The Celiathlete

March 20, 2012

Forget Subway, Schär brings gluten-free sub sandwich rolls to your home (top off how you like)

Product: Schär Sub Sandwich Rolls – $5.99+

A couple months ago, Subway announced that, in a very, very, very, very (you get the picture) select market, it would be testing out gluten-free sandwich rolls in a few locations. This…is a step in the right direction. However, this very (et al.) select market is nowhere near where I live (naturally), so the little corner sandwich shops are still off-limits to me currently.

But that doesn’t mean sub sandwiches are. In fact, thanks to the wonderful parbaked bread that is marketed by Schär, I was able to create my own sandwich the other day for dinner. It had been a long time since I had anything that resembled a sub sandwich, so this was a great moment.

Schär has yet to disappoint me with a product. Yes, the products can be a bit pricey, but the fact of the matter is…they are good. Better than good. They are downright fantastic. I’ve had the ciabatta and baguette, as well as a few of their crackers and cookies (thank you gluten-free expo!). Loved them all. So, when I had an idea of how to use up the remainder of my bottle of Thai sweet red chili sauce, these sub sandwich rolls played perfectly into the recipe.

These are so easy too. Just preheat the oven to 400 degrees and when ready…put them on a cookie sheet and bake. It’s that simple and in five minutes, they are warm, toasted, and ready for consumption.

Schär’s Sub Sandwich rolls come individually wrapped in packs of two. This means you don’t have to use one now and freeze the other one. The other stays fresh within its little sealed pouch. It’s awesome. Even with the quick bake in the oven, these rolls came out soft, just like all those freshly baked breads you smell whenever you are near a Subway. Mmmmm.

So, for my foray into sub sandwich making, I toasted up these rolls and then grilled some tofu that I marinated in the Thai sweet red chili sauce. When the tofu was done grilling and the bread was oven-toasted, I sliced the rolls in half and coated each with a schmear of jalapeño hummus. A bed of spinach was placed on one half before being topped with strips of my marinated and grilled tofu. The other half of the bread topped it off…and bam…vegetarian sub sandwich!

These rolls were awesome. And at only 160 calories per roll, it is basically guilt free. The only bread at Subway that comes in under 160 calories are their mini breads. In addition to being nutritious, all of the ingredients on the package are recognizable and identifiable. Peace of mind. Not only are these rolls a great source of fiber, but they also only contain 2g of fat.

I can’t stop raving about Schär’s products. Each time I try one I am impressed even more than I was before. While my local grocery store does sell a few of Schär’s products, they don’t carry the sub sandwich rolls. I found those at a natural food store and with that initial sighting, I built the concept of this sandwich. Of course, the week I went back to get them, I got the last one on their shelf, so they sell fast it seems.

Do you miss sub sandwiches or have you been craving? Thanks to Schär, you can once again indulge in a sub sandwich, made however you like it…and without the guilt. Gluten-free continues to be delicious.

Schär Sub Sandwich Rolls topped off with spinach, marinated grilled tofu, and a schmear of jalapeño hummus

March 19, 2012

AP Crafters not quite masters of their craft

Restaurant: AP Crafters Kitchen and Bar, Louisville, Kentucky

Hello world of gastropubbing.

It’s such a foodie vs. food world and the gastropub is what has emerged to incorporate a high quality dining menu with the feel of a public house. It’s an amazing concept and one that I’ve witnessed through the wonderful world of Travel Channel shows as well as Gordon Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmare makeovers where some shady joint becomes a happening gastropub.

The word itself fascinated me and I really, really wanted to go to one.

So, one afternoon following a large 5K race through the streets of downtown Louisville, Kentucky, my roommate and I decided to give AP Crafters Kitchen and Bar a try. Billed as a gastropub, I was quite thrilled with the idea of dining there for lunch and getting a feel for their food and service.

