Restaurant: Folsom Street Coffee, Boulder, Colorado
If I were to choose another place in this country to take up residence…it would be Boulder, Colorado. Hands down.
Not only is it a hip, happening place, but it is so healthy and full of energy and life. It’s a little piece of Bohemia up in the mountains. And I love every moment I am there.
This year when I ventured over to Boulder, Colorado, I was meeting up with someone. And as she knows the area, she chose to meet up for coffee at Folsom Street Coffee. Now, we all know that I am a coffee addict. So, a little non-chain, independent coffee place is always high on my map. She chose well.
My roommate and I arrived early and settled in to wait. But, soon we were eagerly contemplating what type of drink to get. And before you knew it, we were placing our order at the counter.
Cathy went with a simple mocha, which, mind you, is prepared with chocolate milk. WHAT a concept. Honestly. And the chocolate…Ghirardelli. YES!
I was feeling a latte that day, and went with a strawberry latte made with almond milk. Oh yeah…almond milk abounds at these little coffee shops in Colorado, and I am so thankful for that. Unfortunately, they were out of strawberry syrup, so I changed my order to a blackberry latte made with almond milk. No harm, no foul. Still berry-licious in a latte type way.
We could see our drinks being prepared as we sat there and just sort of drank in the atmosphere. When our order was up, I went to retrieve it, admiring the beautiful latte art in the process as well.
And at first sip, the mix of the berry flavor with the awesome espresso shot was a perfect combination for me that morning. I loved the way the espresso played with the sweet undertones of the blackberry syrup. And the almond milk frothed up beautifully and gave me the perfect foam that I love on a latte. So delicious.
Interesting to note that Folsom Street Coffee is Boulder’s only zero waste coffeehouse. In addition, it is family owned and operated as well. I love independent shops. And let me tell you, this place was packed. From the moment we arrived to the moment we left, and people were still coming in as the time we spent in there talking ticked away. Yeah…it was a perfect coffee experience in the perfect city in my view. If you find yourself near Boulder, Colorado, I encourage you to stop in at Folsom Street Coffee. Treat yourself to something delicious and caffeinated from this awesome little coffee shop.
Folsom Street Coffee’s Blackberry Latte with Almond Milk
We probably didn’t really need cereal while we were away in Colorado. We were loaded down with some gluten-free breakfast bars, but for some reason…cereal ended up in our shopping basket on our usual grocery trip for the time we were in Colorado. Hey…we buy groceries so we don’t eat out three times a day. It’s smart!
But, I’m so accustomed to eating cereal in the morning that I wasn’t going to fight the urge to purchase it. So, purchase made.
I was shopping at a little natural foods store in Denver, which is the equivalent of Whole Foods…but at great prices. No…really. The produce and food selection (especially gluten-free) was amazing!! I was just awestruck by it all.
When it came to choosing a cereal, my roommate and I went a little off the beaten path. We could have played it safe…but, you see, we had this coupon for products from Erewhon, a brand we don’t see much of in our area. So when we spotted the Strawberry Crisp Cereal, we just put it in the basket. No questions asked. Didn’t need it…but there it was. And here we were…buying it.
Let me tell you…I’m so glad we didn’t talk ourselves into putting it back. Friday morning was an early morning as we had a meeting out in Boulder, Colorado, which meant up and out of the hotel early to get there in time. Knowing that our big meal of the day wouldn’t happen until around noon-ish, the cereal was a welcome site that next morning. Now, Erewhon’s Strawberry Crisp Cereal doesn’t really look like anything special. It’s simple. It’s the combination of certified organic corn flakes that are crispy and crunchy and sweet. And to add to the flavor, some dried strawberries are thrown into the mix. I was skeptical at first. I have an issue with dehydrated fruits thrown into cereals…but these were strawberries…and strawberries always win.
Well, this cereal was definitely a winner! The crispy texture was awesome and held up in the splash (or pool) of almond milk that was poured over it. The corn flakes were lightly sweetened and were definitely bolstered by the inclusion of the strawberries. And those berries were what shocked me the most. I figured they would taste like cardboard, but with the addition of the almond milk, these little dried strawberries were revitalized. Their flavor was all over this cereal. It reminded me a lot of the flavor of Fruit Loops, which I used to eat the hell out of when I was growing up. It was so good. I only wish the strawberry one was easy to find around here.
Even if you aren’t required to eat gluten-free (like my roommate), I highly recommend giving this cereal a try. Especially if you are a strawberry fiend like me. Because, honestly…anything with strawberries wins. And this took the cereal gold.
OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini Marathon, Indianapolis, IN
The day has finally arrived. Since February, I’ve put a lot of miles on my feet and a lot of time into training for this. In some areas, I’ve fallen short (hello, strength training!). In other areas, I’ve really seen improvements. I’ve run through injury. I’ve run through rain. I’ve run in the cold. And I’ve slogged it out on the treadmill…all for this.
The nation’s largest half marathon. Yes. As in the biggest one in the country. And the best part is…it’s close to home. Just a short drive north to Indianapolis.
Tomorrow, my dear friends, I’ll be lining up in corral O and anticipating the start of the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini Marathon. I’ve had my eye on this race for awhile. And, unlike last year when I ran my first half marathon ever (Chicago), this time I have trained properly and even learned a thing or two in the process. Amazing how that happens.
I’m not going to lie…those pre-race butterflies are already kicking in. I’m giddy with excitement. I love running half marathons (despite only doing one and barely surviving). I love a good endurance race. And this one is a BIG deal. I mean…it’s the largest in the United States. Somewhere near 40,000 people run in this race. That’s not an exaggeration. And this year…I am one of them.
The weather on Saturday morning…hot and humid. Yeah. And it will only heat up as the day goes on. I’ve done some running on hot days, and I tend to wilt. So, I plan to hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Just like I did when I ran the equally as hot Chicago Half Marathon back in September. It worked then…I hope it works now.
I also know, now, that I have to eat more than a serving of cereal before running 13.1 miles. So, last night I went to pick up a packet of peanut butter to throw on a banana pre-race. I’ll also have my cereal and that should see me through. If I need a boost while out running, I have one lonely pack of Annie’s vegan/gluten-free fruit snacks. I’m still not very good at eating while on the run. I have yet to master it without something upsetting my stomach or bringing on cramps. But as I’m aiming for a marathon in the very near future, well, I best learn what works and learn how to do it.
This morning, I was up early to pack up my race clothes, shoes, and my overnight bag. Right after work, I’m heading up to Indianapolis, stopping into the race expo, picking up my packet, walking around, drinking it all in, then grabbing something for dinner that won’t wreak havoc on my stomach, and then turning in for the night. As I’m staying outside of the downtown area, it means rising earlier than I would like to head into the city, get the parking garage I hope to get, and getting to that start line.
I have quite a few friends who are running in this race with me. One is in my corral. The other one hasn’t told me where she is positioned, but I hope to run into her either pre-race or after. This is her first half marathon and I want to wish her luck and congratulate her on finishing. I hope it happens.
I have goals this year when it comes to my distance races. Due to the heat that they are expecting tomorrow, I don’t think I’ll hit it on my first (of four) half marathon this year. But…there is time to improve, time to work through some kinks, and other races that I can aim for those goals during. I’d rather run smart in the heat then push too hard and not make it to the finish because of it.
So…first half marathon of the year and I’m doing it in a big way.
To all those running with me…best of luck!! See you at the finish!
Restaurant: McCabe’s Bistro and Pub, Aurora, Colorado
It was that time of year. Time for the annual trek to Colorado.
Why head out to Colorado? Well, there is this fantastic little convention that I have attended for the past four years. I’ve sort of fallen in love with my journey’s out there. Everything is so beautiful. And, it helps that I know a local out there who can direct me to some fantastic food.
Now, my good friend Sharon knows that my roommate and I are big on pub grub (I know…like you couldn’t tell!). So, she called me up a couple days before we headed out and mentioned grabbing some lunch on our first day out there at this little local pub, that makes some of the best Irish food in the Denver area, before going up into the foothills and mountains and having a fun afternoon. Now…how can we say no to that sort of a lead-in? Besides…it’s a pub we had yet to try…and this had to be remedied.
Upon our arrival in Denver, we got our rental car and headed to Sharon’s home. We got things together and she drove us out to the Southlands Shopping Mall. And there, tucked away in this little outdoor shopping center, was McCabe’s Bistro and Pub. It doesn’t look very Irish upon first glance. After all, it is situated in a shopping center. But all of that changes the moment you walk through the door.
That Irish hospitality is evident from the moment you set foot in the door. We were seated in a rustic little booth near the back and given some time to peruse the menu. Although, coming into this, we pretty much had an idea of what we wanted to dine on. Sharon went for the McCabe’s Sirloin Shepherd’s Pie. Cathy, naturally, went for her usual order of fish and chips. And this left me. Being a vegetarian with a gluten sensitivity doesn’t always make pub grub the easiest to navigate. We told the server of my food allergies and she assisted as much as she could. When asked about the fries, though, she indicated they were fried with the breaded fish…so those were out.
