The Celiathlete

January 25, 2014May 11, 2015

Product Review: Mi-Del Gluten-Free Gingerbread Men Cookies

Product: Mi-Del Gluten-Free Gingerbread Men Cookies – $4.59+

I was in Birmingham, Alabama just before Christmas…visiting my family. My mom had found a new organic and natural food store in the area…and often goes there to shop…because the owner of the store is a Celiac. So much of their offerings are gluten-free…and now also paleo. It was actually a very cool store…and I picked up quite a few items while visiting there…which I hadn’t seen yet around here.

One of these items was the Mi-Del Gluten-Free Gingerbread Men Cookies.

It had been forever since I last had anything gingerbread…minus the amazing gluten-free gingerbread French toast and allergen-free gingerbread donuts my local allergen-free bakery (Annie May’s Sweet Café) makes during the holiday season. But cookies? I haven’t enjoyed a gluten-free gingerbread cookie…ever.

So, when I spotted these…nevermind the fact that I don’t really care for gingerbread…during the holidays…I don’t mind it. I guess it’s part of that holiday feeling…those familiar flavors and tastes.

Well, it’s now almost February…and these cookies have been waiting patiently in my pantry for a little while now (and since my return to the Louisville area, I have found them at Target…go figure!). I was completely out of dessert options for after dinner tonight. Until I remembered I had these lurking in the pantry. Time to pull them out and give them a try.

The cookies actually look exactly like they do on the box. I was impressed. They are this great tan color, with this sugary coating. They looked fantastic and I was actually looking forward into biting into them. I doled out two servings…for myself and my roommate…and we sat down for our little treats.

OH…these are really good. First of all, that gingerbread flavor doesn’t overwhelm or overpower the palate. In fact, they are sweet with just a hint of that ginger spice. Perfect, really. These cookies are crunchy and amazing. In fact, we had to turn the volume up a bit on the cooking show we were watching while we noshed. Every bite was a treat. Sweet…crunchy…it was the perfect way to cap off a meal. Mi-Del does a fantastic job with their gluten-free gingerbread cookies. I was SO happy eating these. With it being so bitterly cold outside…it was like the warmth of the holidays all over again. One bite…and you’ll be hooked too.

Mi-Del Gluten-Free Gingerbread Men Cookies are made from a gluten-free flour mix of corn flour, soy flour, potato flour, rice flour, corn starch, potato starch, and xantahn gum. They also are made up of sugar, modified tapioca starch, canola oil, unsulphured molasses, ginger, baking soda, organic caramel color, sea salt, soybean lecithin, xanthan gum. Every ingredient recognizable. Every ingredient real.

As for nutrition…you’ll love this! Mi-Del Gluten-Free Gingerbread Men Cookies are rather guilt-free. A serving is 4 cookies, which will provide you with 100 calories and 2.5 grans of fat. These are cholesterol free, contain 100 mg of sodium, and only 7 grams of sugar (awesome for a cookie!). You also get 1 gram of fiber and 2 grams of protein.

So…these are relatively healthy as far as cookies go. I didn’t feel guilty at all as I crunched my way through my serving. They are the perfect blend of ginger and sweetness. The crispness of each bite makes you feel like you’re biting into a real treat. And the flavor…amazing. These all natural cookies are fantastic. And if you missed out on them this holiday season…seek them out next year. They are SO good!

January 23, 2014

Product Review: Health Is Wealth Sprouted Grains Chipotle Bean Sprout Burger

Product: Health Is Wealth Sprouted Grains Chipotle Bean Sprout Burger – $5.99+

Lately…I’ve been doing my best to make my own veggie burgers. I’ve been a vegetarian for 4 years now and gluten-free for 3 years…and while there is definitely more of a market for gluten-free/vegan or vegetarian burger patties out there…not all veggie burgers are created equally. I’ve done plenty of experimentation. And, before I had to go gluten-free…I was all about the Morningstar patties. There were none better.