Loved the jar-like cups drinks were served in at AP Crafters, Louisville, Kentucky

We walked in around lunch time and were greeted after a moment of waiting at the front. The hostess had been ducked under the front bar and didn’t hear us enter. We were shown to a table in the restaurant, which has high ceilings and hardwood floors. Televisions dotted some of the walls with whatever games or sports shows were going on at the time. I am not a sports person unless it’s soccer, and I know it wasn’t soccer. We were given a moment to look over the menu. Our waiter came over to take our drink order…which we stuck with water…and when he returned with that we were ready to order.

Naturally, as is usual if it is on the menu, my roommate ordered their Fish and Fries ($12.50) for her meal, especially intrigued by the fact that the cod was done in a cornmeal crust instead of a heavy batter.

As for me, as I’m a gluten-intolerant vegetarian, it took me a moment longer to find something for me to eat. I finally decided on a bowl of their Simple Tomato Soup ($4.00), which the menu says is made fresh daily, the Spinach Salad ($7.50), without the blue cheese on it, and their Fresh Fruit and Berries side ($3.00). It had been a cold morning for a run, so the hot soup would taste awesome. The salad was chosen because, as far as menu options went, there was really nothing else for a vegetarian, save for a grilled cheese sandwich, and that wouldn’t be gluten-free. So, stuck with the salad again. I had thought about getting a side of their fries, but I didn’t feel like asking if they shared a frier with anything breaded…and as it turns out, they were seasoned anyway with some unknown seasoning, so it was a good call just to skip them in the end.

We had a little bit of a wait before our food arrived. I appreciated that as it meant that things were cooked to order. And just at first glance, the food looked amazing. My roommate’s fish and chips looked really great and my soup and salad were…well…soup and salad. But I was hungry…and ready to dig in.

AP Crafters' Simple Tomato Soup with a side of Fresh Fruit and Berries

I tried the soup first, because it’s soup and I didn’t want it to get cold. Unfortunately, it was already lukewarm. Not what this runner who endured 30 degree weather that morning in a race wanted. Soup should be served hot. If it’s too hot for patrons, they can let it cool. But serving lukewarm soup is not good. I wanted to be warmed from the inside out, and this just sort of…didn’t do that. It did, however, have amazing flavor to it. The texture was awesome. It wasn’t runny, but you could really taste the fresh ingredients in it. So, heat-wise…fail. Flavor-wise…win. The fruit and berries side was a bowl with a mix of pineapple (my favorite part of it), honeydew melon, cantaloupe, strawberries and blueberries. All of the berries and melons were ripe and delicious. And I was shocked when the pineapple was my favorite thing in there. Usually strawberries always win.

As for the salad, they did kindly leave the blue cheese off and thankfully didn’t find the need to add something to it instead, as some establishments do. It looked really delicious, a delicious bed of green spinach with granny smith apple slices, blueberries, strawberries, red onions, toasted almonds, and (what really made the salad awesome and different) golden raisins. It was served with their house vinaigrette (on the side, not drowning the salad), which tasted like it was a raspberry vinaigrette…which was the perfect pairing for that salad. It was good. I mean, it’s a salad, but I always love the incorporation of fruits with greens in a salad. It just wakes up the taste buds with the mix of savory and sweet.

My roommate felt that her fish and fries came out lukewarm, like they were left on the pass while the rest of the meal was assembled. While she liked the lightness of the cornmeal batter, she found that it got soggy pretty quickly and after awhile, all you tasted was the seasoning. The longer it sat, the mushier it got.

While the food at AP Crafters is cutting edge, riding that fine line of traditional comfort food and upscale cuisine, this gastropub did little to really entice me back. The food was full of flavor, but not served hot when it should be. And that was the major disappointment for both my roommate and I. Additionally, with my dietary restrictions, there was little for me to really order on the menu, which makes my order at this establishment…the same every time. And as we head into summer, soup isn’t going to sound as delicious to me on a hot day. The general consensus was…it was okay, but we’d probably never eat there again.

Too bad. Because they are right on the edge of being fantastic. The cutting-edge cuisine could have been so amazing, had it been served hot. Live and learn.

