That is a love letter of goodness if you ask me. Because this only proves that you don’t need to dress up something to make it taste good. You can let the pure, simple, clean ingredients speak for themselves. And that is exactly what Purely Elizabeth brand Original Ancient Grains Granola Cereal does. Let me tell you, I could eat this stuff by the handful, without anything to top it off or add flavor. Honestly…it’s amazing on its own.
But I tend to use granola in my infamous breakfast parfaits, teaming it with Greek yogurt and fresh fruit of some variety (whatever may have been in the CSA bin that week). So, if it works well on its own, chances are it will be brilliant when paired with something else of equal deliciousness. And Greek yogurt and fresh fruit…is definitely winning!
So…let’s start with the basics of this very basic (but highly impressive) granola. The Original Ancient Grains Granola Cereal is a blend of organic certified gluten-free oats, organic coconut palm sugar (for sweetness), organic raw virgin coconut oil, organic puffed amaranth, organic quinoa flakes, organic sunflower seeds, organic chia sees, organic cinnamon, and sea salt. I think I spy some organic, all-natural ingredients. Not one chemical or preservative is listed. This is the real deal and it’s packaged to be as clean and as healthy as possible. This granola is non-GMO project certified, free of refined sugar, soy-free, loaded with good-for-you fats, sweetened with organic coconut sugar. It is certified vegan, contains no artificial colors or flavors. All of it is hand baked and obviously made with love.
A serving of Purely Elizabeth Original Ancient Grains Granola Cereal
Don’t let the fact that it isn’t paired with dried fruits or something to bring it extra flavor deter you from this variety. This version doesn’t need it. Honestly, it is full of amazing flavor all on its own. The oats, puffed amaranth, quinoa flakes, sunflower seeds, and chia seeds are perfectly coated with the right amount of sweetness, pulled from the organic palm sugar. The hint of cinnamon adds a little bit more flavor. And all of it, the taste, the texture, the fantastic flavor…it is just rockstar. I can’t even imagine going back to other granola after continuing to be impressed by each variety of Purely Elizabeth granola cereals that I have tried.
So…nutritionally speaking, a serving of Purely Elizabeth Original Ancient Grains Granola Cereal is 1/3 cup. This serving will provide you with 140 calories and 6 grams of fat. There are 2 grams of fiber in each serving and 4 grams of protein. In addition, this granola is cholesterol free and low in sodium (110 mg). So…delicious and oh, so good for you. Loving it.
If I were to purchase only one brand of granola from here on out…Purely Elizabeth would be the brand I would choose. It’s addictively good…and good for you. Give it a try…you won’t be disappointed. And don’t think Original means plain. There is nothing plain about this version of the granola. Simply put…it’s purely delicious.
Fresh Strawberry and Greek Yogurt Breakfast Parfait with Purely Elizabeth Original Ancient Grain Granola Cereal
Restaurant: Martini Italian Bistro, Louisville, Kentucky
I love businesses that do whatever they can to cater to people who normally wouldn’t be able to eat there. Take, for example, Martini Italian Bistro in Louisville, Kentucky. This cozy bistro at The Summit off of Summit Plaza Drive is definitely worth checking out. I had been meaning to dine here long before now, but I will say this…their menu is a bit on the pricey side, so I wasn’t going to spend that much money on a lunch.
I think I might change that policy now that I have officially dined here.
Yes…I ate at an Italian restaurant. And you know what else? I came out of there without any signs of any cross-contamination. They were very specific when I spoke to them about being a Celiac and assured me that all the food was made-to-order…nothing was just sitting around…everything was fresh…and they would take good care of me.
I admit, I was a little apprehensive about eating there. With restaurants…the knowledge of the chef and staff when it comes to gluten intolerance can sometimes be next to nothing. And at Italian restaurants, especially, the danger can elevate. So, there were definitely some heart palpitations as I gazed at the menu, searching for some gluten-free and vegetarian options.
There were quite a few, believe it or not.
It was Father’s Day, of all days, and my roommate and I were treating her mother to lunch as her Mother’s Day gift. Yes…while everyone else is celebrating Father’s Day…leave it to us to treat mom to dinner. It was an early dinner too…the 3:00 hour, just after they stopped serving brunch at the real menu was brought out. Perfection. Cathy and I had every intention of taking her mom here…because it was a nice place, but not one that you had to get totally dressed up for. It was that right blend of business casual. Jeans and a nice shirt is what we all were wearing. And so was a majority of the crowd.
