Forget hitting up the grocery stores on Saturday. I think all I need to do now is hit up that new freezer at Annie May’s Sweet Café on Frankfort Avenue in Louisville, Kentucky. Honestly. Because, for me, it’s a one-stop shopping extravaganza of everything I have ever loved to eat at her bakery…or taken home with me.
And that was the entire point of the newest feature in Annie May’s Sweet Café. Simple, safe, gluten-free take-n-bake items that are prepared and frozen…and all you have to do is follow the simple instructions on the label to cook up all the deliciousness in the comfort of your own home. Let me tell you, I was thrilled to hear that this was being added to the bakery…and now that I have bought a few items from the freezer…let me tell you…I hope this catches on and they have to expand. Because…with the garlic bread, the mac and cheese, and the pizza crust…I was set for three meals this week. Simplicity…yet with the high quality and amazing flavor you get in all of Annie May’s products.
Having already feasted on the Vegan Garlic Bread and the Macaroni and Cheese earlier this week…that left one of the take-n-bake purchases in my freezer. And tonight…it was dinner. I’m talking about the best pizza crust in the world. No exaggeration there either. And not just a gluten-free pizza crust…but THE BEST in the world. Seriously. I’ve eaten a lot of regular…and now a ton of gluten-free crusts and nothing has topped this one. Nothing. Nowhere. No way! I don’t think it will ever happen.
Want to know why? Because…it is not a cracker crust or some thin little sheet of dough that ends up soggy. This is a substantial, it can hold any and all toppings, sort of crust. It is the crust to end all crusts. It is the Godzilla of gluten-free pizza crusts. It is…REALLY amazing. And I don’t know how she does it, but I’m glad she does. Because whenever I eat a pizza at Annie May’s…my day just gets better. My life just gets better. This crust is legendary. Honestly. You’d never even know it was gluten-free. And now…now…I can make it in the comfort of my own home!
I had a request from Cathy…for a pizza I haven’t made in forever. She wanted…the Meditenuttian Pizza. I know what you’re thinking…”What the what is a Meditenuttian Pizza?” Well, let me explain. It’s a pizza crust, that is given a brushing of olive oil, then a sprinkling of black pepper, then a drizzle of honey. Then, I top mine with vegan mozzarella shreds, caramelized onions, walnuts, and then…I wilt something green over the top in the last minute or so of cooking. Tonight…it was kale. If you can handle dairy…feta or goat cheese is good crumbled over the top as well.
So…here it is. I preheated the oven to 450°F and prepped the pizza crust per instructions, placing it and the parchment paper that is included on a baking sheet. I topped it off with everything (except the kale) and popped it in the oven for about 15 minutes. I pulled it out to put the kale on top and popped it back in the oven for about another minute. Then…just like that…dinner was served.
My Meditenuttian Pizza baked on Annie May’s Sweet Café Vegan Gluten-Free Pizza Crust
And, let me tell you…the frozen crust you take home to bake is just as delicious as the pizza crust served when I order in the café on either Friday or Saturday. It has this doughy, thick texture to it, much like the “real” crusts everyone else can get in restaurants. I’ve never had gluten-free crust like this. When it is so reminiscent of the pizza I used to be able to eat…that is saying something. No cracker crust. Nothing that crumbles. This is honest-to-goodness damn good pizza crust. Not only can you buy a plain crust, but you can also purchase frozen already done up vegan and gluten-free pizzas that you can pop into your oven. No need to add your own toppings…she has done it for you. I might try that next time. But…for me…it’s all about that crust. That amazing Annie May’s pizza crust.
For the record, Annie May’s pizza crust is completely allergen free. According to the label, it contains millet flour, sorghum flour, tapioca starch, quinoa flour, water, egg replacer, agave nectar, xanthan gum, salt, and cream of tartar.
This is a 9 ounce pizza crust. My roomie and I split the pizza (as we do at the bakery whenever we order a pizza) and it is filling. Filling…but heavenly. A slice of gluten-free pizza heaven. I guarantee you won’t find a better crust out there. And I’m glad I can now take it home with me! And I just might…weekly!
Half of my Meditenuttian Pizza baked on Annie May’s Sweet Café Vegan Gluten-Free Pizza Crust
I am not going to lie…I’ve been eying the Garden Lites Veggie Muffins since the day I first spotted them in my local natural food and grocery stores. Why did it take me so long to get a box? Well…it probably would have taken me longer, but my roomie surprised me with a box one day after I sent her out on a grocery expedition. I obviously forgot some sacred ingredient to something I was cooking right then…or I would have gone. But the roomie often picks up little surprises when she’s sent on these emergency runs. Maybe it’s to tame me, since I’m usually wound up about missing something I need. Whatever the reason…she brought me a box of Garden Lites Zucchini Banana Chocolate Chip Veggie Muffins. And I was all too excited to try them.
I just…never did. They just remained in my freezer.
I think I got all caught up in making my Breakfast Banana Splits and other such “real” food items, that opening the freezer for breakfast hadn’t happened in a long time. I knew they were in there…
Lo and behold…after a week of Cathy being down with a cold and sitting out of gym workouts (meaning I’d go really early and get mine in, then come home and make breakfast instead of hauling it to work post-gym), I had no idea what to have after our time at the gym. I began to search the pantry and fridge. I found grapes…but those only get you so far. I’d include some…but what to eat to refuel and recover?
And then…I remembered the box of Garden Lites Zucchini Banana Chocolate Chip Veggie Muffins. Problem…SOLVED!
I know what you’re thinking…zucchini with banana with chocolate chips…how could that possibly be good? Well…zucchini bread is good. Banana bread is good. Both types of bread with chocolate chips are damn good. So…why not combine them? It should work, right?
I won’t lie…even I questioned it this morning as I packed the box of muffins in the cooler. After the workout, we walked to our office and I got to work on breakfast. These little muffins couldn’t be easier to prepare. They come individually wrapped. And all you have to do is pop the wrapped muffin into the microwave for 35 seconds. Carefully remove the muffin from the microwave and then the plastic wrapper…and viola…your muffin is ready.