I guess I’ll seek out another gastropub sometime and try again. But as for AP Crafters Kitchen and Bar, it just fell short of impressing me with its food. Such a shame.

AP Crafters' Spinach Salad (no blue cheese)

March 18, 2012

A good introduction to a triathlon

Tri at the Y, Indoor Triathlon, Jeffersonville, IN

Another early morning this weekend. And why not keep the activities going with one more little event before I kick up my feet and relax a little? Because why stop after a 10K and a 3K the day before?

This morning I am participating in a local YMCA’s Tri at the Y, which is an indoor triathlon. This is my first attempt at anything triathlon-like. Honestly, the thought of running, biking and swimming has always sort of…worn me out just thinking about it. The same can be said for this indoor one…except I’m fairly confident the run and biking parts will go well. It’s that swim…

And, to make things even more interesting for me, this event runs all day in 2-person heats. I’m am paired up with, naturally, the Aquatics Director of that very YMCA. Because the swim wasn’t daunting enough, right?

Ah well…I think it will be fun and a fantastic way to get a feel for triathlons. I’m actually pretty excited about it.

So expect a couple of race reports this week…including one from my first ever triathlon!

March 17, 2012

Race #2 of the Louisville Triple Crown and Race #1 of the Frankfort Trifecta

Today…is one of my crazy days.

I’m signed up for two races. This is the second time I have done this in my running career. So, I think I’ll have some very tired legs tomorrow morning…just in time for my indoor triathlon. No rest for the runner. That’s what Friday was for.

That being said, I am up and sitting on the couch, relaxing and getting in a bit of hydration before eating a light breakfast and heading into Louisville for the Rodes City Run 10K, which is the second race in the Louisville Triple Crown of Running. This sounds like it’s going to be a fantastic and very fun event.

According to the Web site, this race is run on a fast, flat course. Sweet. No hills! In addition, it attracts nearly 10,000 runners and around 20,000 spectators each year. And this is the 32nd year that it has been run. It’s going to be a lot of fun to be a part of this tradition this year. And to think…up until last year, I didn’t even know this series of races existed. Then again, I only began to seriously run last year so any race was completely off my map unless I was in a city one was happening in and just happened to see runners go by wearing their bib numbers. That happened in Indianapolis more than it did in Louisville.

So, the plan this morning is to eat a light breakfast, finish getting ready, and then head downtown so we have time to find parking and get situated for the race. My roommate is coming along and will see me off at the start and then hustle on down to the finish line. Hopefully I’ll be able to find her afterwards. There are going to be a LOT of people here. Me not having my cell phone with me might make it even more of a challenge. We’ll manage. After I run, stretch out, and settle a bit, we’re off for brunch at North End Café, because they have a trusted gluten-free menu and I need to make sure I don’t eat something that will make me sick because…

…at 6:30 p.m., I am participating in the first race of the Frankfort Trifecta – the Run for the Gold 3K. This will be my first 3K race, which is about 1.89 miles. I’ve run Frankfort often (and every single time on a rainy day…and yes…there is rain in the forecast today), so I’m really looking forward to participating in this series. Last year I only did the last race in the Trifecta, the Activate America 5 Mile Race, where I ended up with a stress fracture and knee injury that took until August to start feeling better. This year I’m running smart and healthy and am looking forward to these races.

So, today is going to be a day made for running. It will total out to about 8 miles total when all is said and done. Not bad at all. I’ve been pretty excited about doing these race series and I’m waking up in a fantastic mood this morning. I didn’t dread getting out of bed. I got dressed for my morning race and have been sipping on some water and writing up this post since then. I’m feeling ready to run today, and that has been seriously lacking in my past couple of races. This…is a good feeling.

So, expect a few race updates this coming week because my weekend doesn’t stop there. Sunday morning is my indoor (yes, indoor) triathlon…which I’m super nervous about. Not so much the running and biking…but the swimming part. So, here’s to a good series of races this weekend.

And please…stay tuned.