Our waiter came over to see if we would like anything to drink. As much as their specialty martini’s enticed, all three of us stuck to water that afternoon. Probably for the best. We alerted him that I was a Celiac and he gave me the run-down that all the pastas can be prepared gluten-free and that there were quite a few vegetarian options for me as well. He assured me that my food would be safe because everything was made as it was ordered. And…I actually felt okay after talking with him. He gave us a couple of minutes and when he returned…we were all ready to order.
Cathy went with the classic standby on which she judges all Italian restaurants…the Spaghetti and Meatballs ($14.99). This dish had three large hand-rolled meatballs in a tomato sauce, all laying atop a bed of garlic butter noodles. She said the meatballs just came apart beautifully and tasted so rich and delicious. That’s always a good thing. Classic Italian dish…winning with my roomie. Cathy’s mom chose to go with the Shrimp Garganelli ($16.99). This pasta dish was a mix of pasta, topped with jumbo Gulf shrimp with crushed red pepper (so it has a bit of a kick and some heat to it), topped off with a white wine garlic sauce, oven roasted tomatoes, spinach and a touch of goat cheese. It looked fantastic. She said it was right at her heat tolerance, so that was a good thing. Hey…a little spice is good for that metabolism!
As for me…I had a couple of options but finally decided on the one that the waiter suggested, as it is one of their most popular dishes. I ordered the Mediterranean Penne, done gluten-free ($14.49…regular $12.99 with a $1.50 charge for gluten-free). What this consisted of is a gluten-free fusilli, not penne, pasta, that is topped off with a very light, highly flavorful white wine garlic sauce, sun-dried tomatoes, mushrooms, spinach, toasted pine nuts, and a scattering of feta cheese. It sounded heavenly.
With our orders in, and everything made to order, this gave us some time to talk, look at the martini menu, and Cathy and her mom both enjoyed the focaccia bread with the dipping oil. Cathy said the bread had some heat to it. So, that means I would have found it mild…but I am the breadless wonder at Italian places as most do not have a gluten-free bread option. Only two places I have dined at have, Piazza Sorrento in Hershey, Pennsylvania, and Mama Melrose’s at Disney World. The no bread thing doesn’t even bother me.
Our food arrived, fresh and piping hot from the kitchen. When mine was placed in front of me, the waitress who carried it out even made a point of reiterating that it was, in fact, the Gluten-Free Mediterranean Penne. That was a nice touch. When all the plates were down, the waiter asked if we needed anything further, but we were just ready to dig in. I snapped a picture for this blog…then eagerly picked up my fork and speared a little of every component in the dish.
Mouthgasm of wonderful gluten-free Italian goodness. For real!! First of all, the gluten-free pasta was cooked to perfection. It wasn’t gummy, nor was it mushy. In fact, it was at that perfect al dente that is so difficult to achieve with a rice pasta. But they did it. Spot on. Gluten-free pasta cooking perfection. My compliments to the chef. As for the toppings…Oh mio Dio…I am going to replicate this at home if at all possible. Honest to God…this was one of the most fantastic pasta dishes I have ever eaten. The feta cheese gave a hit of salty, rich flavor to the sauteed vegetables. And I am a sucker for sun-dried tomatoes. And I loved that they didn’t overkill the plate with them. A little goes a long way and the chef totally grasped that concept. There was the perfect balance of each component on this plate…and the sauce was light and full of flavor. I was in heaven. In fact, I devoured every bit of it. Down to the last noodle. Of the three of us…I was the only one who created a happy plate (which means…I ate everything on there). No regrets either. That was gluten-free Italian awesomesauce.
I encourage anyone in the Louisville area, whether you are just passing through or are a resident of this city, to stop in to Martini Italian Bistro and give their food and perhaps their signature drinks a try. The price of the dishes is worth it. You definitely get what you pay for. And the quality…the quality is hard to beat. I can’t wait to go back. I already have an idea of what I want to eat next time. And I won’t even scoff at the prices because I’d pay that again in a heartbeat. Yes…the food, the service, the atmosphere…it is all worth it. I encourage anyone and everyone to go there at least once and see if they win you over like they did for me. Even Cathy and her mom were impressed.
We left full, but happy, all discussing how wonderful our food was. That is always a good sign.
I appreciate the care, the service, and the reassurance I received at Martini Italian Bistro that helped make my dining experience one I will never forget. And now…I’m craving that gluten-free pasta again…
Martini Italian Bistro’s Gluten-Free Mediterranean Penne (Fusilli)
So…my sports nutritionist is working on getting me in the best shape for my upcoming marathon. That being said, she is moving me towards a Clean Eating diet. Less processed foods. I’m going to really embrace this, although I have a pantry to work through before I can really set onto this path. So, it will be a slow move in that direction, but I’ll get there.