What I ended up getting was this fantastic little salad. It is the Pear & Gorgonzola Salad, which is a mix of baby greens with the addition of sliced pears, toasted walnuts, red onion, and a sprinkling of gorgonzola cheese with a balsamic vinaigrette. I was very careful when placing my order, wanting to make sure that I wouldn’t have any problems with what I was eating that might make me ill. I wanted to enjoy this vacation and not worry about getting glutenized, which was what happened at the last pub I ate at in Denver. With the assurance of the server…we talked while we awaited our order.
Soon, it was brought out to the table. While my friends both were served lunch portions, my salad was H-U-G-E. I was okay with that. Because when you are making a meal out of salad, it is best to have it big and filling. And, let me tell you, the combination of flavors really worked on this one. The mild greens paired very well with the sweetness of the pairs, and the bite of the onions gave it a bit of volume. But the star of this salad was the fantastic toasted walnuts. Honestly, when mixed with the drizzle of the balsamic dressing, this was the absolute star of the salad. I found myself saving the walnuts for last because I loved the way they tasted. So delicious.
We all dug in and took our time savoring our food. Perfect size. I was ready now to go out and explore a bit of the mountains and enjoy an afternoon with friends. That’s what this trip was all about. And with McCabe’s so close, I know I’ll be going back and enjoying another meal there next time I’m in town. Just an amazing little pub in an unexpected little place. And when you can enjoy great Irish pub grub with good friends…life is already awesome. The food here…was very good and they made me feel at ease about what I was eating.
I’ve put a lot of time, energy, strength, sweat, tears, and bruises into my half marathon training. I’ve continued to run races around the area and…in Colorado (because I am crazy!)…while maintaining my training program and keeping up with the mileage that is required on certain days. And I have had a blast doing it.
Well, today was my last long run before I kick off my first (of four, so far) half marathon of the year. I’m totally excited to be doing another half marathon. This will only be the second one that I have run, but I have trained smart for it…really listened to my body…and have found my runs improving. It makes me feel really good.
But today, something else happened on my last long run. Well, I discovered my water bottle was leaking…but that’s beside the point. As I rounded up my 10 mile run today, after an easy 5 miles followed by the last 5 miles with hills (I’m apparently a masochist when it comes to my training runs), I hit the 350 mile mark on my journey to run 500 miles this year. I couldn’t be more proud of this achievement either. This hasn’t been an easy road. I’ve even had to run on a sore Achilles tendon (I slowed down and didn’t push it on hills or for speed). I’ve worried about injuries, endured minor ones, one major one, and kept on going despite it. Why? Because I have a half marathon next weekend and I want to be ready for it.
When I ran my first half marathon last year in Chicago, I wasn’t prepared for it. I was straight off of a stress fracture to my foot and horrible runner’s knee in my right knee. Training wasn’t an option…I could barely run a mile on a treadmill at a slow speed. So, it was a miracle I finished. I didn’t eat right for it. I didn’t train. And yet…I got to that finish line in a respectable time.
My goal…to only improve on that.
So, having 350 miles behind me already feels great. I feel great. I couldn’t be more excited about hitting the road in Indianapolis next Saturday for the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini Marathon. I think it will be a good race. I think I will run a good race. And, I have 350 miles of training to thank for that.
Only 150 more to go. Looks like I might have to increase my goal for the year.
And that, my dearest friends, is how you can tell that I run for the love of it. I don’t make myself go out and run. I willingly go and put in the miles. It makes me feel better about life when I do it because I run because I love to run. And there is no better reason to run than because you love it. If you don’t love doing it…you’ll stop doing it. And I hope to be doing this for a very long time.
Me crossing the finish line at the Step 4 Life 5K - Brighton, Colorado
Race: Step 4 Life 5K/10K Race
Place: Brighton, CO
Date: April 21, 2012
Time: 27:16
To quote U2: “EL-E-VATION!”
So…here it is. I live in a river valley. The Ohio River Valley here in Southern Indiana. I’m so close to Louisville, Kentucky, I can see it from my apartment. Yeah. New Albany, Indiana sits at an elevation of 449 feet.
Now picture for a moment doing your first run ever in Colorado at 5,063 feet. Yeah. Elevation indeed!