March 16, 2012March 16, 2012

Lärabar slices up a fantastic little bite of carrot cake

Product: Lärabar Carrot Cake – $1.99+

Some of you may have learned by now, or by reading my sister blog to this one (Chasing Pavements), that I am a runner. Nothing makes me happier than to lace up my running shoes and head out for a run, or enter a race. I especially love races.

But with road races comes strange food rituals. Like, I never have anything more than cereal before a run. Never. I know that my stomach can handle that without it being too heavy or too much. However, this often means that by the time the race starts and I get through it and finish it…I’m starving. Seriously. And not every race has something that those with food allergies can eat. Lots of times it’s donuts, bread, sandwiches…not a piece of fruit (although most races do have at least bananas or apples). Last Saturday, I participated in a local road race that didn’t provide anything beyond baked goods that I couldn’t eat with my gluten allergy. So, after running and staying around for the awards and door prizes, I headed home to get ready to head into Louisville where I was going to be trying out a new restaurant…eventually. There were a few stops to make prior to that.

With that in mind, I reached into my gluten-free goodies drawer and retrieved the little baggie with my snack size Lärabar’s inside. I got a lot of these little fruit and nut bars for free from a Gluten-Free Expo that I attended in Birmingham, and was now ready to give one of them a shot. This wouldn’t be my first Lärabar…as I lived off of the snack size multi-pack during my summer of following U2, but it would be my first time trying the Carrot Cake flavor. Famished, I tore into the little orange wrapper, revealing a little square that was a blend of carrots, cinnamon, dates, almonds, walnuts, raisins, pineapple and coconut. You could literally see every…yes, every ingredient! Nothing deceptive about these.

One bite…and I remembered what it was like to eat carrot cake (which happens to be one of my favorite cakes when done properly, despite not being a cake lover, and something I haven’t had in years…and especially since going gluten-free). I was hooked. The flavors were perfect. I could see little chunks of nuts. I could taste the carrots and citrus. It was a journey back for my taste buds to my last bite of carrot cake, which happened to be at a birthday party for my roommate’s aunt years ago. Oh…this was beyond delicious. This was a dessert in bite-size little bar. Oh…it was good. When something that is supposed to be “carrot cake” flavored, to actually bite into it and have it truly remind you of a real slice of carrot cake speaks volumes.

Love at first carrot cakey bite. Good show, Lärabar. I wish I had more than one of those in that bag…

March 16, 2012March 16, 2012

Pure Dark Chocolate Bar is what a Dark Chocolate Dream come true

Product: Dark Chocolate Dream Pure Dark Chocolate Bar – $3.49+

Chocolate can be tricky sometimes when it comes to gluten intolerance. Honestly. I’m not making this up.

So when I find a brand that is clearly labeled gluten-free I try to stick with it. Not only is the Dark Chocolate Dreams Pure Dark Chocolate Bar gluten-free, but it is also dairy free as well, which is a definite plus with my lactose intolerance.

I am actually surprised this bar of dark chocolate goodness lasted as long as it did in my pantry. Seriously. But I had some chocolate to go through before I got to it. And I blame it on the much too bitter taste of the 100% Dark Chocolate Ghirardelli Baking Squares I had attempted to use in my gluten-free S’mores the night before for breaking into this dreamy bar of dark chocolate goodness. Using some gluten-free graham crackers, marshmallow fluff, and a square of the Pure Dark bar from Dark Chocolate Dreams, I was in S’morey heaven and it was love at first bite.

Not very many companies out there and guarantee that their chocolate is free of all traces of dairy and gluten, but the makers of Soy Dream and Rice Dream nondairy beverages can. And that sort of certainty makes a world of difference when it comes to food allergies.

One bite of the Pure Dark bar and I was in dark chocolate heaven. Honestly, dark chocolate is my favorite type of chocolate in the world, and this was perfection. Very smooth to taste and it was a nice compliment to the additional ingredients I was using it with. The chocolate wasn’t too bitter, but just the right level of bittersweet that you need with dark chocolate. It didn’t overpower anything and it held up to the kitchen torch when I toasted my marshmallow fluff for the Smore’s.