That being said, today I decided to give a “Clean Eating” breakfast a try. After hitting up the gym for some cross training (it’s cross training day) and some strength training, I came into work and prepared what is known as a Breakfast Banana Split. The concept came from Clean Eating Magazine…but I substituted cottage cheese (BLECH!) for Greek yogurt (YUM!). Let me tell you…it’s awesome!
Recipe: Breakfast Banana Split
Breakfast Banana Split
Servings: 2
Time: 5 minutes
Ingredients:
2 medium bananas
1 cup Greek yogurt
3 tablespoons all-fruit strawberry jam
Fresh pineapple, chopped
2 Tablespoons roasted peanuts, chopped
Pinch of sea salt
Directions:
Peel and cut each banana in half lengthwise.
Place 2 banana halves in a shallow dish or bowl (or a deep traveling container if you’re off to work).
Place 1/2 cup of the Greek yogurt over center of banana and top with 1 1/2 tablespoons jam, 1 tablespoon peanuts and a pinch of salt.
Repeat with remaining ingredients to assemble 1 more Breakfast Banana Split.
Serve immediately.
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Yes…it really is that simple. Basic, real ingredients that leave you feeling satisfied and good about your breakfast. I loved this and can’t wait to make it again! The flavors are perfectly matched. And the Greek yogurt gives you that hit of protein to go along with the fruits and the nuts that you are pairing with it. It’s like having dessert for breakfast. And it tastes…oh…so good!
If I may have your attention for a moment for this sobering…serious…and rather important blog. Please. I’ll only take up a moment of your time. And I will start by butchering the first part of a famous advice dispensed by Mary Schmich, published in 1997 in the Chicago Tribune. It goes something like this:
Ladies and Gentlemen…Readers of my blog…
Wear sunscreen. If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience…I will dispense this advice now…
Wait for it…
I have skin cancer.
I was diagnosed with the most common form of skin cancer – Basal cell carcinoma.
Basal cell carcinoma is a slow-growing form of skin cancer. Skin cancer falls into two categories – nonmelanoma and melanoma. This particular form is a type of nonmelanoma skin cancer. It is also the most common form of cancer in the United States.
Basal cell carcinoma starts in the top layer of the skin, normally in an area that is regularly exposed to sunlight or other ultraviolet light. Mine…appeared on my right temple. And to be honest…I have had it for a long, long time.
For years now, I have had this pink bump on my right temple, which I can’t even remember when it first appeared, but I have honestly had it for ages. It looked like a zit. And that’s what I thought it was. Every now and again, I’d scratch it and it would open up…then heal. So it never really went away. And, for some reason, I never found this to be odd. Not once did I question it. Why should I? I’m 32 years old. I’m good about wearing hats and putting on sunscreen.
But…that’s the thing. I wasn’t always good about it. Growing up, I had quite a few bad sunburns…all of which were of my own error…like swimming for six hours in the heat of the day without sunscreen. Forgetting to reapply sunscreen after toweling off at the pool, lake, or ocean. Those happened so long ago. As I got older, I got better about it…because sunburns hurt.
But this form of cancer is very common in people with light-colored or freckled skin (I have both); people with blue, green or gray eyes (I have green), people with blond or red hair (I’m a blond); and people who had many severe sunburns early in life (raises hand). Among others…but I fit the bill with all of those.
So…what made me decide to get this spot checked out?
An article. A simple article about skin cancer in a recent issue of Family Circle, a magazine that randomly started showing up in my mailbox. I almost threw it away, but decided to page through it, in case it had some good recipes inside or something. I stopped at a few articles, and the one on skin cancer caught my attention. It described the different types of skin cancer and the ways you can tell if you are at risk or might need to get checked out. The description of the Basal cell carcinoma sounded just like the spot that was on my right temple. I decided to be proactive about it and ask about it when I went in to see my doctor that following week to get a physical checkup and an okay to start training for my first marathon. After getting a clean bill of health and the okay to proceed with training, I asked about the spot. My doctor said it looked like a cyst, but to be safe she’d get me set up with a local dermatologist and have him look at it.
On June 11th, I went into the dermatologists office for my appointment. He took one look at it and said it looked like it was a small Basal cell carcinoma, but he’d do a biopsy on it just to be certain. They numbed me and performed the biopsy right there. Bandaged me up. Sent me on my way saying they would have the results in 10 days.
They called me back that Friday and confirmed that the biopsy results came back as a positive for Basal cell carcinoma. I was assured that this was very treatable and that I would be coming in in two weeks to have a procedure performed that would remove the cancerous cells. Then, in three months, I’ll come back and they will make sure nothing is has returned.