Then…going gluten-free took them off the table and out of my freezer. At first, I lamented this. However, then I went back awhile ago and looked at the ingredient list on Morningstar patties…and cringed! It’s mostly chemicals. YUCK! Maybe this gluten-free thing was a blessing in disguise.

That being said, I’ve found some great veggie burgers and some not-so-great veggie burgers. I’ve had burgers that have fallen apart as they cooked and burgers that wowed me.

Tonight…I tried a different veggie burger.

Made by Health is Wealth, the company that once upon a time made vegan and gluten-free not-chicken nuggets. They no longer make them anymore. Which I still cry about. BUT…they do make veggie burgers too. And these, at least, are vegan and gluten-free.

My natural food store carried two of the varieties of Health is Wealth. The burgers themselves are called Sprout Burgers. Why? Because they are actually made from organic sprouted grains – specifically quinoa, amaranth and millet). These vegan and gluten-free burgers are made with non-GMO soy as well, are baked and never fried, and are packed with flavor. They come in three flavor options – original, Chipotle Bean, and Mushroom and Onion.

With my plethora of romaine lettuce, red onion and roma tomato from my recent CSA bin, a gluten-free veggie burger dinner was definitely needed. So, I pulled out the gluten-free sandwich rolls my local gluten-free bakery (shout-out to Annie May’s Sweet Café on Frankfort Avenue) from my freezer to thaw while I was at work. When I got home, it was just a matter of getting the burgers cooked.

That task was easy. While I toasted the rolls to make the buns, I put the Health Is Wealth Sprouted Grains Chipotle Bean Sprout Burgers on my skillet to cook through. That took about 4 minutes on each side. It didn’t take long at all. I plated up the burgers on the toasted buns with the vegetables and some vegan sriracha sour cream…and dinner was served.

So…how good can the Health Is Wealth Sprouted Grains Chipotle Bean Sprout Burger taste?

AMAZING! First of all, this burger does not crumble. It won’t fall apart as you try to bite into it. The texture is meaty and awesome. The flavor is just the right amount of spice with the right level of spice. It has just enough heat to keep it interesting. The beans add a lot of protein. And the flavor is amazing. I was so impressed with the Chipotle Bean Sprout Burger. I’m also excited that I have two more patties left in the freezer for my roommate and I to eat later this week. These are fantastic. Even meat eaters (like my roomie) will enjoy these. They are hearty, healthy, and just amazing.

So…what sort of ingredients go into vegan and gluten-free burgers? Well, in the case of the Health is Wealth Sprouted Grains Chipotle Bean Sprout Burger…the following: non-GMO hydrated textured soy protein, organic sprouted grains (millet, quinoa, amaranth), non-GMO isolated soy protein, black beans, corn kernels, canola oil, molasses, red pepper, seasonings (sea salt, tomato powder, garlic powder, lime juice), food starch, hydrolyzed soy protein, modified cellulose gum, oat fiber, garlic powder, caramel color, onion powder, sea salt, maltodextrin, yeast extract, lemon juice.

It seems like a lot…but at least it’s not just a load of chemicals and unpronounceable ingredients.

Nutritionally speaking, a serving of the Health Is Wealth Sprouted Grains Chipotle Bean Sprout Burger is one patty. This one patty will serve you up 90 calories (REALLY good for a veggie burger) and 3 grams of fat. These are cholesterol free, contain 420 mg sodium, and only 2 grams of sugar. One serving also gives you 3 grams of fiber and 9 grams of protein. You will definitely feel full.

I absolutely LOVED this burger. My roomie did too. In fact, we both said that we’ll have to try the other Health Is Wealth vegan and gluten-free burgers. They were that great. Loved the texture, the flavor, and everything about these. The price isn’t too bad either. Not for 4 patties in a box. If you haven’t given these a try…make sure you do. They are really fantastic.

Health Is Wealth Sprouted Grains Chipotle Bean Sprout Burger (cooked)

January 23, 2014

Recipe: Blueberry Breakfast Rice Bowl

Rice.