Color me impressed. For a dark chocolate connoisseur like myself, finding a chocolate that I don’t have to question how or where it was made is a dream come true. The fact that it is ultimate dark chocolate perfection is the added bonus. I highly recommend Dark Chocolate Dream’s Pure Dark Chocolate Bar whether for use with dessert or a sweet nibble when a chocolate craving hits. I know I’ll be buying more of these chocolates now that I know how amazing they are.

Squares of Dark Chocolate Dream Dark Chocolate Bar on Gluten-Free Graham Crackers

March 14, 2012

Shamrock 2 Miler – Jeffersonville, IN (March 13, 2012)

Crossing the finish of the Shamrock 2 Miler - Downtown Jeffersonville, Indiana

Race: Shamrock 2 Miler

Place: Downtown Jeffersonville, IN

Date: March 13, 2012

Time: 16:25

Wait? What?

A road race on a Tuesday night?

You aren’t imagining things, it happened, friends. Last night, Jeffersonville, Indiana hosted a great 2 mile run in fantastic 77 degree weather. Actually, after I got moving it seemed too hot for the run, but it was a beautiful night and a great night to run.

This isn’t the first time I’ve run a race that was hosted by the Fast Freddie people. I ran the Fast Freddie Five Mile Foot Feast on Thanksgiving this year and absolutely loved it. If there is anyone in this area who knows how to put on a race, it’s this group.

I actually heard about this race from the race flyer at the YMCA where I go to workout. After some consideration, as it is also my roommate’s birthday, I decided to go ahead and give it a whirl. Afterwards, we’d go home and celebrate with some gluten-free lemon chiffon cake (homemade by me!) and kick back the rest of the evening. It couldn’t have been a nicer day.

The sun was out. The March weather felt like summer. And after a four mile run that morning, I was ready for a quick two mile road race. And why not? I mean…it was a great way to wrap up a Tuesday night for sure. I changed at the office into my running clothes and we headed down to the race. Packet pickup was in a little banquet hall, and the start and finish lines were just outside. No confusion. No problems. Just a simple race. And, as a bonus, the top 100 male and 100 female finishers received a medal. Awesome. I got my bib number, bought my t-shirt, and got pinned up so I’d be ready when race time came.

We were in town early, not knowing what the traffic situation might be like. So, we killed a bit of time at a local novelty store before heading over to where some of the runners and walkers were milling about outside. I was watching a couple of “running diva’s” (my own little name for them) begin their stretching routines an hour before the race. While I admired quite a few of these stretches and could see the benefit of it…we’re talking two miles here. An hour of stretching for two miles on a flat course seemed a bit…well…excessive to me. In addition to the stretching, these two running divas had their trainer there, who was helping them flex and bend and stretch as well. I remind me you again…this is a flat course and only two miles. I was in awe.

But…with a shake of my head, I ducked inside to cool off and eventually start limbering up a little myself. Before I could even start though, a coworker’s mom found us and introduced herself and her husband (my coworker’s stepdad) to us, and we talked a little bit about races. He and I are both running in all three of the Louisville Triple Crown of Running races, so that was fun to discuss a little. My roommate was asked where her sign was…which we had inadvertently left at home in our mega rush out the door that morning before hitting the gym and heading into the office. It was her birthday, we had a lot of stuff going on! So, we were sans sign on a beautiful day, but it was okay.

With about 20 minutes to race time, I went through a couple of quick stretches, just to get the leg muscles working. And then we were all told to head up to the start line for the race. I managed to snag a pretty close spot to the front. I was just behind these two little preteen girls who were just running in the race because they wanted a medal. Neither were runners and both were a little overweight, but they seemed determined. It sort of made me happy to see them out and working towards something they really desired.

Before I knew it…the whistle was blown and we were off. They weren’t kidding when they said that this was a flat, fast course. No hills or anything. The only hindrance I found, aside from the unseasonable weather, was the freshly cut grass, or lawn mowing going on during the race. Nothing like breathing some of the worst allergens on a run. Ah well…it happens.