I think I went into a bit of shock that morning with the news. It was early, so very few people were at my office. I held it together, surprisingly. I didn’t say a word of it to anyone, except my roommate. And for the rest of the day, I tried not to focus on it, worry about it, or think too much about it. I got through the day, surprisingly well.
But the weight of it hit me on Saturday morning at my race in Frankfort, Kentucky. I cried twice before the race even began. Then I cried again at the finish line. I used the race as a chance to clear my head…to leave my demons behind and focus on the next step…defeating it. I wasn’t going to let cancer run this body. Only I run this body. It was an emotionally draining time in Frankfort, but I managed to keep it together after those three breakdowns.
So…when I say…wear sunscreen…please take my advice.
I religiously wear sunscreen. If I am going out for a run, not only am I slapping on sunscreen, but I’m donning a hat with a brim. I’m wearing sunglasses with UV protection. I’ve done this from the very start. But…here I sit…telling my friends, my family, my fellow readers that I…a girl who hides from the sun, who runs early to avoid it, who hasn’t had a bad sunburn since high school…that I have skin cancer. It hurts. It stings. It confuses me because I hide from the sunlight. I try to take every step to prevent this. And then…it hits me anyway.
Cancer.
But…the most treatable form. And that…is the blessing…the silver lining in all of this.
On June 26th, I return to my dermatologist office to get treated for this cancer. If all goes well, they’ll get it cleaned out and me on the road to recovery in no time. I’m hoping for that. It’s not an easy place for me right now. I’m scared…which I hate…because no one likes to hear the word “cancer” when it comes to their body. This diagnosis comes with demons that I am now trying to shake off, leave behind, and never have darken my doorstep again. I am lucky to have people who are supporting me with good thoughts, prayers, and a whole lot of understanding.
My dearest family, friends, and readers…please…wear sunscreen. Don’t just stop at sunscreen. If you are going to be out in the sun, prevention has to go further than that. Even if you don’t intend to be outside for a long time, put that sunscreen on. Even if it is overcast…put that sunscreen on. Make sure you apply a good amount to all exposed areas, including your ears. Do NOT miss your temples near your hairline. Make sure your sunscreen blocks both UVA and UVB light. Make sure it is waterproof…all you runners, swimmers, walkers and hot-weather haters. Apply the sunscreen 30 minutes before you go outside and make sure you reapply. Do this even in the winter time. The dangers of UVA and UVB lights do not disappear when cold weather creeps in. Wear hats to keep the top of your head and your face protected from sunlight. Cover up. Most running clothes do come with some sun protection, but in those hot summer months, sometimes putting on an extra layer of clothing doesn’t sound good. I run in my sports bra…so I make sure I slather on sunscreen.
What it comes down to is…you can be so careful about sun exposure…and still wind up in a situation from me. I’m asking you to take this experience…this advice…and make sure that this doesn’t happen to you as well. If you are out in the sun a lot…if you have spots on your skin that are of some concern…go to a dermatologist. Do not put it off for years like I did. I didn’t know…but I’m hoping my story will help you become more aware…maybe take actions of your own to prevent this from happening to you.
What you do with any of this advice is up to you. Keep it in the back of your mind. Start to apply it to your own life. You can do whatever you wish…but as the speech says at the very end…
Sometimes the simplest and best meal ideas come from the most unlikely places. Honestly. And this recipe is no exception. Why do I say that? Because this recipe comes from a cookbook called It’s All Good: Delicious, Easy Recipes That Will Make You Look Good and Feel Great. What? That doesn’t sound strange? What if I told you that the cookbook author is none other than actress Gwyneth Paltrow.
I was at the library last week and spotted this book on the shelf of the new releases. I picked it up and paged through it, seeing a few recipes of interest. So, I had my roommate check it out for me (I didn’t have my library card with me) so I could look through it some more when I had more time. The cookbook pretty much sat on the coffee table until Saturday morning. I had a race in Frankfort, Kentucky. Cathy was driving, so this gave me some time to page through the story in the beginning about why this cookbook came to be and a little bit about the author and co-author, Julia Turshen. And then…I got to soak in the recipes.
One of the most enticing sounding recipes was one that actually didn’t have ingredients listed off. It didn’t need it. But when Gwyneth Paltrow compares a recipe to a favorite pair of jeans – “so reliable and easy and just always what you want” – I admit…I get intrigued. And it sounded so easy. And so delicious. And now…I will share it with you.