For breakfast.

You read that right. All natural. All things I had at home. All healthy ingredients. And the best part, it really does fill you up. Fiber is a wonderful thing. Trust me.

It was a bitter cold morning…around 0°F…and I didn’t want to have anything cold. Nothing. Hot coffee. Hot breakfast. So, I modified a recipe I spotted in a magazine and it proved to be as epic as it sounded. I loved the play of flavors and the way everything was fresh, light, and filling. This is definitely a hearty, no-guilt breakfast.

Recipe: Blueberry Breakfast Rice Bowl

Servings: 4
Time: Prep 5 minutes; Cook 20 minutes

Ingredients:

1 cup brown rice
1 tablespoon coconut oil
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 cup almond milk
4 teaspoons pure maple syrup
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 packet stevia
1 cup fresh blueberries

Directions:

Cook rice according to package directions.

In a medium bowl, combine rice, oil, cinnamon, orange zest and salt. Divide among serving bowls.

In a small saucepan, bring milk and maple syrup to a boil on medium heat. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla and stevia. Drizzle over top of rice mixture and top with blueberries, dividing evenly.

~*~*~

I loved the warm, homey feel of this breakfast. It was definitely something different. Rice for breakfast…when done like this…doesn’t seem too different at all. The spices and flavors all mixed really well. The blueberries really played well with the cinnamon and lemon. And I loved how everything just sort of played well together.

This is a new favorite. And it is so easy to make.

January 21, 2014

I’m SAD…

Seasonal Affective Disorder (aka: SAD).

The Winter Blues.

Seasonal Depression.

Winter Depression.

Whatever you like to call it…I’m suffering from it. Literally.

Suffering.

I’ve never felt this way before. I don’t know if it’s just that in the past my winters haven’t been this extreme as far as weather and such…but it’s hit me hard this year. I feel miserable…constantly. It’s a mental state, I know…but it seems very little is dragging me out of these blues. At first I thought it was that I was coming off the high and the excitement of Disney and the Dopey Challenge. But this has gone beyond that. This has skirted into an every day thing. Even activities I enjoy doing aren’t bringing me the satisfaction and joy that they normal do.

And it hurts. Knowing that I feel off, but can’t figure out how to “fix” myself…hurts.

So, what might have brought this on? Well…less peppy moods are common in the winter…but what’s hit me hard this year is the bitter cold temperatures, the crazy winter weather, the lack of sunshine…it’s more than the winter blahs this time. Sunny days in winter are a gift, and between October and March…I don’t see very many of them. With the shorter days, and the daylight hours spent in a windowless cube in my office…I don’t get much sunshine to chase away these blues.

How do I know it’s SAD? My symptoms are classic and fall right into step with those of Seasonal Affective Disorder.

As of late, I have had this insatiable craving for sweets and starchy food. Even more so…the need to eat peanut butter…ALL.THE.TIME. Seriously. It’s my go-to sweet snack. And my major stress-eating food. And I want chocolate more than I usually do. I crave those comfort foods…those foods that are to be treats and not major eats. But I just can’t make these cravings stop. They hound me…in the morning…that’s when I find it the hardest to fight the cravings. Because I’m waking up and my body is telling me it wants to eat. The problem is…when I give in…it’s food that my body doesn’t need. But that is what it wants. And there is no one there to tell me to take a breath, drink some water, and relax. It’s just me…and my cravings…and my mind isn’t strong enough to fight them.

You might recall in previous postings that I mentioned weight gain (this MIGHT be linked to my cravings for sweets and starches)…not being at my ideal marathon weight like I was for Chicago. Well…that comes with SAD as well. Weight gain isn’t at all uncommon when it comes to SAD. And it’s a never-ending battle these days for me. Not that I really need to worry all that much…but it just…nags at my runner brain. I want to make sure I maintain my fitness through winter…and that isn’t easy to do.