I felt I went out slow…probably from my four miles I put in that morning. But I picked it up as the race went on, and at mile 1 I was just past 8 minutes. Not too bad. I had made the turn at that point and was heading back toward the finish line. As I’m making my way down the path, lo and behold, right there in front of me was the younger of the running divas. Her sister was probably close to the finish…as I had seen her make the turn as I was coming around to that point. As I’m running, I see her begin to slow down and then…she started walking. And I passed her. I know it is probably not very sportsman like of me, but I smiled a little as I did it.

Despite the music playing in my iPod, I could now hear the announcer near the finish. I was getting close. So, I pushed harder, digging in with each step to propel myself just a little bit faster. My roommate was jumping up and down at the finish and I hurried in, a woman sprinting behind me trying to get ahead of me…which she didn’t…and finished my first 2 mile race in 16:25. Not too bad considering I had run about 12 hours earlier. I felt great and went immediately to grab some water because…yeah…it was a hot day to run.

I stretched out a little and downed a few bottles of water afterwards. And as we were getting ready to leave, we spot one of the preteen girls, the one who desperately wanted to win a medal, sprinting with all she had in her, toward that finish line. And she crossed it…and received one of the medals. I went over and high-fived her. She earned that. That’s what the running spirit is all about. Determination.

After that, it was time to head home for some birthday celebrations. But it was a fun little race and a great way to spend a beautiful Tuesday evening. I hope to run it again next year.

March 12, 2012

Hope for the Children 5K – New Albany, IN (March 10, 2012)

Me after finishing the Hope for the Children 5K - Sam Peden Community Park, New Albany, IN

Race: Hope for the Children 5K

Place: Sam Peden Community Park, New Albany, IN

Date: March 10, 2012

Time: 25:36

It was one of those mornings. I don’t know what it was because normally on race mornings I’m out of bed like a shot and going through my routine of getting dressed, lacing shoes, eating a light breakfast and getting a couple things done before heading out the door. But I was not in the mood to run this morning and it was really showing.

Reluctantly, however, I hauled myself out of bed and checked the weather. Below 32 degrees. I thought about wearing my shorts, then some sense kicked in and I decided on knee socks and my capri running shorts instead. This turned out to be one of the smartest things I’ve done because it was bitter, bitter cold out in the park with nothing really to act as a windbreak. I was cold. No…I was freezing.

My roommate had told me she checked the race time the night before, saying it was 8:00 a.m. So, I set my alarm for the appropriate time to allow me to wake up, get stuff in order, eat, and hydrate properly prior to the race, as well as throw something together for her to eat before we headed out the door. I got up with my alarm, and, as mentioned, very reluctantly got moving. Then, after I logged on line to catch up on some e-mails and the like, I checked the race information again and…I was almost fuming to see that the race started at 9:00 a.m. So, when her alarm went off at 6:30 a.m. and she finally staggered out into the living room, I was quite cranky and informed her that the race time was really 9:00, not 8:00 like she said. To which she informed me she didn’t actually find a time online the night before and just assumed. So yeah…I wasn’t a happy camper going into this race.

We arrived for packet pick-up at about 8:30 a.m. This gave me time to not only walk stuff back to the car, but properly stretch out as well. I kept my jacket on for as long as possible because I was shivering and cold. But the announcement soon came for all the runners and walkers to make their way over to the start line…which was a short walk up a path to a line painted across the road. We made the short trek and I saw all the ‘elite’ runners at this race doing their jogging in place, knee lifts, butt kicks, and little sprints to warm up. The organizers came over to kick us off with some course information, like how the roads were not closed to traffic, but there would be a police presence throughout. How our lead vehicle was this guy on a bike with bunny ears. And ran through the course. Then, the National Anthem was beautifully sang and a little prayer was given. I shed my jacket and gloves and shivered near the start with other runners. Then, the starting gun was fired and off we went.