I think my biggest fear was that these were going to be soggy. Or mushy. Or just…gross. But, I cooked up all four of them, two for me and two for Cathy, and our breakfast was ready. In less than three minutes. That has to be a new record!
I settled in at my desk with my first batch of work and my breakfast. And after one bite, I knew the stack of paperwork was going to have to wait while I gave my full attention to the Garden Lites Zucchini Banana Chocolate Chip Veggie Muffins. Oh. My. God! No…really…who knew that a muffin made primarily from vegetables and fruit could taste this fantastic. Or this moist. It was like biting into a luscious piece of banana bread. But with zucchini in it. You can’t even taste the zucchini, you just sometimes get those green flecks in the muffin. And the chocolate chips…just enough to sweeten the deal without consuming the flavor of the muffin itself. This was truly one amazing product and the love I have for it surprises even me. I never would have thought about pairing zucchini with banana…but…damn…it works. It works in delicious ways!
I don’t think my morning could have started any better…
So, let’s take a look at the ingredient list for the Garden Lites Zucchini Banana Chocolate Chip Veggie Muffins, shall we? These muffins are made from zucchini, pasteurized egg whites, sugar, pasteurized whole eggs, certified gluten-free oats, soluble corn fiber, semi-sweet chocolate chips, banana, sorghum flour, brown rice flour, corn starch, baking powder, canola oil, natural banana flavor, salt, and vanilla extract.
Recognize all those items? I sure do. And when mixed together and baked…epic things happen, both flavor, texture, and food-wise.
Now, how about the nutritional aspect of these muffins? A serving is only 1 of the Garden Lites Zucchini Banana Chocolate Chip Veggie Muffins. As all we had before working out was a breakfast fruit, yogurt and granola parfait, Cathy and I each had two. But…if you stick to the serving size, you will be consuming 120 calories and 3 grams of fat. In addition, you will be taking in 20 mg cholesterol, 170 mg sodium, and 11 grams of sugar. I know the sugar seems high, and while some of that comes from the chocolate chip, some of it comes from the real banana that is included in the ingredients of the muffins. One serving will also give you 5 grams of filling fiber and 3 grams of protein! These muffins are gluten-free, dairy-free, and nut-free!
Nutritional and yummy too! Gotta love it. And I sure did. I want to try the other varieties of muffins. Yes…they have other flavors. In fact, in addition to the Zucchini Banana Chocolate Chip Veggie Muffins, Garden Lites has Veggie Muffins in the following flavors: Carrot Berry, Golden Corn, Veggie Blueberry Oat, and Zucchini Chocolate! So…I must try all the Veggie Muffins. Because these honestly did impress me. And I lasted all the way through my snack time. And that doesn’t always happen. Good quality food…great product…
I’m hooked. On muffins made with veggies and fruit.
My Dad’s Cookies Gluten Free Black & White Cookies
Product: My Dad’s Cookies Gluten-Free Black & White Cookies – $7.99+
I grew up in Upstate New York. And one cookie that New York prides itself on is…the Half Moon Cookie (sometimes called Black & White Cookies). It has been ages since I’ve eaten one…and I miss them terribly. And when I got the Celiac diagnosis…well…I pretty much figured that unless I made my own (which I could, but it wouldn’t be pretty!), I’d never have these delights I grew up eating ever again.
That all changed, however, two weekends ago, when I stepped into Louisville’s newest food market, Lucky’s. With a plethora of gluten-free offerings throughout the store, I was the most excited to spot a brand of cookies called My Dad’s Cookies. I had never seen them before, but there were some really delicious sounding choices. What I didn’t realize was that a table further back in the store housed the cookies that would be the game-changer for my budget that week. Because, as we were getting ready to leave, my roommate told me that I could pick out one item to try. And as I thought about it and pondered…my eyes spotted a familiar looking cookie.
And then the words…GLUTEN-FREE.
I knew the package cost $7.99, which is outrageous for cookies, but I didn’t care. Cookie Monster wants. Cookie Monster gets. Cookie Monster pays extra this week because…GLUTEN-FREE BLACK & WHITE COOKIES!!
Ahem!
Sorry about that…it’s the little things in life.
So, what is the deal with the brand, My Dad’s Cookies? The company itself was started by a baker named Elan Molina, based out of New York City (HA! That’s why he makes black & white cookies!). He began the company back in 2010 for children who have Celiac in order to give them the opportunity to eat their favorite cookies as their friends were eating. Molina set out with a mission and a goal to create cookies that looked and tasted like the real ones, so no child had to feel left out or get bullied about eating a cookie made from potatoes and rice. He wanted to make sure that all of the cookies he produced would be made with the finest ingredients, be non-dairy, nut-free, and also Kosher. In 2013, his vision became a reality, after countless tastings and trial-and-error baking, My Dad’s Cookies Gluten-Free brand was created.
The rest…is history.
The My Dad’s Cookies Gluten-Free Black & White Cookies made their way from the store, to the register, to a shopping bag, to my pantry. And tonight…as the USA Men’s National Team took on Ghana in the World Cup…I busted these out for dessert.
What is a Black & White Cookie, you ask? Traditionally, I believe, the cookies are chocolate. But I’ve also seen them like these are made…as a spongy, vanilla base. The cookies themselves are a sponge-cake like cookie (so…soft and moist) that is covered with half vanilla and half chocolate icing. New York tradition. And now…I was finally getting to indulge again! My mouth was watering just thinking about the first bite.
I bet you’re wondering if it lived up to my expectations. Well…
YES! Yes they did. They were lacking that usual chocolate base for the cookie, but it didn’t take away from the simple deliciousness of this cookie. FOR REAL! It’s not too sweet. And the spongy cookie is the perfect consistency. The icing…is divine. It adds the right amount of sweetness without being too little or too much. Delicious. I savored…as long as I could…before jamming the rest of the cookie into my mouth. SO delicious. They brought back happy memories of days I’d purchase these cookies at the grocery store and just devour them. They may only be three bites, but they are three bites worth taking. I am already anticipating dessert tomorrow! Cookie Monster is back with a vengeance and I really want all of the cookies that My Dad’s Cookies produces…to see if they equal up to this one. Honestly…I hope so. They are worth the hefty price tag if that’s the case. Beyond impressed…even when I was certain I wouldn’t be.