Recipe: Gluten-Free Avocado Toast
Gluten-Free Avocado Toast
Servings: 2
Time: Prep 5 minutes; Cook 5 minutes
Ingredients:
2 slices gluten-free bread (I used Udi’s Gluten-Free Millet-Chia Bread)
1 avocado
Vegenaise (or other vegan mayonnaise)
Sriracha (optional)
Salt
Pepper
Red pepper flakes (optional)
Lemon juice (optional)
Directions:
Toast the gluten-free bread. Spread it generously with Vegenaise (or other vegan mayonnaise) and top it off with a few slices of a perfectly ripe avocado, ever so gently pressing the avocado into the bread. Hit it with a nice pinch of salt or Vege-Sal and a few grinds of fresh black pepper.
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Yep…that’s it. Do make note that I mixed a splash of Sriracha into my Trader Joe’s Vegan Mayonnaise to give it a little kick. I also hit mine up with a bit of red chili flakes for some added heat. Gwyneth also suggests adding a little zip to the recipe by giving a squeeze of fresh lemon juice over the avocado toast. But, the fact is…the sandwich is fantastic on its own with the holy trinity of Vegenaise, avocado and salt. Simple, but delicious.
If I had a restaurant…this would be on the menu. For real.
Thank you, Gwyneth Paltrow…for giving me a new breakfast to make. Because I intend to make this often. It is so delicious and so healthy…and yes…so easy to make.
It has been a long, crazy, hectic, and draining week for me as I started my official training program for the Chicago Marathon. But I was totally excited to get it underway. It officially started last week…exactly…on Sunday, June 9th. It was…a rest day. Naturally. But I used that time wisely and started taking some steps that I hope will only better my training and my running in the long run.
That morning, I met up with a sports nutritionist. After getting a good physical report back from my check-up at the doctor and the okay to start marathon training as I was in very good health…I had inquired about talking with a sports nutritionist because…well…I am horrible when it comes to fueling and hydrating while on the run. And I wanted to go into this training doing everything possible to do right by my body. And that meant learning to fuel it properly before, during, and after running.
The problem was…we couldn’t find a sports nutritionist in this area. Strange, as we have the University of Louisville, which has a great sports program, right here. But…nope. Nothing. On a whim, I contacted Ken Combs Running Store and they put me in touch with one. Her name is Donna…and she’s awesome. She’s just like me – a gluten-free, vegetarian, long distance runner. She said she wasn’t taking on new clients at the time, but given my circumstances, she would definitely take me on.
In our first meeting she spoke to me about the importance of fueling my body correctly…not just on race day, but during the entire time I’m in training. This meant changing the way I looked at food…nutrition info…and changing up how I ate. We laid out a plan, which involved me drinking 16 ounces of water before heading out for a run, and getting something in my stomach. Prior to that, I would run my mornings on an empty stomach and not even bring water with me. I’d just go run. Worry about the rest when I got back. She emphasized how important it was to get something in my stomach so that my body is feeding off of the fuel rather than taking away from my muscle strength. It made sense. She’s moving me more towards a clean eating diet as well, which means less processed foods (aka: bad carbs) and more natural foods (aka: good carbs). And she is having me hydrate and fuel while out on every training run. This means not just water…but Gatorade to with giving my body electrolytes, sodium, and potassium that is lost while running…and giving an energy boost to the muscles with the carbohydrates it offers too. Fuel. I am also to take a GU or Sports Beans packet every 3-4 miles (about every 30 minutes) to really train my body to take in fuel while I’m on the run. It all made sense…so I vowed to start doing it.
I learned a lot from her and we’ll be meeting up again in a couple of months to see how I am progressing.
My charity group that I am running the Chicago Marathon with, Team Healthy Kids – part of Action For Healthy Kids, sent me a training program for my marathon training. I had one originally, but after looking at it, I felt that the mileage was too low. I’d been running 35-40 miles a week, and was being dropped down to half that. I contacted them to see about getting it changed up. They said that since this was my first marathon, they put me on the beginner plan, but they saw my point and moved me to the intermediate one. That being said, my first run happened on Monday morning.
Five miles…and it was raining. I heard the rain when I woke up that morning. But I didn’t make plans to head to the gym to hit the treadmill. I got dressed, laced up my shoes, grabbed my reflective gear and headed out the door. Marathons happen in all sorts of weather and as long as there was no lightning…I was hitting the roads. I noticed that Cathy had placed a sign up on the door. It had words of encouragement on it. And in marker she wrote me a message. I love that she is so supportive of my running and really is making sure I do my training as well. It means less time to do other things, but she seems willing to take on the sacrifice as well at times. The sign was the encouragement I needed. Monday morning…5 miles at an easy pace completed…in the rain. I felt really badass! I hated my time, but as the run specifically was meant to be done at an easy pace, I focused more on the pacing than the time.