I took off faster than I intended. This has been a trending cycle for me and one I am trying to break, but not being very successful at it. I was in the front group as we headed out of the park and onto the streets. I was behind these two little girls, maybe about 10 years of age, and they sort of kept me moving. I mean, granted, there are plenty of 10-year-olds and younger who run faster than me, but I was just doing my best to keep up. They were barely breaking a sweat. And at mile marker 1, my time of 7:49 was called out and my immediate thought was, “Crap, I went out too fast. I’m booking it.” And I knew, from running these roads before, the hills and inclines were about to hit.

I have made it a goal of mine, with the exception of one race (which was the first one back from a bad foot and knee injury) that I would run every race and not walk. So, despite the hills and my slowing pace, I pushed on, up the inclines, through the neighborhoods, waiting on cars to drive by or perhaps stop to let the runners through first. Mile 2 came about just as we were about to reenter the park for the final leg. The little girls had taken a bit of a lead, but I could still see them. Through the park, around a turn, and onto the little paved track there and I was off into the last mile. This was tough. The hills weren’t as much, but they were there. And I passed one of the girls, who fell off of her running buddy’s pace. The other one was zooming on ahead. One other person passed me, but that was it. I knew as I was running around the little lake in that park that the finish was just another song on my iPod away.

Actually, I could see the yellow and blue flags of the finish area out of the corner of my eye. Just a little more pushing, one more curve around the lake and it was straight on to the finish. I gave it all I had left, which, after not feeling like running and with the cold, wasn’t much. But I pressed on, and when I crossed that finish line, I knew I was so close to what my 5K PR was. I either barely beat it, tied it, or came damn close to it. It was the latter of the three, but I was pretty damn proud of that time, since there were rolling hills, some of which are pretty steep, and for using so much of my energy up at the start of the race, rather than holding it back for the finish. In the end, I crossed the finish line 3 seconds shy of my PR, which was achieved on a flat course, the 36th finisher overall out of 147, and 3rd in my age division.

I was cold. The ladies at the finish wanted us to tear the bottom part of our number off, but I couldn’t feel my fingers at this point, so they helped. I was given my medal for finishing and met with my roommate for a couple of pictures before being graced with my jacket, gloves, and some water. Hydration is always important. We stuck around for the awards, which I love to do even if I don’t place or receive anything, as well as the random raffle for prizes. I walked away empty-handed, but I was okay with that. I had a fantastic race and now I was riding high on that.

This week I have four races ahead of me. One tomorrow, two on Saturday, and an indoor triathlon on Sunday. I’m doing my best not to overdo it, but also keep up with my half marathon training. With all these races I took on, sometimes that can be a task. But I wouldn’t change any of this for the world.

March 8, 2012

Recipe: Gluten-Free Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip Scones

Ooops…I did it again. I created a new variety of scones for breakfast goodies on busy gym mornings. These things happen.

I can’t help it. The kitchen calls to me and sometimes I just look in my pantry and refrigerator and throw something together with what I have. This was one of those times, and the results were epic and just…really delicious.

I love chocolate. I love peanut butter. So the marriage of the two in scone form (another favorite) seemed like a great idea. So, I pulled out my mixing bowl and all the necessary ingredients and got to baking. In the end…what emerged was chocolate-peanut buttery goodness in a delicious gluten-free breakfast pastry form.

Best of all…it’s really easy to make.

Recipe: Gluten-Free Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip Scones

Servings: 12
Time: 20-25 minutes

Ingredients:

2 cups Pamela’s Products Gluten-Free Baking & Pancake Mix
1/4 cup cocoa
1/3 cup sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup Reese’s Peanut Butter Chips
4 tbsp peanut butter
1 egg, beaten
2/3 cup milk (I use unsweetened vanilla almond milk)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375°.

Mix the dry ingredients together.

Cut in the peanut butter using two knives.

Add the milk and beaten egg. Mix together with a fork. Dough will be thick.