Fatigue and a noticeable drop in energy. No pep in my step. I actually drag my feet when I’m trying to get moving and get going. When my roomie is up and ready before I am…there is a problem. That’s a complete role reversal. And I just can’t seem to fix that level either. I try…but it’s not working. Part of this might be that my sleeping is WAY off. I’m restless…I toss and turn…I wake up constantly. It’s a battle for me to stay asleep at night…or get the right amount of sleep…at the right level. I never fall into a deep sleep these days. I go to bed earlier…and I just toss and turn. It’s doing me no good at all. Then…what’s worse is I now am not wanting to get out of bed. I’m not motivated. The Achilles Tendonitis has meant scaling back my activity levels…and in my head, I say, “Well…it’s not like you have to get up to fit in that run…” But it’s not just that either. Even on off days when I’m not scheduled for anything, I find myself switching off my alarm and just curling back up in my blankets. I’m not falling asleep, I just feel no real motivation to get up and get going. I’d rather just lay there. Lay there and do nothing…instead of getting up and accomplishing something. Even if it is really just a simple task like making breakfast. This morning, it took me forever to get motivated to get out of bed. I just didn’t want to get up. It started to snow. The wind was howling. I didn’t want to move. I finally counted to three and pushed myself out of the bed, so I could drive to Kroger and get a few items. But it took a lot of convincing. Then…breakfast (easy breakfast) took all the rest of the morning for me to prepare. I had no real speed behind anything I was doing. My roommate was awake and I hadn’t even put the frozen waffles (don’t judge…it’s one of those days!) in the oven.

Lately, I’ve had a difficult time remaining focused on tasks both at work and at home. I’m in fog of sorts. This is SO not like me. I’m irritable. Little things set me off. Or nothing. The other night I just started crying. For no reason. I just started to cry. I felt hopeless and empty. And when my roommate asked what was wrong, I said, “I don’t know. I have no idea!” It was the truth. And this happens almost every day right now. I’m at a loss. I feel lost. I don’t get excited about things that I used to get pumped up about. I’m drifting…and I’m alone.

And I’m SAD.

So what can be done?

I’m making myself get outside whenever I can…especially if it’s sunny. I’m trying to stay active, even if my body fights it. That’s not always easy given since returning to the cold weather in the area after beautiful weather in Florida…my Achilles has been bugging me more than ever. But…activity does help. Even if I’m moving at the speed of SLUG.

And…hugs from friends…kind words from friends…and all the support I’m getting as I battle through this winter has been more helpful than ever. I am so thankful for my friends, who make it a point to check in on me, to make me smile, to make me feel better. That’s a true gift in this life and I count myself to be a very lucky girl.

Let me say this…I’m ready for Spring. Because this winter has been very hard on me, physically and mentally. And I am ready for a break. And some sunlight and short sleeves! And a nice cleansing long run. With friends. Friends who make me laugh and do goofy, fun, spontaneous things. Yeah…that’s the best medicine…

January 21, 2014

Product Review: Simple Truth Gluten-Free Blueberry Waffles

Product: Simple Truth Gluten-Free Blueberry Waffles – $2.49+

Okay…they aren’t Van’s Gluten-Free Waffles…but they aren’t half bad!

I admit it. I had a coupon for Kroger’s organic brand of waffles from Simple Truth…and they happen to have two varieties of gluten-free waffles on the market…so I definitely took advantage of the coupon this past weekend. And, no sooner had I bought them, I was whipping them out for a quick breakfast. After all, I circuit trained and did spinning this morning. This meant…easy breakfast that can toast while I showered and got ready for work.

Waffles.

Easy peasy!

Onto a baking sheet and into the oven they went (ever since being diagnosed as Celiac…the toaster went into the garbage due to cross-contamination problems…and was never replaced). 10 minutes later, I was pulling golden, perfectly toasted waffles from my oven. They smelled amazing. They toasted up perfectly. And I could even see the blueberries inside the little waffle shapes. Quick, but efficient breakfast was about to commence. A little dab of butter and some maple-agave syrup over the top…and we were in business. I paired it with some water and a cup of coffee. Just the easy meal I needed after a hectic morning.