Let’s talk ingredients for a moment, shall we? My Dad’s Cookies Gluten-Free Black & White Cookies are made from a gluten-free flour blend (white rice flour, tapioca flour, potato starch, xanthan gum), egg, vanilla dip (made from sugar, vegetable shortening, emulsifier, and vanilla), chocolate dip (made from sugar, soybean oil, cocoa, chocolate liquor, salt, and vanilla extract), sugar, fructose, organic palm oil, natural flavors, baking powder, salt, and agave syrup.
As stated before, these cookies are gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, and kosher.
How about nutrition? Well…they’re cookies…so let’s keep that in mind. A serving size of My Dad’s Cookies Gluten-Free Black & White Cookies is…ONE cookie. Yes…only ONE of these small cookies (about three bites!). This one cookie will provide you with 120 calories and 6 grams of fat. The cookies also have 25 mg cholesterol, 45 mg sodium, and 10 grams of sugar. Okay…10 grams of sugar does seem like a lot…but…it’s a cookie! With icing. Two kinds of icing. Take it for what it is. A treat. In addition, you will be also taking in no fiber and only 2 grams of protein. Unless you eat them all in one sitting…then these will not fill you up.
If memories were cookies…these remind me the most of my childhood in New York. Half Moon (or Black & White) cookies are a New York staple when it comes to cookie goodness. And I was thrilled that I found these, but even more thrilled that they tasted so amazing. Love…in cookie form.
Another morning…another healthy breakfast! That’s how I try to look at it. Especially as I am gearing up for marathon training, yet again, through the hot, steamy summer mornings. This morning, not only did I have a training run to do, but I also have my spin class. Fuel is important and I want to be sure I’m giving my body the best fuel possible for optimum performance. Besides, food that is good for me makes me feel good. I try to keep it as natural as possible as often as I can.
So, after my run (I had something to eat before heading out, don’t worry…sports nutritionist’s orders!) and before heading out for spinning…I grabbed yet another product from my May Cuisine Cube – Fiona’s Natural Sunflower Vanilla Coconut Granola. First of all, if you haven’t checked out Cuisine Cube, I highly encourage you to do so. I get a box, every month, with a new gluten-free item from every meal category. One for breakfast, one for snack, one for candy, one for dinner, one for lunch, and one for dessert. Every month, this is delivered to me with…and everything inside is from a smaller, lesser known company that specializes in gluten-free foods. I love it, because it is introducing me to companies and products I never would have heard of otherwise.
As my CSA bin had provided me with some amazing looking organic strawberries, I figured it was time to build up some breakfast fruit and yogurt parfaits. Because I have some damn good Greek yogurt in my fridge. It’s a staple. I always have it in there. So…I pulled the granola (a breakfast item from my Cuisine Cube) out of my pantry and began to build my famous parfaits. First some granola…then the yogurt…some honey…fruit (in this case…strawberries)…more granola…yogurt…honey…strawberries…granola…honey. Serve!
Super easy. And one of my favorite breakfasts. It’s cool and refreshing and just damn good. But…a lot of the success of this parfait does fall to the granola.
So…it was time to put Fiona’s Natural Sunflower Vanilla Coconut Granola to the test.
You know what? It passed. One bite (which I took straight from the bag so I could see how it tasted on its own without the yogurt and fruit muddling the flavor) and I knew it was good. I knew I was going to be okay with this one. The flavors were fantastic. Not overwhelming or overpowering, but just enough. I loved being able to see not just the sunflower seeds, but the oats and flax seeds too. Nothing was hidden or unidentifiable. And the sweetness was natural as well, brought out with agave and coconut. And…the coconut doesn’t take over the granola either. And because it is sweetened with pure, organic agave nectar, this granola is low glycemic and won’t cause those sugar highs that lead to the eventual crash. This granola is heavenly. Seriously. The combination of the pure vanilla with the coconut and the crunchy sunflower seeds and toasted oats…magic on my tongue. I am so glad I had the chance to enjoy this granola. Because I use granola a lot in things and I love trying new ones. I’d never heard of Fiona’s Natural….and now I hope to find it in one of my stores around here.
Let’s talk ingredients. Fiona’s Natural Sunflower Vanilla Coconut Granola couldn’t be cleaner. The ingredients are as follows: certified gluten-free oats, unsweetened coconut, sunflower seeds, milled flax seeds, organic agave nectar, rice bran oil, and pure vanilla extract. Not only are all of those natural ingredients, but they are all recognizable and things I have in my kitchen. Seriously! And the granola is also vegan, soy-free, and salt-free. But it does not skimp on flavor because of that. Honestly…you’ll fall in love at first bite too.
And what about nutritional information? Fiona’s Natural Sunflower Vanilla Coconut Granola is a bit higher on the calorie scale than many other granolas out there. However…I didn’t use a full serving in my parfaits…in fact, I normally use about half of what this says. But a serving is 1/3 cup of the granola. This serving provides you with 210 calories and 10 grams of fat. Do NOT freak out over that fat…they are the healthy fats. I promise! A serving will also give you 5mg sodium and 6 grams of sugar. That isn’t bad for a granola at all. This granola is cholesterol free and gluten-free. A serving will dish up 4 grams of fiber and 5 grams of protein.
So much love to Cuisine Cube for introducing me to yet another company with a great product. I hope to find Fiona’s Natural granola in stores around here. And if not, I will see if I can have it special ordered. Or…maybe I’ll just order online. This was really good granola. I was impressed. And when you eat a lot of granola, sometimes they all blend together. But this one, the subtleness of it…made it stand out. And I’m happy to have a bag of it in my pantry.
I love that my local gluten-free bakery is growing. I love that they are getting enough business to even offer more of their business aside from their daily lunch specials and daily specials in the case. This makes me insanely happy.