Drop large, tall dollops of dough (scones will spread when baking) onto lightly greased baking sheet.

Bake for 15-17 minutes.

~*~*~

One bite and I was in breakfast scone heaven. Honestly. Not only was replacing the butter with peanut butter a stroke of genius, it meant that at times, little pockets of melted peanut butter hit your palate unexpectedly. The peanut butter chips by Reese’s were perfectly matched with the cocoa that made the scones chocolate. Yeah…if peanut butter and chocolate is one of your vices…these will help satisfy your craving. Bite-for-bite…I was so happy with how these turned out, given I was just sort of messing with the usual scone recipe and giving it my own personal tweaks to accomodate my supplies and my cravings.

Seriously…these are worth making and feasting on.

March 8, 2012

Millers Finest Gluten-Free Corn Pasta Rigatoni the perfect introduction to corn pasta

Product: Millers Finest Gluten-Free Corn Pasta Rigatoni – $2.00

Sometimes finding gluten-free things at a discount store is awesome.

While out hitting up a 20% off everything sale at Big Lots a little while ago, my roommate and I spotted these corn noodles, labeled gluten-free, from Millers Finest. They were being sold for $2.00, plus the discount…so, we figured we could at least give them a fair shake. While there are lots of corn pasta noodles out on the market, I never quite ventured that way since going gluten-free as I was afraid they would…taste like corn. And unless my pasta dish has a Mexican flair, that’s not what I’m looking for.

But, at $2.00, how could I not get it?

It sat in the pantry. And sat in the pantry. And then sat a little bit longer until I decided to bake up a pasta dish that the other day. While I have elbow noodles from my favorite gluten-free pasta company (Tinkyáda), I decided to pull out the Millers Finest Corn Pasta Rigatoni from the pantry and give it a go. Besides, these would be a larger noodle and a bit easier to use in a skillet bake. So, why not throw caution to the wind? It was a new recipe anyway, so might as well try something new in the process.

Millers Finest Gluten-Free Corn Pasta Rigatoni upon draining

Cooking up the pasta couldn’t have been easier. Boil water, add noodles, allow cook in boiling water, giving a stir every few minutes or so, for about 13-14 minutes, or until a perfect al dente. I did just that, and then started the slicing and chopping up the vegetables for the skillet while it was going. By the time I had the vegetables sauteing away and added the vegan and gluten-free chorizo, the noodles were ready to be drained. Moment of truth time. I drained them and was so happy to see that they weren’t falling apart or turning to mush upon leaving the hot water. In fact, they held up beautifully. I had to let them sit for a moment, while I finished mixing in the chorizo, but once that was incorporated, in went the noodles and some cheese, blended that in, let it cook, and again, the noodles held up. They didn’t shred or fall apart. They weren’t logged with water and turning to mush. They were the perfect consistency for this pasta dish and I couldn’t have been happier to see that.

Millers Finest Gluten-Free Corn Pasta Rigatoni used in a Skillet Cheesy Baked Pasta dish

After a quick bake in the oven to melt the cheese on top, out came the pasta. I let it sit for five minutes to set and then dished up a serving of it for both my roommate and I. She was the first to try it and she was hooked. These noodles didn’t have a corny taste at all. In fact, they tasted and had the same great texture as regular pasta. I loved how sturdy they were and how the cheese, sauce, vegetables and vegan chorizo didn’t take away from the noodles nor overwhelm the consistency of them.

Even the following evening, with a nuking in the microwave for some leftovers, the noodles held up wonderfully. I couldn’t be happier with a chance purchase ever. I know Big Lots gets a lot of flack for being a “ghetto” store, but sometimes the deals and the products inside are worth checking out. I, for one, hope to find this pasta there again and try it out in other pasta dishes. I am absolutely sold on it. And now, I don’t think I’ll scoff as much at gluten-free corn pasta as I had in the past. If nothing else, this totally sold me on it.

Millers Finest may not be a brand name, but it sure is fantastic. If you find it, I urge you to give it a try on your next pasta night.

Bon Appétit!