Tuesday was my Cross Training day. I hit up the gym for a 45 minute session on the Arc Trainer, set to the hill setting. That was tough, but I got through it. Then I put myself through 10 minutes on the rowing machine. My arms were tired and sore from doing a yoga DVD on Sunday night…but I got through it and moved down to the weight room for some strength training.
Wednesday was supposed to be my 6 mile run in the morning, but…I was running a 10K on Saturday…when I was supposed to be running 9 miles long. So, I flip-flopped those days. On Wednesday, I spent my wee morning hours knocking out 9 miles in some pretty crazy humidity. I fueled every three miles and took Gatorade for hydration for the first time…since the Chicago Half Marathon. It all settled fine in my stomach and I finished the run feeling good. I was proud of myself.
Thursday meant it was Speed/Pacing day. And the schedule called for a 4 mile tempo run. A tempo run, for those of you who might not be familiar with the term, is simply running at a quicker pace than the easy pace, but at about 15 seconds slower than your 10K time. I managed to actually hold a rather steady tempo on my run, despite throwing in some hills to make it a bit tougher. I came out of that one surprised. Especially since I was also dealing with 15 mph winds that morning as well.
Friday…was the day of rest. I respected it and kept it holy.
Saturday was race day. I was participating in the Capital City Stampede 10K…which is why I moved my 6 mile run to Saturday. It just sort of…worked out that way. I went to the race, knocked it out with a new PR, and had a great time running. Races make me happy…but they are about to take a back seat to my training sessions.
And that rounded out my first official week of training for the Chicago Marathon. At the end of it…I feel good. I’m ready for this coming week where I work on my fueling, rehydration, and pace/speed as well. I have a goal…and I’m working hard to reach it. And…I have to say, I am very proud of myself for going out there on my first official day of training in the rain.
All-in-all…a draining, but very exciting week for me. On to the next…
Me crossing the finish line of the Capital City Stampede 10K – Frankfort, Kentucky
Race: Capital City Stampede 10K
Place: Frankfort, Kentucky
Date: June 15, 2013
Time: 45:31
Welcome to the third and final race of the Frankfort Trifecta Run/Walk Series for 2013. And…it’s new. Yep…new. Prior to this, the final race was the Activate America 5 Miler. Well, that changed this year. Frankfort, Kentucky hasn’t had a 10K race since the 1980s. And I was just really excited that the miles were expanded. I love a good 10K race. It’s a fun, yet still challenging distance to run.
I won’t lie. During the week prior to this, I wasn’t on a training program, so I was just running some miles in the morning at whatever distance and pace I felt like. For much of that week, I focused on the 10K distance (6.2 miles…for you non-runners reading this), hoping to turn in a better time than my current PR, which I set at the Rodes City Run in Louisville back in March…while battling bronchitis. You might remember that blog.
But, I digress. The fact of the matter was, I was pushing myself as hard as I dared and coming up short each time. My PR of 47:40 for a 10K distance stood…and my practice runs were frustrating the hell out of me as I tried to best it. I gave in. I was running in the early morning while it was dark and humid and flat. And I just couldn’t best it. The following week I was adhering to my first week of Chicago Marathon Training, so I was content with the fact that I would just have to go into this race with a clear head and just focus on the run itself. So, marathon training began, and I was more focused on my pace, my distance, my speed work than the upcoming 10K. Although I knew it was there. I flip-flopped two training days to make them fit the schedule better. The long run of 9 miles I would have clocked on Saturday was moved to Wednesday, and my 6 mile run was bumped to Saturday, as that would be my 10K race day. It worked. It fit. I was pleased.
Fast forward to Saturday morning. My head was definitely not in the game. I had a lot going on and my mind was just not focusing on one thing. I found myself starting something that morning, then moving onto something else without finishing what I had started. Not just once…but numerous times. I had to go through a mental checklist in my head as I dressed for the race (it was going to be in the 60s that morning, so I thought a running skirt and a singlet would be perfect), got snacks, water and Gatorade together for afterwards. I had to remember to grab my banana to eat closer to race time so I wouldn’t be starving, since my breakfast would be consumed before 6 a.m. and the race was to start at 8 a.m. I had to make coffee, and got halfway through that before I started doing something else…then went back to it…then got distracted…then finally got the pot brewing…and it finished up just as my roommate was getting up for breakfast. Which, doesn’t work, as she can’t drink hot coffee but doesn’t like cold coffee. So, really, ideally, her coffee needs to be sitting out for a good 15-20 minutes in order for it to be perfect for her. I failed to do that on race morning, which is not the morning to screw that up. I finished packing my change of clothes and regular shoes, downed my breakfast, and then we hit the road.