On Saturday, on the third anniversary of the opening of Annie May’s Sweet Café on Frankfort Avenue in Louisville, Kentucky, I finally got to partake in the newest feature of the bakery…
Take-n-Bake goodies from their freezer. I am talking their (FAMOUS AND DELICIOUS) pizza crusts, garlic bread, vegan garlic bread, cinnamon rolls, and even some of their pastas…(like the best mac & cheese ever). All items are gluten-free and most are allergen-free. They make a point when doing gluten-free to also try to do allergen-free. But some items (like the regular garlic bread and the mac and cheese) contain dairy.
I had stuck my head in the deep freeze earlier in the week when I was in for Soft Pretzel Wednesday (because pretzels on a Wednesday make the best lunch ever!). The key words that made me happy was…Vegan. Garlic. Bread. Short on money in the middle of the week, and knowing I was stopping in for the celebration of three years at that location on Saturday, I vowed to make a purchase then. Little did I know I’d walk out of there with not just the Vegan Garlic Bread, but also the Mac & Cheese, and the Pizza Crust (seriously…best gluten-free pizza crust on this planet…hands down!). I might have also walked out with an Allergen-Free Banana Spice Muffin (of heaven!).
But, I digress with the muffin.
Let me focus on the entire reason I pulled open that freezer in the first place…
What you get is a half of a half loaf of bread that has been slathered down with a vegan butter and garlic topping. Then…wrapped and frozen with baking instructions on the label. Talk about easy. Just preheat the oven and place the garlic bread on a pan and into the oven and allow to cook for allotted time. Once done…enjoy.
That’s what I did tonight (and served it up with the Mac & Cheese which I baked at the same time!)
I cried when I took my first bite. Tears of happiness. Tear of joy. Because I haven’t had garlic bread in a very long time. I tried to order some gluten-free garlic bread from a pizza place in Denver, but they wouldn’t deliver to the hotel (which was only 4 miles away). So…unless I make it out of gluten-free sandwich bread, it hasn’t happened. And trust me…that’s not the same. Annie May’s Vegan Garlic Bread was amazing. Delicious. The crust got all golden and crunchy and the middle…soft…chewy…garlic and vegan buttery goodness. Honestly. Seasoned perfectly. Tears. When a food makes me cry…then it’s damn good. We only ate half the loaf tonight with dinner…I almost cooked up the second half. I think this will become another staple that I always purchase from Annie May’s when she has it in stock…much like her cinnamon rolls and her macaroni and cheese! This…is one of my favorite things I have ever eaten since going gluten-free. Real food. Really good. Make you cry good! Even my roomie was blown away. She had taken a bite before I had and she gave me the saddest eyes. When I took my bite…I understood why. She liked it better than the garlic bread she has been able to eat. I liked it better than any I had prior to having to go gluten-free. Honest…good…food! That’s what Annie May’s bakes up every single time!
Annie May’s Sweet Café has literally changed my life. With all the restaurants in Louisville’s blossoming foodie areas, all I want is Annie May’s! Why? Because not only can I get safe treats and meals there, but now…I can take a whole lot of their good stuff home to bake up myself when it is convenient. I hope that the take-n-bake freezer takes off for them and expands, because I would be totally willing to purchase these convenient meals and items every week…just to make one day of my life (if not more) a lot easier.
Happy Third Birthday, Annie May’s…and here’s to many, many more delicious, allergen-free years!!
Product: Billy Goat Chip Company Original Potato Chips – $2.99
I was so happy to see a 3 ounce bag of Billy Goat Chip Company’s Original Potato Chips in my June Cuisine Cube because I was already familiar with this product…by only a couple of days. I kid you not! On Monday morning of the week I received my cube, my boss came into work and handed me two of the snack size bags of Billy Goat Chip Company’s Original Potato Chips. She said she had noted that they said “gluten free” on them and knew I could have them. She got one bag for me and one for Cathy.
So…at dinner that night…we feasted on them with a Vegan Gluten-Free “Bacon” (I make this with beans and buckwheat groats), Lettuce, Avocado, and Tomato Sammies. And we were hooked. So…I had already had an inkling of what we were in for when I served these up with a gluten-free veggie burger during the Uruguay v. Costa Rica match of the World Cup last night.
Billy Goat Chip Company is apparently a St. Louis, Missouri, restaurant that became famous for their hand-made chips. These chips are made fresh every day and by the order. Nothing sits around. One batch of these locally renowned chips takes approximately seven minutes to cook. Each batch then gets a special dusting of secret seasoning, called “Billy Goat Kicker Dust.” This seasoning is apparently the magic of the chips…because it is the one difference everyone can taste between these chips and those you buy in the store. The chips are all-natural and made fresh to order. This means the potatoes and selected, sliced, seasons and packaged by hand when they are ordered and then shipped out to customers. The owners of the restaurant make these chips with heart healthy canola oil, no MSG, no preservatives…and maintain that they are gluten-free. The dedication these two restaurant entrepreneurs put into their chips is so that they can guarantee that customers get the most fresh and flavorful chips possible.
The Billy Goat Restaurant & Bar opened in St Louis back in 2002, becoming the city’s first gastropub. It produced hand-crafted, house-made food, using locally sourced products whenever possible. The potato chips quickly became the restaurant’s signature item. With their growing popularity and demand for these treats, the Billy Goat Chip Company was born in 2009, where the company has started to work with vendors and customers to distribute this popular restaurant item.
When they set a goal to create the best potato chips in the Midwest…they succeeded. I might even venture to say they created the best potato chips in the United States.
Let’s discuss.
Since I had previously had them prior to their arrival in my Cuisine Cube…I can honestly say, seeing the large 3 ounce bag made me beyond stupidly happy. Honestly. I was…thrilled. The thing is…the Billy Goat Chip Company honestly does produce a high quality product. They take time and put a lot of effort and care into their food…and it shows. Each chip is done to that gorgeous golden brown, making it crispy and crunchy, not burnt and brittle, and definitely not soft. But, it really is the seasoning that takes these chips up to the next level of awesomesauce. Honestly. I don’t know what it is about the “Billy Goat Kicker Dust” but…it does provide the right amount of everything to these chips. It’s salty…it has a touch of garlic…a little bit of spice to take it up a notch. Nothing is over seasoned. Nothing is overdone. Each bite is pure chip perfection. Crunchy, salty, good perfection!