Every April, I fly out to Denver, Colorado for a science fiction convention. No, really…I do. I love visiting Colorado. It’s such a beautiful state and every time I go out there, I hate leaving. I long for the next time I’ll be back. That’s how much I love it. This year, since I have taken up running and am pursuing a goal of running a race in all 50 states at some point, I thought why not run a race and cross Colorado off the list. My roommate found one…the Step 4 Life 5K/10K race that benefited lung cancer research. Awesome.
I really, really wanted to do the 10K, but after much thought and evaluation, decided it would probably be best when going from river valley to mountains to do a test run on the 5K. So, that’s what I signed up for. And, believe me, I had a lot of people concerned about how I would do at it. For me…I was just going to take it easy and do what I felt my body could do.
So, race morning came around. A beautiful 52 degree, sunny morning. I got up, ate a light breakfast of some gluten-free cereal and got dressed for the race. The drive from Denver to Brighton took about 25 minutes overall, and we got there right about the time we hoped to. I went to pick up my packet…and unfortunately…they couldn’t find my name on the list. YIKES!
But, they were very professional about it and simply handed me a number, had me write down my information, and let me enter. I had the receipt showing I paid for it, but they didn’t even ask to see it. Awesome. So, now that I was officially part of the race with my t-shirt and all, I went to pick up my timing chip.
This was apparently the first year that they used chip timing. So, this was going to be a new experience for anyone who had run this before. As I am getting pinned up and put, what I like to call the “house arrest timing chip” around my ankle, I’m noticing the other runners in the race. They are all super fit. No surprise. Colorado is the home of the two healthiest cities in the entire United States (Boulder and Fort Collins). So, there were people who had run the Boston Marathon that year, and people who were just all muscle. Lean, mean running machines. I consider myself to be in decent shape (although I admit that I do love my ice cream and chocolate too much for my own running good, but it never stops me!), but I was really intimidated by these other runners.
First race at elevation...done!
I guess that’s just natural. I usually try not to compare myself to others that are running with me, because no matter how fit someone is (or not fit) you don’t know how well they perform when running. I have been bested by people I thought I would leave behind in the dust, and likewise I have blasted past people I thought I’d never even have a chance of passing. It’s just one of those weird running quirks.
Well, race time was upon us and I was stretched out and as prepared as I was going to be. I booted up my iPod Nano and went to line up. In my head I was just reminding myself to breathe (which is what my headband for this race said, btw!). The announcer said that the 10K people were to line up first as they would kick off the race. Then the 5K people. Most of us didn’t hear him say they would have a separate start, but thankfully he said this before too many of the 5K people set out with the 10K people. After a two minute gap, they turned us loose on the course.
I did start off slower than I usually do. I really just wanted to see how I would do with the change in elevation and the thinner air. But, I felt good as I headed out and found myself running at a decent, though not normal, pace. That was a good thing. If I felt good, that meant I could push it a little more. After my first mile, I decided to do just that. And here is where we hit some minor inclines. No big deal now. I run on hills in my practice runs, easy and hard, so I pushed past them without any problem. And hey…I was passing people. Me! The lowlander from Indiana. The one not used to running at this sort of elevation. Yeah…I was passing and pressing onward.
The race course had a turn around point and as I passed a water station, the first of the 10K racers were heading back in our direction. Except they missed the turn, and when someone shouted after them, the guy in the lead just darted across my path, almost knocking right into me and pushing me over. I don’t think he would have stopped if that had actually occurred. But thankfully I was paying attention, pulled up to a quick stop and then continued onward. The turn-around point was a bit of a choke point. I was catching up to people as we were reaching the cone to run around and there was no room to maneuver past them, so I had to simply run their pace for a moment until the breakaway.
And breakaway I did. Down the hill I had run up, and then toward the water stop. Carefully I crossed against the people still coming the other way and made my way into the final leg of the race. One mile to go. The course was a mix of gravel, concrete, and then…grass. Yes…grass. I love running on grass, but I wasn’t expecting it. By now, I could see the finish line. It still felt miles away and I was starting to feel the effects of the elevation. I was more tired than usual, but I wasn’t about to stop. This race was so much fun and I was having a great time and not really worrying about what time I came in. Just finishing it would be amazing and awesome. And that was my goal.
Over a wooden footbridge and down the straightaway to the finish line. I was heading into the last stretch. Here is where I normally put on the speed and dash all out for the finish, but I didn’t hear. I couldn’t. Not this time. But I did put a little more speed into it…but only a little. I was tired. I admit that I was tired.
