my apartment before leaving and figured I’d eat something about an hour before the race. The question was…what. For 5K races, I’ve been using the snack-size LäraBars. But this was 5 miles…so I didn’t think that would keep me feeling full long enough if I ate it an hour out and then ran for at least 45 minutes. So…reaching into my drawer of gluten-free running goodies, I emerged with a thinkThin Crunch Bar that I got at the Making Tracks for Celiacs 5K race in Birmingham, Alabama.
I figured this would be fine. Not a stupid amount of calories, and the front of the wrapper noted it would provide 10 grams of protein, 4 grams of fiber, and not overload me on sugar. In fact, the bar only has 3 grams of sugar in it. And regular thinkThin bars usually have 0 grams of sugar and 20 grams of protein…so I was liking this already.
My only trepidation on the chocolate. I wasn’t too sure how well that would sit in my stomach pre-run. I haven’t done too much experimenting because I’m afraid of upsetting my stomach while out on runs, so this was a trial by fire moment. I figured it was light layer on the bottom of the bar of chocolate, and not entirely chocolate…so I might do okay with it. And the nuts would provide ample protein.
Most fruit and nut bars load you down with sugars…usually around 13 grams. Not these Crunch bars by thinkThin. Only 3 grams of sugar. That makes for one happy athlete here! This bar contained peanuts, almonds and cashews that were drizzled with honey and covered in chocolate. I admit, I hesitated for a moment before tearing into the wrapper, telling myself I should have brought other options. But it was all I had. It was gluten-free. It was protein. It was fuel. So, I tore into it…and took my first bite.
Wow. I wasn’t expecting this sort of awesomeness. This isn’t the first time I’ve had thinkThin bars (my first experience was due to my good friend, Tawn, who brought me gluten-free goodies when I visited California!), but this was the first experience with one of their Crunch bars. I loved it. The nutty texture was amazing. The chocolate was light and didn’t overpower the rest of the bar. The honey lent a bit of sweetness. It was actually pretty filling too. Usually I get hungry within 2 miles of a race. Not this time. I was full throughout and I didn’t start getting hungry until about 4 hours post-race. So, it was really satisfying and filling and gave me the energy necessary for the race. Powered me into a new personal record for a 5 mile race. How about that?!
This bar only sets you back 190 calories, which isn’t bad considering what some protein/energy bars can. I loved the crunch, the texture, the flavors…they all worked. I loved how satisfying it was and how it made me feel full, even while running 5 miles at a 7.5 mph pace. YES! It worked. Why I ever doubted, I don’t know. But I think these are going on the grocery list from now on when I have distance races to attend. It was perfectly filling, perfectly tasty, perfectly powering.
Protein perfection in a simple nut bar. thinkThin does gluten-free protein bars right. And this is just further proof of their sheer awesomeness. So, thank you, Tawn for giving me my first thinkThin bar, and thank you Gluten-Free Expo in Birmingham for allowing me the opportunity to sample one of the thinkThin Crunch bars. I’d be lost without you.
And thinkThin…keep on impressing me. Because I can’t say a single bad word about your products thus far. I’m satisfied and a super-happy consumer.
thinkThin Chocolate Dipped Mixed Nuts Bar (unwrapped)
So…what’s with the title, right? What’s the whole ‘phone home’ line about? Hmmm?
I’ll tell you, my dear readers. I love Steven Spielberg and one of my favorite movies of his is E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial. And what does Elliott use in that movie to lure E.T. out of hiding? Reese’s Pieces.
And what does this have to do with a gluten-free cookie mix?
I’m getting there.
First of all, as far as products from Hodgson Mill go…I’ve had good luck with their gluten-free line. The brownies have been some of my favorites. And the baking mix worked really well with my homemade scones. So, when I bought the Gluten-Free Cookie Mix from Hodgson Mill, I went into it with high hopes.
Keep in mind that what you are getting in this box is a base for cookies. Flavor it as you see fit. Use the suggestions on the box…or come up with your own. Me…I came up with my own.
Now, the ingredients to make up the mix calls for vegetable shortening. I do not believe in using shortening in my food. Ew. So, I just added the same amount of soft margarine to replace it. The margarine went into the Kitchen-Aid mixer to be creamed to fluffy goodness. In went the mix. It was blended. And then an egg and two teaspoons of vanilla went in. There you have it…the base for cookies. From here you could add chocolate chips, or almonds, or peanut butter, or cocoa powder…or whatever you can dream up.
Hodgon Mill Gluten-Free Cookie Mix prepared with Reese’s Pieces and Reese’s Peanut Butter Baking Chips
Me? I decided to use a box of Reese’s Pieces and some Reese’s peanut butter baking chips and created E.T.’s. Gluten-free cookies that are packed with Reese’s goodness. Mmmmm.
I easily stirred in the peanut butter chips and candy until they were perfectly scattered throughout the dough. Then, using my ice cream scooper, I dished out the dough onto a baking sheet, pressed each cookie down with the bottom of a glass, then stuck it in the oven for 15 minutes. When they were done baking, they were still a light color, but had a bit of brown on the edges. I placed them on a cooling rack for a few minutes before finally giving in to the urge to try my cookie creation.
Mmmmmm…
I definitely think E.T. would phone home over these. Seriously. They taste like peanut butter cookies without adding the actual peanut butter to them. Honestly…they were nothing like what I expected. Even after cooling on the rack, they were soft, but sturdy. Sort of like shortbread…but a little softer. And the fact that they weren’t flavored with anything but the peanut butter chips and Reese’s Pieces…that’s what shines in the cookie. Honestly…so yummy!
My “E.T.’s” – gluten-free cookies prepared from Hodgon Mill Gluten-Free Cookie Mix, with Reese’s Pieces and Reese’s Peanut Butter Baking Chips (baked)
The box says that you get 2 dozen cookies out of the mix. But I managed to bake up 27 in the end. The serving size is 2 cookies, but one is usually enough for me when it comes to dessert. As for the nutrition facts, before any additions are put into the mix, 2 cookies will set you back only 101 calories. Not bad at all. My additions of the box of Reese’s Pieces and the Reese’s Peanut Butter baking chips takes it to 130 calories. Not too shabby.
Baking from scratch is always best, but sometimes a helping hand is a necessary evil. Hodgson Mill once again goes above and beyond amazing with a gluten-free product. I can’t wait to purchase another box and try another variety of cookie. Either one of my own making or one recommended on the box. Whichever I decide to do, however, I know it will be delicious. This gluten-free cookie mix is out of this world. And so are the cookies that emerge when all is said and done.
Want to try one of my E.T.’s?
*passes tray*
“E.T.’s” – my cookies made from Hodgson Mill Gluten-Free Cookie Mix, Reese’s Pieces, and Reese’s Peanut Butter Baking Chips. E.T. approved!!
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The Celiathlete 