For some reason, we underestimated the time it would take to get to Frankfort from our apartment. Which…is weird as we have made this drive so many times we could probably do it in our sleep. I had one request, and that was to stop off at the Kroger in Frankfort so that I could use the bathroom before we got to the race. We pulled into that Kroger at 7:15 a.m. I already should have been eating my banana at this point, but I hadn’t even touched it yet. Cathy dropped me off and I hurried inside to use a flushing toilet (I am a princess!), then hustled back out to the car to climb in and make our way to the new Capitol building. I started to finally eat my banana while Cathy took to noshing on one of the protein bars we brought as she drove. Except, unknown to us at the time, there was a bike race going on and we had to wait for some bikers to clear the way before we could make the turn to head toward the Capitol. Cathy was aggravated as now we were really behind, and that just stressed me out more than I already was. So…I started crying. No help, but it happened.
We finally made the turn and got the car parked. Cathy grabbed the sign and we headed down to the new Capitol building, where at the bottom of the stairs, volunteers were working Packet Pick-up and on the other side Registration for anyone who waited to sign up or just felt like running or walking that morning. The 10K race also had an offered 2 mile walk.
I went to get my packet. That was easy and stress-free. Thank goodness. Moving up the steps, I got my bib pinned on and tucked the rest of the stuff in the bag into Cathy’s clear backpack. We walked back down the steps and started to move around some to loosen up the limbs. We had less time to stretch and warmup now that we were running behind, but it didn’t mean it couldn’t get done. I noticed that Cool Comfort had their tent up and remembered that an announcement was sent out that Cool Comfort would have the Frankfort Trifecta series shirts at the race…so I went to pick mine up. They handed it over and I tucked that one into Cathy’s backpack as well.
It was then I realized I didn’t have my phone, so we made our way back to the car to retrieve it. While walking that way, I had my Garmin start looking for satellites because it sometimes takes awhile in Frankfort to locate them. By the time I retrieved my phone, I had already started crying about being so forgetful that day and then managed to calm myself down some. I was a complete mess that morning.
Doing my best to get my head where it needed to be, I began doing some of my usual stretches. I needed to let my demons go and focus on something I was passionate about. Something that always made me feel free. No matter what happened out on that course, I was just going to go out for a run. I was coming into this race as the third female overall in the open category for the entire racing series. While that did put a little bit of pressure on me, at that point, I was even thinking about that. As I said…my mind was elsewhere, and I was just going to have fun. That’s why I run anyway. If I set out to PR and run hard at every race, I would burn myself out. I get up every morning and I participate in races because I love to run. Not because I feel I need to…or because I want to lose weight…but because I want to. And I think that separates me from a lot of my peers in the running community at times.
The start time was getting close, so Cathy gave me a hug and told me to have fun. I gave her a nod, took a breath, and went to stand with the runners who were beginning to line up with the pace signs. I stood between the 6 minute mile and the 8 minute mile as I normally do. As I was standing there, Linda Word, the woman who was behind me at the Pro.Active For Life 5K, came over to talk with me. We joked about all of the speed demons who were up at the front of the start. It was just the conversation I needed to get my head where I needed to be. So, thank you, Linda. You helped without even knowing it. She said she was going to slide back further in the pace groups and I noticed that we were being shuffled forward. I inched up slowly…and could hear very, very muffled announcements going on. Then I heard the starting gun guy say something about being ready. And without any sort of notice, the starting horn went off and we runners were caught unaware and unprepared for the most part. Suddenly, I was running.
Linda was just ahead of me as we came down the hill from the Capitol building. I ran next to her for a moment and heard her say that she forgot to start her music. It didn’t seem to hurt her any though. I love running with people like Linda…because as we were making our turns and our run through the streets, she took a moment to thank the police officers who were out there diverting traffic and keeping us safe on the course. These volunteers should be thanked and I know I do it every now and again, but I should be more conscious of it. It’s a great reminder to take a moment and thank those who help make these races possible. Linda did it every chance she had. And that…is awesome.
As this was a new race distance for Frankfort…this was also a relatively new race course. There were parts of it that were definitely familiar, but much of it was different. I made it through the first mile and reminded myself to slow the pace down just a little…without sacrificing too much, because I still had a long way to go…and I know that Frankfort has these long, slow hills. I also knew that there was one massive hill at the very end of the race, and I hoped to be able to get up that without being slowed down too much.