I might be jealous of St. Louis, Missouri…
Ingredients are honest and simple…russet potatoes, canola oil, salt, onion, garlic, spices and sugar. That’s it. That’s all. It’s that cut and dry. You can clearly taste the quality and the high standards in each chip. No big name can compete with these. Mass produced chips just don’t have level of flavor and quality that Billy Goat Chip Company pours into their products.
Nutritionally speaking, one serving of these chips is 1 ounce. A serving will provide you with 150 calories and 10 grams of fat. You will also be taking in 160 mg sodium and 1 gram of sugar. These chips are cholesterol-free, trans-fat free, and gluten-free. One serving of the Billy Goat Chip Company’s Original Potato Chips also will provide you with 2 grams of fiber and 2 grams of protein. Not filling. But chips are a side…not a meal. So they shouldn’t fill you up.
But they should be tasty, and there is no doubt that these chips are delicious! I sort of wish I had more. Good thing my boss promised that she would bring more back for me the next time she goes to St. Louis. YAY! Since her daughter lives there, that happens more often than not. I want to give a shout-out to June’s Cuisine Cube for providing my new favorite chip to me…so I didn’t have to wait as long to indulge in them again.
Thankfully, they can be ordered online. So, if you’re curious about how amazing these chips are…go ahead and order them. I promise…you will NOT be disappointed.
Product: Sir Kensington’s Classic Ketchup – $4.99+
Thank you Jungle Jim’s and your amazing prices! Seriously. For years now I have been wanting to try Sir Kensington’s Classic Ketchup. Because I’m the type of person who puts ketchup on my ketchup. This is the condiment of my life. Ketchup is life changing. It’s good for most things. And I never have enough of it. If I were told I could only have one condiment to use for the rest of my life…it would have to be ketchup.
So, when I was paging through the myriad of magazines I get each month…I kept seeing the award winning Sir Kensington’s Classic Ketchup. Gourmet ketchup. GOURMET KETCHUP!! There was such a thing and I hadn’t tried it yet? Unfortunately, the few stores I spotted this in had it at a price I seriously couldn’t justify. So…it never happened.
Why gourmet? Why this ketchup?
First of all, as I mentioned before, this is award-winning ketchup. I didn’t know ketchup could win awards. But this one had and still continues to do so. And…it is made with only all-natural ingredients. And you know how much of a stickler I have become about what is in the food I am eating. This made me happy.
And then Jungle Jim’s up in Cincinnati, Ohio, made me even happier by having this ketchup at a decent price. You better believe that made it into my grocery basket and then…into my pantry. And what better time to bust out gourmet ketchup than when you are cooking up veggie burgers and sitting down to the Uruguay v. Costa Rica match of the World Cup.
So, with the burgers constructed, each gluten-free hamburger bun got a liberal serving of the Sir Kensington’s Classic Ketchup. Had I baked some fries, this would have been served on the side as well for dipping purposes, but I chose to use a product from my June Cuisine Cube (stay tuned for that review!) to serve with the burgers. So the ketchup was it for the condiment factor and it was teaming up against an amazing veggie burger and the toppings (vegan cheese, lettuce, tomato, caramelized onion, and sliced avocado). It was really going to have to shine.
Well, it did. Wow…it did. What I found I loved best about the taste of Sir Kensington’s Classic Ketchup was that it wasn’t overly sweet. It wasn’t heavy. And it wasn’t too strong. If you think all ketchup is created equal…think again. Not only does this one have a very short list of ingredients, but it tastes fresh and clean. It doesn’t feel bogged down with unnecessary sweeteners and chemicals. It has a lively, mild flavor. This is the Captain America of condiments. This will make you rethink ketchup forever.
The ingredients in Sir Kensington’s Classic Ketchup are basic, simple, and fresh. They include: tomato paste, apple cider vinegar, raw sugar, onion, honey, olive oil, lime juice concentrate, green bell pepper, salt, agave nectar, and spices. Simple. Clean. And, when combined, a brilliant use of ingredients for ultimate flavor and perfect gourmet ketchup. The tomatoes they use are never from concentrate. This brand boasts 50% less sugar (because it’s a condiment, not a confection) and 45% less sodium (because…why pickle yourself) compared with the leading national brand (and I think we all know what brand that might be…). Don’t you just love it?
As far as nutrition goes, a serving size is 1 tablespoon. Which is perfect for a condiment (even when I multiply it by 10 sometimes!). This serving will provide you with 15 calories. This ketchup is a fat free food! This ketchup is also cholesterol free. It contains only 105 mg sodium and 2 grams of sugar. Ketchup contains no fiber or protein. But veggie burgers do! HA!
Oh…this will forever be the ketchup that finds it way into my fridge. I mean…wow. Gourmet ketchup. Yeah…I’m feeling posh as I sit down to watch the World Cup. My burger has Sir Kensignton’s Classic Ketchup on it. What about yours? Hmmm? You might want to rethink your red sauce. Give your burgers and fries a gourmet sauce. You and your food deserve it!
Product: Hilary’s Eat Well Adzuki Bean Burger – $3.99+
It’s World Cup time!! YAY!! I had the honor of attending a World Cup match back in 1994, when the USA was hosting the matches. It was so much fun. And while I’ve never played soccer…I love the sport. I could go to a match and have the best time of my life.
And with the World Cup kicking off a couple of days ago…and with my favorite player (Diego Forlan on the Uruguay National Team) playing a match late this afternoon, I figured we needed some sort of game-day grub for the occasion! Back in 2010, you couldn’t pull Cathy or I away from the matches on television or online. We watched the hell out of them.
Those days are back with a vengeance. And…although Uruguay lost today to Costa Rica (BOOOO!), at least I made a fun “pub grub” like meal. The main focus of said World Cup meal was…veggie burgers. And…more to the point…one of my favorite brands so far…Hilary’s Eat Well. This time, instead of her original veggie burger…I was told to choose one of the options at our new local grocery store (Lucky’s). They had three other ones I had yet to try…and in the end, I went for the Adzuki Bean Burger. Why? The words green chili and cumin caught my attention! And we had purchased an avocado…so that would pair well, I figured. Green chilies and avocado are best mates! I think.