So, how were they?

Less soft and substantial than Van’s Gluten-Free Waffles. But, for a freezer waffle…for a gluten-free freezer waffle…I give them a solid 8 out of 10. The batter seemed really thin in parts, making them more of a crunchy waffle, rather than that crisp outside, soft middle that I associate with perfect waffles. The blueberries weren’t even throughout…mine were mostly to one side of the waffle…but at least they were in there, right? Yeah! They were sweet, which I love…waffles should be sweet…and they had a good flavor. And, when all is said and done, that is the most important thing. Were they perfect? Nope. Were they edible? Beyond edible. They were tasty. And organic…which you have to love. And they, honestly, were good!

They just weren’t as good as Van’s Gluten-Free Waffles. But…I haven’t found one that is yet either.

Let’s talk ingredients. Simple Truth’s Gluten-Free Blueberry Waffles are made from water, brown rice flour, potato starch, vegetable oil, corn flour, organic tapioca starch, blueberry bits, sugar, potato flour, inulin, leavening, soy lecithin, fruit juice concentrate blend, natural flavors, and salt. So…it’s sort of a mess…but not too bad. Not really. Not for a quick dine-and-dash morning meal anyway. Especially one that is, honestly, coming out of a box in the freezer.

Nutritionally speaking, a serving is 2 waffles. These waffles will serve you up 220 calories and 8 grams of fat. Not great…but not bad either. Van’s does better with 10 fewer calories and 2 grams less fat. So…there is that. The Simple Truth Gluten-Free Blueberry Waffles also will serve you up 350 mg sodium and 7 grams of sugar. Van’s beats them here too, with way less sugar and 30 mg less sodium. You will also have 2 grams of fiber an 1 gram of protein. Not exactly a filling breakfast…but it’s a sugary treat from the freezer (and not one I make a habit of consuming either!).

So, the basic gist of this is…Simple Truth puts out a good gluten-free waffle. The blueberries gave it a nice added bit of flavor. And they had a nice crusty outside that toasted up perfectly. They weren’t the best frozen waffles I have had since going gluten-free…but they are close. I liked them.

So, if you can get Simple Truth products, I recommend trying the Gluten-Free Blueberry Waffles, or even the Gluten-Free Homestyle Waffles (which I’ll get next time I have a coupon). They make a good, quick, and easy breakfast when you have a busy, busy morning. Thumbs up.

Simple Truth Gluten-Free Blueberry Waffles (toasted)

January 21, 2014

Product Review: Liz Lovely Gluten-Free Cowboy Cookies

Product: Liz Lovely Gluten-Free Cowboy Cookies – $3.99+

Remember awhile back when I worked my way through every Liz Lovely gluten-free cookie available?

Times are changing.

And so is Liz Lovely. In fact, they recently just got their certification. Certified. Certified for goodness, of course. But this is HUGE. Liz Lovely is now CERTIFIED 100% FREE OF WHEAT, DAIRY, AND EGGS! Yep.

You know what this means?

It means this cookie monster has more cookies from this amazing company at my disposal. My taste buds are ready!

While out at my local natural food store, I spotted the Liz Lovely shelf that I usually walk to and stare longingly at for a little while. Most of the time I can talk myself out of purchasing a pack of 2 cookies…but this had varieties I had yet to try. I got the roomie to consent to one item off the grocery list/budget this week and we brought home Liz Lovely’s Gluten-Free Cowboy Cookies. Previously, you could only get this version done vegan…now it’s both.

And I am one very happy cookie monster.

So, what is a cowboy cookie? Well, it’s a hearty cookie for one thing. Usually they contain oats, chocolate chips and some sort of nut. Sometimes…coconut is included. In the case of Liz Lovely’s variety of Cowboy Cookies, you get a magical combination of oats, chocolate chips and walnuts. YUMMY!! The base of her cookie is dipped in delicious dark chocolate and the top has some nice dark chocolate stripes. It looked amazing. Sounded delicious. And after dinner last night, I split one in half with my roommate and we enjoyed a gluten-free Cowboy Cookie dessert.