And I finished. My GPS watch stated at 27:10, but the official race results says 27:16. So, either way…a respectable time.
Here is where the Step 4 Life 5K stands. I finished, as I said, in 27:16. I was the I was 24/87 5K finishers overall and 6/41 women. And, of course, I finished 3/19 in my division. Being that this was my first race ever at altitude, I think that’s pretty rockstar. Yeah…I’m proud of that. And in the end, I felt great. I had an amazing race. And if it runs again next year, you better believe I’ll be a part of it.
Maybe I’ll even attempt the 10K. Maybe.
(On a side note, the second song to come up on my shuffled running mix on my iPod that day was U2’s “Elevation.” Perfection!)
So…what’s one of my favorite things to eat, friends?
You know this by now…
SOUP!
And nothing gets me going more than a really delicious, flavorful, well-seasoned soup. One of the top powerhouses for flavor is anything that has that Southwestern spice to it. I make my own version from scratch of a Southwest Soup (my mom’s recipe and quite delicious), so when I bought a box of Pacific Foods Southwest Vegetable Soup…it had a lot to live up to.
And for the most part…it did. This soup has a great tomato base, and has bits of black beans, corn, onion, and green peppers in it. It’s definitely not as hearty as the version I make from my mom’s recipe…but it had all those familiar flavors. And that was a good thing. I loved the little hint of spice, brought out in the broth by the chipotle pepper, I presume. It had a nice warming feel to it, and that’s definitely something I look forward to when I eat a soup.
This was just enough when I paired it with one of my infamous gluten-free, dairy-free grilled cheese sammies. That being said, I think it could have stood on its own as a meal. But I can’t have soup without grilled cheese. It’s just not human. Or American. It is culinarily incorrect. Is culinarily even a word?
It is now. I used it in a sentence.
This soup from Pacific Foods is brand new to the line-up. It’s one of their Homestyle soups, and I can see why. They use fresh ingredients, nothing artificial. And…of course…it is gluten-free. I love a good gluten-free soup. They are so difficult to come by at times though.
This soup packed a little Southwestern flavor with healthy vegetables and it made for a really great soup to enjoy while catching up on your favorite television saga (for me…it’s usually Top Chef). If you’re in the market for a delicious vegetable soup…then this soup is it for you. Nothing can beat a rich tomato base with classic garden vegetables, black beans and Southwestern spices soaking in it. It’s really, really good.
So seek out your natural foods section and find this little Southwestern soup in a box. And give it a try for yourself.
My kitchen is turning into a little Indian food mecca these days. And while I would love to prepare a curry or some other vegetarian dish from India, I haven’t had a moment to really explore the proper spices and ingredients…yet. I do intend to do something from scratch soon, but the timing has been off on these busy days.
But, that’s why a company called Tasty Bite exists. Because what Tasty Bite has on grocery shelves is a little spice and a little flavor of India in an easy to microwave pouch.
It’s as easy as making up some jasmine rice and then putting the little pouch of goodness into the microwave for about two minutes or less. Then at the beep…your dinner is served. And let me tell you, these little pouches pack a flavor punch.
Tonight, I pulled the Jodhpur Lentils out of my pantry to give a try. These yellow lentils were flavored with the usual suspects when it comes to Indian cooking – cumin, turmeric and chilies. There is a hint of garlic in the sauce. It’s just amazing flavor. And lentils are a fantastic source of protein. If you’re like me, a vegetarian athlete, getting enough protein in the diet can be a bit of a challenge. But lentils are a good way to incorporate that into the diet. And ethnic food like this makes the perfect way to infuse these protein-packed wonders into the diet.
I found the Jodhpur Lentils to be a bit mild by my usual Indian fare standards. But, that was okay as I was running soon after ingesting it. That being said, I found it still to be packed with the right flavors and delicious texture. The yellow color is beautiful and when I mixed these up with the rice, it made for a filling but light meal in the end. The mild flavor, while I am used to bold, spicy flavors, I didn’t find to be a letdown. It was a nice blend of heat and mild flavor. In the end, it was just what the palate needed.
So, if you love Indian food but are afraid of the spice that sometimes accompanies it, I recommend the Jodhpur Lentils by Tasty Bite. It’s a mild introduction to a fantastic culture of flavor and spices. And when you can’t get it from India itself or a local Indian restaurant, then Tasty Bite provides a perfect substitute. I promise…these are amazing.
Oh, and this little package of yellow lentils is also vegan/vegetarian, kosher, and gluten-free. BONUS! So, dig in. You’re treating your taste buds to something fantastic.