With kickoff happening, I got up to make the veggie burgers and prepare the toppings. I had thawed out some of the Rudi’s Gluten-Free Hamburger Buns that were in my freezer and put them in the oven to toast. I caramelized some onion…sliced tomatoes…tore up some lettuce…and sliced up the avocado. As I finished that up, the Hilary’s Eat Well Adzuki Bean Burgers came out of the freezer and hit my skillet with just a touch of oil.
These don’t take long to cook at all. About three to five minutes on each side. And then, because I melt a slice of vegan cheese on mine, a moment longer with some water thrown in and the lid topping it to allow it to steam and the cheese to melt (as well as vegan cheese can melt). The buns were toasted, so I pulled them from the oven. I topped them off with gourmet ketchup (because every burger needs gourmet ketchup), the lettuce, the patty itself (which was crusted on the outside…and soft on the inside), and capped with the tomato, caramelized onion, and sliced avocado. I served this up with some gluten-free potato chips. Dinner was easy, early, and served with a side of World Cup!!
Hilary’s Eat Well Adzuki Bean Burgers (frozen)
I went for the burger first, of course. The Hilary’s Eat Well Adzuki Bean Burger is the perfect size for a veggie burger patty. Sometimes they can skimp on size, but not on fat and calories and that’s a problem. But this was a really great sized patty. It was a perfect circle of bean and grain goodness. And yes…you can visibly see the ingredients. Nothing hidden. Love it. One bite…and it was love. Again. I raved about the Hilary’s Eat Well World’s Best Veggie Burger…but this…this one might even top that one. As I mentioned, when I cooked it up in my skillet, it got this perfect crispness to the outside and remained soft (not mushy…just soft) on the inside. A perfect burger bite. It browned up beautifully and maintained amazing flavor throughout. Even better…the taste. Oh…my…god! Seriously…this burger isn’t trying to replicate a beef burger. It’s trying to let the grains and beans be the stars of the patty. And I applaud Hilary’s Eat Well for that. Fantastic flavor. There is a slight hint of spice from the green chilies as well as the chipotle and chili powders, but it doesn’t overpower and it’s not hot. Trust me…my roommate never said a word about the “heat” level or it being “spicy.” You can just taste it. The millet and quinoa add a bit of a nutty flavor to each bite. And the beans…that creates that amazing texture!
So…let’s look at nutrition. And far as ingredients go, this is a fantastically constructed veggie burger. For real. Hilary’s Eat Well prides itself on using real-food ingredients that nourish the body and support a healthy ecosystem. So…the Hilary’s Eat Well Adzuki Bean Burgers are made from a combination of water, millet, adzuki beans, quiona, expeller-pressed coconut oil, sweet potato, onion, mild green chilies, psyllium husk powder, arrowroot, real salt, apple cider vinegar, garlic, cumin, chili and chipotle powder, and lime juice.
I recognize everything listed above. I love it when food is made from real food. These burgers are also non-GMO, gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, corn-free, egg-free, yeast-free, and nut free!
As for the nutritional information, a serving size is 1 veggie burger patty. One of the Hilary’s Eat Well Adzuki Bean Burgers will serve you up 190 calories and 7 grams of fat. This burger will also be giving you 290 mg sodium. These burgers are cholesterol and sugar free. LOVE! Finally, you will be taking in 5 grams of fiber and 5 grams of protein. I consider this to be a very healthy burger with trusted ingredients.
So, even though Uruguay lost to Costa Rica, my taste buds were engaged and happily savoring every bite of the Hilary’s Eat Well Adzuki Bean Burger. Delicious! I can’t wait to try the other burgers that the few stores that carry these have in stock. Super delicious!!
Product: Quest Bar Chocolate Peanut Butter – $2.39+
So, I’ve been slowly working my way through different high protein bars…because…I am. Because, sometimes I have to eat on the go, and they are an easy-to-grab snack/meal. They are also great on race days when I might not be going anywhere fast and will need something to hold me over until I next get to eat.
That was what happened today.
I ran a 10K race in Frankfort, Kentucky…and since I placed in both the race and the racing series…I was now staying at the scene of the crime…er…race…for a bit longer than anticipated. No problem. I come prepared for these such occasions.
For quite a long while now, I’ve been hearing my friends rave about Quest Bar. But I couldn’t find them. Anywhere. What it took was a trip to Jungle Jim’s in Cincinnati, Ohio. They were in the gluten-free section…and I grabbed a few to try. They didn’t have the flavor everyone was raving about, but they had some that sounded beyond delicious…so…why not give them a try?
Except…despite toting these places with me, I never really needed them. That’s not a bad thing…it just means I was around actual food instead. But today…today that changed.
So, as I settled in on the steps of the Kentucky State Capitol, I removed my Quest Bar from the backpack my roomie has with her. It was a bit misshapen. Unfortunately. That’s from toting it around to all those other events…in the heat…and having it soften and then harden back up. That’s fine. If it tastes good…it doesn’t have to look perfect.
But that was the question…would it taste good?
I broke off a bit for my roommate to try and she took a bite…and chewed…and chewed…and chewed…
“How is it?”
“Chewy.”
Thanks for that! Since it was the Chocolate Peanut Butter Bar…I was hoping it would taste like a Reeses Peanut Butter Cup. I took a bite. And began to chew…and chew…and chew…damn…it was chewy…
It didn’t taste like a Reeses Peanut Butter Cup. Not at all. It tasted like a really chewy hunk of chocolate…with a bit of nutty flavor and texture mixed in. It wasn’t bad. But…my jaw was already starting to hurt from working so hard on this bar. I am seriously hoping that this chewy texture (overly chewy!) was really brought on by having the bar melt a couple times in the heat and then reform. Because…by the third bite…my jaw was done with chewing and I still had half a bar left. Which I did manage to finish. And then give my jaw a much needed break. Back to the flavor though…the peanut butter part was really hidden under the flavor of the chocolate. It was just an undertone. And I don’t know if that was on purpose or not…but peanut butter is my favorite thing in life…so I was just expecting more of it to shine through. Peanut butter and chocolate are best mates and a classic combination…so this works. The flavor was good. Like eating dessert…without it being overly sweet.