On Liz Lovely’s Web site, she gives a little background as to how the Cowboy Cookies reinvented the idea of the original business concept. Liz Lovely was originally going to do vegan truffles, but it turns out, one night before hosting a tasting party, Liz had extra chocolate but no more centers…so she quickly baked up some oatmeal chocolate-chip cookies and drizzled the extra chocolate all over them. The truffles were all but forgotten at the party. The cookies were the hit. So, the next day, it was decided…Liz Lovely would be a cookie company. Cowboy Cookies…that’s what made it happen.

I can see why too! These cookies are fantastic. Way better than I could even imagine a vegan truffle to be (although I love vegan truffles too). My first dessert love is a cookie…always and forever…so this was a very nice treat. The oats in the dough give it this fantastic texture and a bit of sustenance. The chocolate chips bring the sweetness. And those walnuts…not only add a bit of a crunch, but that saltiness that pairs well with the chocolate. I love how the extra chocolate on the bottom and top of the cookie meshes with the rest of the flavors. It is one sweet, hearty, delicious bite. That’s for sure! Consider me one happy cookie monster.

So…now we’ll talk ingredients and nutrition.

One thing I love about Liz Lovely cookies is that they are real. No ingredient is processed or fake or made up of chemicals. You’ll recognize (and enjoy) everything that goes into her cookies. In the case of the Gluten-Free Cowboy Cookies, you’ll find: unrefined cane sugar, gluten-free rolled oats, rice flour, dark chocolate, palm fruit oil, walnuts, water, tapioca starch, xanthan gum, molasses, vanilla extract, sea salt, potato starch and baking soda. The ingredients aren’t a mile long…and, as I said…everything is recognizable and able to be purchased in your grocery store. LOVE IT!

Now, let’s talk about nutrition. Do remember…this is a COOKIE and any way you slice it (in my case…in half) it is a treat. A serving size of a Liz Lovely Gluten-Free Cowboy Cookie is 1/2 of the cookie. This half will dish you up 180 calories and 8 grams of fat. This half of a cookie also contains 14 grams of sugar (I know…it’s a lot…but it’s a COOKIE!) and a mere 75 mg sodium. Not too shabby. And you’ll also be devouring 2 grams of fiber and 3 grams of protein.

Nice!

And these cookies are naughty and nice. Honestly. If you are going to splurge, I encourage you to find a store that sells Liz Lovely’s cookies and give them a try. I have yet to find any better on the market. They are soft, chewy, and just…amazing.

And…if you can’t find them where you live, you can always order online.

Do it. You’ll fall in love too.

January 18, 2014

Product Review: Tasty Bite Brown Rice

Product: Tasty Bite Brown Rice – $2.49+

Brown rice.

People either love it or hate it.

Me…I happen to love it. It just…takes so long to prepare. In fact, brown rice often takes longer to get to cook perfectly than white rice. But with white rice being so refined, brown rice is always a better option.

I just don’t always have time to let it cook up on the stove.

Thankfully…Tasty Bite has me covered.

Yes. Tasty Bite.

Yes…the makers of all those amazing little Indian meals I blog about from time to time.

The very same Tasty Bite.

They do rice too. They do it well. And they make it so easy to enjoy.

There isn’t too much I can say about Tasty Bite’s Brown Rice. I mean…it’s brown rice. But I can say this…

The package contains fully cooked brown rice that you simply reheat in the microwave for 90 seconds. Yes. 90 seconds and you have two servings of rice as your fingertips. It’s brilliant and very convenient. Brown rice is full of vitamins, minerals and fiber, and is my favorite type of rice to incorporate into meals. Tasty Bite’s Brown Rice has that nutty flavor and that tougher texture that regular brown rice has. The flavor…is that of plain brown rice…which is why I served vegetarian baked beans over mine. Hey…don’t mock. I had vegetarian baked beans in the pantry…just begging to be used. It actually worked together very well.