But trust me…this little experiment this morning turned out to be a delicious mouthful.
Now, I admit…I’m not big on French toast. I don’t know what it is. I think growing up I had one too many still-soggy slices that were rushed to the table in an attempt to get us fed and then out the door to catch the bus to school.
But I’m getting ready to head out on vacation so I’m trying to use up things that I have open in my fridge…and as I’ve been using pumpkin recently in a lot of recipes (instead of eggs/oil/butter), I had some pumpkin to use up. So…this is the recipe I created on a whim this morning.
Recipe: Gluten-Free Cinnamon Raisin Pumpkin Pecan French Toast
Gluten-Free Cinnamon Raisin Pumpkin Pecan French Toast
Servings: 2 Time: Prep 5 minutes; Cook 8 minutes
Ingredients:
4 slices of gluten-free cinnamon raisin bread (I used Udi’s Gluten-Free Cinnamon Raisin)
2 eggs
1/4 cup pure pumpkin (I used Libby’s)
1 teaspoon gluten-free vanilla
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Dash of ground nutmeg
2 tablespoons milk (I used unsweetened almond milk)
2 teaspoon brown sugar (optional…for sweetness)
Chopped pecans
Directions:
In a bowl, mix together the eggs, pumpkin, milk, cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla. Add the brown sugar, if using. Mix well.
Preheat a pan (for about 3-5 minutes). Spray it with gluten-free non-stick spray or olive oil over medium-high heat.
Dip each slice of bread into the egg mixture and place into the pan to cook until golden brown on one side (about 2-3 minutes). Turn the slices over and cook until golden brown on the other side (another 2-3 minutes).
Remove and place two slices on each plate, garnish with chopped pecans.
~*~*~
I added a little pad of butter and some maple syrup to these this morning and they were heavenly. I absolutely loved the variety of flavors, from the sweetness of the syrup and the raisins to the spice of the cinnamon and nutmeg in the pumpkin. And that pumpkin flavor was there, but wasn’t overpowering. Every flavor came out and took the spotlight. It was a culinary experiment totally worthy of a Top Chef Quickfire Challenge.
Or…at least I’d like to think so. But…that can be left to you as well. Go ahead…give this a try. I promise, it’s a filling, low-calorie breakfast treat.
I’m at it again with the quick and easy Indian meals. And why not? There are some nights, like tonight, for example, where standing over a stove or waiting on something to cook up in the oven is just not feasible. I got off work and came home and had enough time to heat up some rice and one of these Indian meals to eat before changing into shorts and a tech shirt and heading over to Louisville for a fun run around a park.
That’s how it works on Monday’s in my little world. Which means, there are no big culinary creations in my kitchen. Not on my fun run nights. Normally it’s soup and sandwich night, but I’ve been working my way through the pile of Tasty Bite meals I bought while they were on sale. Since my selections are all gluten-free and vegetarian or vegan, these are not only quick to heat and eat, but also fall right into my dietary restrictions.
What more could a busy, on-the-go girl ask for?
Tonight’s Tasty Bite selection was the Bombay Potatoes. I was pretty certain these were going to be epic. I was a little more concerned about my roommate enjoying them. The reason being I noticed they included chickpeas. She has said countless times she isn’t a fan…but she bucked up and gave it a try.
So, the Bombay Potatoes are simply chunks of potatoes and chickpeas, slow-cooked in a sauce that is made from tomatoes, onions, and a plethora of Indian spices, like coriander and cumin. It smelled fantastic as I nuked it in my trusty microwave for two minutes. I gave it a stir and then dished up the concoction over two servings of jasmine rice.
While the overall look of it is uninspired…and very brown, the flavor makes up for the lack of color. This meal is fantastic. Not only is it filling, but it is seasoned to perfection. A serving only contains 130 calories and it is also low in fat. In addition, it’s quite filling, especially served over rice (I know…potatoes and rice…double starch…carby goodness for this running girl!). I relished the mix of spices and flavors that were in the sauce and infused into not only the potatoes but also the chickpeas. The texture was awesome and the serving provided a great 5g of protein as well. Awesome for this gluten-free vegetarian as well.
Tasty Bite is three-for-three when it comes to their meals. This is the third one that I have sampled and once again I have fallen in love with the ethnic and authentic flavors, despite coming in a little pouch that gets microwaved for only a few moments. They say good things come in small packages. In this case…so do delicious things.
The Celiathlete 