It will be interesting to see how the next bar is as far as chewiness. Because now I’m curious!
Let’s look at the ingredients in this high protein and low carb bar, shall we? The Quest Bar Chocolate Peanut Butter is made from a protein blend (whey protein isolate, milk protein isolate), Isomalto-Oligosaccharides* (Prebiotic Fiber), peanuts, water, erythritol, and cocoa. This bar also contains less than 2% of the following: sea salt, stevia, lo han guo, and natural flavors. This bar is High Fiber, Gluten Free, and sweetened without the use of sugar or artificial sweeteners.
A serving size of the Quest Bar Chocolate Peanut Butter is 1 bar. This bar provides you with 160 calories and 5 grams of fat. You also will be taking in 5 mg cholesterol, 25 mg sodium, and 2 grams of sugar. This bar provides your body with 255 mg potassium. And finally, you will be consuming 25 grams carbohydrates, 17 grams of fiber and 20 grams of protein.
Trust me…you’ll feel full!
So, as I said, this bar wasn’t bad…it was just…not really what I was expecting. It was the perfect thing after my race though, when I knew it would be awhile before I ate anything. It definitely held me over for hours and I ran some errands and even settled in a bit at home before I even thought about making an early dinner. The flavor was good…and I’m really hoping the next one isn’t as chewy.
Guess we’ll find out.
Quest Bar Chocolate Peanut Butter (unwrapped with a chunk torn out of it)
Me crossing the finish line of the Capital City Stampede 10K – Frankfort, Kentucky
Race: Capital City Stampede 10K
Place: Frankfort, Kentucky
Date: June 14, 2014
Time:44:03
Your eyes do not deceive you. That is a brand spankin’ new 10K PR! I couldn’t believe it. I honestly couldn’t believe it. Believe me, after the week I’ve had…I couldn’t be happier! And this is once again proof of how important it is to take those rest days. Rest brings magic. And it was not easy to skip my Friday morning spin class…but…I am getting back into the habit of obeying and respecting those days of rest.
Guess it worked.
Yes…it’s that time again. The final race of the Frankfort Trifecta Run/Walk Series. The first race was a 3K, the second was a 5K, and the final leg…a 10K. Now…I don’t know if you know this or not…but I absolutely despise the 10K distance. I hate it. It’s just…not long enough for my legs to get warmed up, but I can’t sprint it either. UGH! Damn you 10K distance. But, I don’t care when it comes to this race. Because I love running in Frankfort. I have met so many great people there…been able to run with them…run their streets. I’ve forged so many friendships through running, and I count myself lucky to know so many people in Frankfort.
So…this meant an early morning to allow for proper travel time. I got up early enough to do my PT stretches, drink some tea, take in water, put on sunscreen, drink some coffee, eat cereal, brush teeth, get out the door. The ride to Frankfort actually went quickly. Seriously. I was just flipping through one of my magazines and before I knew it, we were exiting and making a stop at the Kroger to get pre-race bananas and allow me to use a flushing toilet (because I’m a princess!). With all of that accomplished, it was off to the State Capitol Building…which was where the race starts.
I got into the line to pick up my packet. And it was while I was standing there that Linda found me. It was hugs all around. We talked about the race and she mentioned that she broke the cardinal rule…and did her first kettlebell class on Thursday night and now her legs were screaming at her. She, much like me, figured kettlebell was more upper body. Whoops. Anyway…I was being called up to get my bib number and my goodie bag, so I told her I’d catch her in a bit and we parted ways.
For being a runner who completed the three-race series, I also received a mug. Awesome! Cathy and I walked these back to the car. It was 30 minutes to start time…so I peeled my banana and gave that a good noshing while we moved. I finished it up at the car. Good timing. Cathy dug some safety pins out of the race bag she carries and pinned me up. I zipped up my hoodie (YES…a hoodie…because it was about 49°F this morning!) and we meandered back down toward the start line.
This year…there was actually a start/finish line. A big black and white checkered inflatable arch. Awesome. Moving on up, Capital City Stampede!! Looking good! We stood at the top of the circle where I did a few stretches and high knees, getting my limbs as warmed up as possible. I hate stretching, but since my injury in the winter, I’ve embraced stretching and don’t just half-ass it anymore. Even days I want to skip them or just do the bare minimum. Nope. Not anymore. About 10 minutes before race time, Cathy sent me for some strides down the hill and back up to the line, just to get my legs warmed up.
Why?
Because I’ve had the right hamstring from hell this past week. All week, my hamstring hasn’t hurt, but…it’s felt so tight. So, that was my biggest concern going into this. My legs weren’t wanting to fire like they normally should or would. Another reason I’ve been taking on my stretches, my foam rolling, and even using the dreaded “stick” on my hamstrings. It was still tight this morning, but you just work with what you have, right? Right!
Five minutes to race time and I get into the starting area. I’m a few rows back from the guy holding the 6:00 MILE pace sign. No…I’m not that fast. But I was standing in the middle between that guy and the lady holding the 8:00 MILE sign. So, I felt I was in a good spot. The start area was filling up now, with lots of chatter going on. Even though I don’t live or train in Frankfort, I’ve never had a difficult time making friends at a race. And I overheard some people talking about those relay races that happen and someone mentioned the Market to Market one, which my friend Kelsie wants me to run with her on her team (and I’m really hoping I get to do so!), so we talked about that while the start was delayed…because the roads needed to be completely cleared for the safety of us runners! And they said some people were sneaking through. When the okay was given…we were off…without much of a warning!
I started my Garmin late…oh well…
“ONLY SIX MORE MILES TO GO!”