Let’s talk ingredients and nutrition then, since brown rice is…well…brown rice. The Tasty Bite Brown Rice pouch contains water, brown rice, and sunflower oil. That’s it. As it is precooked, you’re steaming it back to life and then pouring it into a dish. The microwavable pouch contains two servings of brown rice.

Half of the package, that being a serving, will dish you up 240 calories and 3 grams of fat. This particular rice is cholesterol-free, sugar-free, and contains no sodium. My roommate will love reading that. This serving provides 2 grams of fiber and 5 grams of protein. Filling. Nutrition. Delicious. And the Tasty Bite Brown Rice is vegan, vegetarian, kosher, and gluten-free. Loving it.

So, you don’t have to spend the better part of the evening at your stove waiting on your brown rice to cook to perfection. Nope. Let Tasty Bite do that for you…letting you have your rice ready in a minute and a half as opposed to 20-30 minutes (if not longer!). The rice you get is fluffy, light, and seriously cooked to perfection. It sure does make dinner a lot easier and quicker to get on the table.

Thank you, Tasty Bite…for taking the stress and guess work out of cooking brown rice.

January 17, 2014

Recipe: Smashed Herbed Potatoes

I am a runner. Carbs are my friend. And I just happen to be a huge, huge fan of potatoes. I love potatoes. Any way you can serve them up, I will devour them.

Recently in my CSA bin, I received a huge bag full of fingerling potatoes. Instead of roasting them up as I normally would, I wanted to do something different. I wanted to think outside of the normal box I hem myself in when potatoes are in my kitchen.

So…that’s exactly what I set out to do. I decided to finally get to smashing potatoes. I’m not talking mashed potatoes. I really mean…smashed potatoes. I served mine with a dipping sauce of Spinach & Artichoke Hummus.

For real. And yeah…it was super delicious.

Recipe: Smashed Herbed Potatoes

Smashed Herbed Potatoes (with Spinach and Artichoke Hummus)

Servings: 4-6
Time: Prep 30 minutes; Cook 25 minutes

Ingredients:

12 fingerling potatoes (or other small potatoes, like new potatoes, etc.)
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
kosher salt, to taste
black pepper, to taste
Rosemary (or other herbs of choice), to taste

Directions:

Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add the potatoes to the water and cook them until they are fork-tender.

On a sheet pan, generally drizzle olive oil. Place the tender potatoes on the cookie sheet, leaving plenty of room between each potato.

With a potato masher, gently press down each potato until it slightly mashes, rotate the potato masher 90 degrees and mash again. Do this to all the potatoes. Then, brush the tops of each crushed potato generously with more olive oil.

Sprinkle the potatoes with kosher salt, fresh ground black pepper, and freshly chopped rosemary (or chives or thyme or whatever herb you have available).

Bake in a 450°F oven for 20-25 minutes until they are golden brown.

Serve.

~*~*~

OH. MY. GOD.

This is my new favorite way to eat potatoes. For real. I mean…packed with flavor. The fresh herbs really draw out amazing flavors. And dipping it into hummus was sheer genius. Trust me. This is one dish that is totally worth making. It takes some time, but…you will be as addicted to these as I am.

I’m already wanting to make it again. And thankfully, this week’s CSA bin is coming with fingerling potatoes. Hmmm…

Get smashing and enjoy!

January 17, 2014

Recipe: Sautéed Garlic Greens with Caramelized Onion and Toasted Pine Nuts

I love, love, love kale. Seriously. I do. I love that it is a nutrient powerhouse. I use it often…and always! Kale is high in fiber, unlike many other greens. It’s a great source of nutrients, especially vitamin A and calcium. It is a fantastic source of beta-carotene, which many nutrition experts believe is a major player in the battle against cancer, heart disease, and certain age-related diseases. Kale also contains lutein and zeaxathin, carotenoids which help keep UV rays from damaging the eyes and causing cataracts.

Like I said…nutrient powerhouse. And it always has a home in my kitchen.

That being said, I was using up the contents of my refrigerator not too long ago, and happened (as I often do) to have some greens inside. It was, as it normally is, kale! With a little inspiration from my Clean Food cookbook, I concocted a hearty and healthy dish with only a few ingredients, which I happened to have on hand.

Recipe: Sautéed Garlic Greens with Caramelized Onion and Toasted Pine Nuts

Servings: 6
Time: Prep 5 minutes; Cook 10 minutes

Ingredients:

2 bunches dark leafy greens (kale, collards, mustard greens, dandelion greens or chard)
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1/2 sweet onion, sliced thin
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon dry sherry
Water, as needed
Sea salt
Toasted pine nuts (optional, but adds great texture)

Directions:

Remove dry stalk ends from the greens and chop the leaves into bite-size pieces.

In a Dutch oven or skillet over medium-low heat, sauté the onion, stirring often, to caramelize. Add the garlic and cook for another 2-3 minutes, until soft.

Add greens and dry sherry and sauté for 1 minute.

Increase the heat to medium, add water (one tablespoon at a time) as needed to prevent sticking, cover, and cook until greens break down.

Remove from heat and toss with remaining tablespoon olive oil. Season to taste with salt, top with pine nuts, and serve.

~*~*~

I fell in love with this dish. The kale cooked down to perfection and mingled so well with the sweetness of the caramelized onion and the added flavor of the garlic and sherry. The pine nuts really gave it a bit of texture, which just worked so well with the soft feel of the meal. My roommate and I devoured this dish in no time flat. Really delicious.

Loving finding new ways to enjoy my greens. Can’t wait to make this one again.

January 17, 2014January 17, 2014

Recipe: Kale and Black-Eyed Peas

In the South, it is customary on New Year’s Day to eat black-eyed peas to ensure good luck and prosperity. Now, I am not a southern girl, but I did spend 6 years of my life in Birmingham, Alabama (where my family still resides). Prior to that, I was a New Yorker all the way. And now…relocated to Southern Indiana…where the Louisville, Kentucky food scene is taking flight, well…I can’t say that I don’t try anything new!

Granted, traditionally, this dish would be served with collard greens…but I’m a kale girl myself. Love me some kale. And I just happened to have kale in my crisper drawer…because…what girl doesn’t? So, on New Year’s Day…I cooked up a my kale with black-eyed peas and hoped that it would bring luck and prosperity to me this year.

It’s too early to say whether this worked or not…but what I can say is…the dish was phenomenal. I played around with a recipe out of my Clean Food cookbook. Whether you have always followed this tradition or are just hearing about it, like me, I figured I had nothing to lose by cooking it up. And neither do you!

Go ahead…eat up!

Recipe: Kale and Black-Eyed Peas

Servings: 6
Time: Prep 10 minutes; Cook 10 minutes

Ingredients:

1 large bunch of kale
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 onion, diced
water, as needed
1-1/2 cups cooked black eyed peas
dash of apple cider vinegar
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions:

Remove the stems from the kale and chop the leaves into bite-size pieces.

In a large Dutch oven over medium heat, sauté garlic and onion in olive oil until soft. Add the kale and stir until it turns bright green and wilts. Add water 1 tablespoon at a time, as needed, to keep the kale from burning.

Add the black-eyed peas and vinegar and continue to cook for 3-4 minutes to heat through. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Serve.

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It’s traditional. It’s easy. It’s delicious! I was actually surprised. I’m not a huge fan of Southern food…but this was fantastic. Seasoned perfectly. Really packed with flavor. And carrying a traditional promise of good fortune and luck. If nothing else…I at least got a fantastic meal out of it.

So go ahead…branch out. Try something clean, something new, and something totally yummy!