I was off. Immediately tackling an uphill climb. Up…up…up…around the Capitol…around the back…and then…the downhill. I was feeling okay. I felt like I was struggling a bit, but I was focusing on my form and my breathing. Neither of which were very good at this point. HA! As I’m coming down the hill, I see Cathy on the sideline and hear her shout, “GO TWIN! YOU’RE ALMOST DONE! ONLY SIX MORE MILES TO GO!” It cracked me up and I threw my hands up in agreement and continued to pound that pavement.
I didn’t feel like I was hitting that first mile very hard, but apparently…I was. When my watch beeped on my first mile, I had covered it in 6:54. My entire intention was to ease into the race. Run the first two miles slow, pick it up, then kick it at the end. That wasn’t happening. But the pace was set and while I didn’t look at my watch to know what I was running (I never look at my pace), I did know that it was faster than I would have liked to run it…so I eased up. But not by much. In fact, I didn’t officially ease up until Mile 4.
This was a fantastic course, in my opinion. We ran around the Capitol…then down the straightaway, across a bridge and then we sort of did the last part of the Pro.Active For Life 5K portion downtown. But, we go beyond that and head further into the downtown area. It’s fun to see people come out of the shops and cheer people on. There may not be a lot of crowd support in Frankfort, but what is there is vocal. And that makes this place special. Mile 3 had us heading back toward the Capitol, but turning away to run down this long stretch of road.
I call this the hardest part of the race. From around Mile 3.1 to Mile 6.1 it’s three miles of…NOTHING. Runners are sent down past a few homes, under a parking garage of sorts, then down this winding road (and hill that we will have to run back up!) into open country, it seems. It’s hard because there really is nothing out there. Just you, the road, one water stop (which was manned by two very adorable little girls!), and the runners. It was just past Mile 4 that I saw the leader (Adam…as always!) heading back the other way. He had a huge lead. Like…seriously! I kept waiting to see that second place runner behind him…but there was no one there. Not for a good long while. But then they came…and not long after that…with a biker beside her, the lead female…Kendall Hayes (no surprise…she’s even faster than lightning this year!). There was a female just slightly ahead of me (she was WAY ahead of me at the start, so I really closed the gap). She made the turn…then a couple of seconds later…I made the turn.
As we were nearing the 5 mile marker, I had two runners tell her she was second female overall and that I was third female as we ran past them. That was encouraging. Mile 5 clicked by and Greg, the runner just slightly behind me the entire time picked up his pace and said to me, “We can catch her!” That made me smile. “I don’t know!” I said. But, the gap was closing…and he did go on and pass her…and I was hot on her heels as we climbed the hill, ran back under the parking garage thingy…where a car pulled out in front of us. What. The. Hell. Damn truck. But, we moved on. We made the curve and I could see, up ahead, the lights that marked the road we’d turn on to run…up a hill…to the finish line.
My legs were screaming. For the first time ever, I had a calf muscle wanting to cramp up. It didn’t…but it felt off. My hamstring was fighting me. My quad was tight…but I pushed it. She just pushed harder. I heard Cathy screaming at the finish line and I crossed…just a few seconds after her.
With a new PR.
I’ll take it!
Kendall Hays (first female overall), Jennifer Watson (second female overall), and Me (third female overall)
Cathy came around and immediately congratulated me on closing the gap so much on the female ahead of me. Then she told me to go grab some water…which I happily did. I was running as fast as I ran my half marathon before I ran Buffalo…but this just felt…so much harder. My splits were not the way I wanted…the first two miles being the fastest, the middle two being the slowest, and the last two being the last ditch effort to maintain some semblance of my strong pace. Go figure. We decided to take a walk, but I stopped and said Linda wasn’t too far behind me and I wanted to see her finish.
We got to that finish line just in time as she was powering up the hill for a strong finish! I was screaming for her the entire way and she finished strong. She was happy with her finish, despite no new PR for her. And we took a short walk together before she turned around to go cheer her sister in to her finish. Cathy and I finished our circling of the Capitol building and went to grab some water from the McDonalds table. We went to settle in on the steps and heard the announcement for free McDonalds sandwiches. While I couldn’t eat them, Cathy said it would be way better than her protein bar. So, I went to grab her one. I asked which one was the sausage biscuit…but they told me wrong. Cathy was okay with her egg biscuit though, because she said the biscuit was the best part. I noshed on the Quest Chocolate Peanut Butter High Protein Bar. It was a bit chewier than I expected, and I’m assuming it’s because it melted once and then solidified. We’ll see when I try the next one. But it wasn’t bad at all. My jaw just got tired of chewing for so long. But, it was something more than cereal and a banana…and that was what I needed.
Me with my awards for finishing Third Overall Women in the Capital City Stampede 10K (plaque) and for finishing the 2014 Trifecta Series as the First Overall Woman in the Open category.
As the final person crossed the finish line, they were getting ready to hand out awards. They started with the overall winners…and when the females were announced…it was Kendall as first…Jennifer Watson as second female overall (by 10 seconds on my time!)…and then…ME! For the second year in a row, I came in as the Third Female Overall in the Capital City Stampede! Proud of myself. Proud of the ladies I ran with. Kendall is always amazing and I don’t know who Jennifer is, but she ran a hard race and really pushed me.
Then…the age group awards were handed out…and Linda won her age division!! Fantastic!! I high fived her. They went through the age divisions backwards…and I cheered and applauded for everyone! Hey…they earned it.
And then…it was time for awards for the Frankfort Trifecta. And coming in first for the women for the entire Frankfort Trifecta was…Kendall! BUT…for the second year in a row, I came won the Female Open Division for the race series!! YAY! Both of my titles…maintained! So happy!
So…the official results of the Capital City Stampede 10K are that I finished with a new 10K PR of 44:03. WOOHOO!! I managed to shave almost a minute and a half off my previous 10K time. NICE! I was 20/322 finishers of the 10K run overall. And, I was the 3rd female finisher overall for that race. Surprised. Content. Happy! Really happy!
Really looking forward to returning to this race series again. This is my series. It involves some drive time, but I always have found it worth it. So much fun. Great city. Great people. Great time! Is it any wonder I love to run in this city? I’ll be back Frankfort Trifecta. Next year!! Already counting down the days!
The Celiathlete 