At around Mile 2.5, the runners were able to run past the Capitol building again. This was very fun because this meant the spectators were down there cheering you on. I saw Cathy holding my sign and heard her screaming at me, “GO TWIN! YOU’RE KILLING IT! GO MY SON!” The last line there is something we joke about thanks to Jamie Oliver. Chef jokes, for the win! I breezed past, laughing now and turned onto the route that we used for the 5 mile run that this race previously did. Nice. So, with that uplifting cheering, I headed onto the long stretch of road that would eventually take us to the turn around point. We now were encountering walkers out on the 2 mile walk, which was good because a lot of them would send out words of encouragement as we ran by. And the race volunteers at the mile markers…they were awesome as well.
I hit Mile 3 at what I felt was a good pace, making some strides to pass a few people as I went along. I was feeling really good here. My pace felt nice, challenging, but not too hard. I still had half the distance to cover and I wanted to really finish strong. As I was making it down to the 4 mile mark, which was about where we would turn around and head back, I saw the race leader run past, followed by quite a few other runners. Not too far behind them was the first female, and to my surprise, it wasn’t Kendall Hayes, the 11 year-old wonder runner who bests every female in these races in Frankfort. It was someone else. Kendall was a bit further back. But as I made the turn, I realized that I was currently standing in the third place overall female position for the 10K race. Now with just 2.2 miles remaining.
Me about to start up the steady, steep incline to go around the Capitol and finish the Capital City Stampede 10K – Frankfort, Kentucky
Where we had to run downhill on the way to the turn around, we now had to run uphill. I passed up a guy who has been ahead of me for awhile. He said, “Good job!” as I passed. It made me smile again. I had another guy ahead of me, blaring music in his earbuds so loudly that I could hear it. He and I made it to Mile 5 around the same time. The volunteer at the station said, “Good job, Karen!” as I went by. I loved that he personalized that encouragement for me. I don’t even live in Frankfort and there they were, recognizing me as I ran through their beautiful city. I did pass the earbud-music-blaring guy on the uphill, determined that I was going to attack these hills. I made it up that one feeling strong and was directed to run down to the woman in the red shirt before we were now sent up the steepest climb in the race. Yes. At around mile 5.5. I kid you not. EVIL!
Cathy was standing near the point where we really started to hit the incline. She saw me coming and was shouting again, “GO TWIN!! YOU’RE KILLING IT! IT’S JUST A HILL…GET OVER IT!” It once again made me laugh and I picked up the pace to really attack that hill. The first small incline I managed. But that second one…that one slowed me down. It hit back. And it hit hard. My legs were tired…and they really just didn’t want to work that hard. But, I pressed on. The hill might have slowed me down, but it wasn’t going to best me. Not that day.
When I finally managed to reach the crest, I rounded the corner to run behind the Capitol building. It was a long stretch and I kept thinking that Mile 6 should be beeping in on my Garmin any moment. But it didn’t. I ran down to the volunteer who said just to head down the hill and straight on into the finish line. And as I was running, he said, “You’re a third female. Good job. Keep going!” Keep going. I had every intention to keep going.
While it was evil to make us climb a mountain (okay…a hill) so near the end of the race, at least that meant the sprint to the finish line was downhill on the other side. That more than made up for it. So, as my feet hit the pavement and I hit that final stretch, I put whatever power and energy I had into each rapid footfall and made my way toward that finish line. I could see the clock ticking and that clock wasn’t as far along in the time as I anticipated. I could hear Cathy screaming to “GO!” I could hear Ronald McDonald making donkey noises. There’s a story there…trust me. So, with that sort of motivation…it was just pushing myself to sprint into that finish line and finish strong. I did. The volunteers there stopped me at the end, and went to tear the tag on my bib off, managing to rip my entire race bib in the process. I didn’t care.
I turned around and Cathy immediately gave me a hug, telling me how I killed this race. I turned back into the mess I was at the beginning of the race and just became this blubbering fool. It was the first time I ever broke down at the end of a race at the finish line. And at a 10K of all things. Cathy moved me to the side and told me to go and grab some water. So, I did that. And felt better. We started walking, moving up the hill that runners were climbing to round the Capitol and make their way to the finish. We shouted some encouragement to them as we walked around. We paused to get my victory shot in front of a beautiful backdrop of flowers and water…which was awesome. Then I retrieved my Gatorade from the cooler in her backpack and began my post-race nutrition plan as it has been laid out for me. It was a rather warm morning, and I needed to rehydrate from running that race. Hydration is key to recovery and I’m all about bouncing back quickly.
As I sipped on my Gatorade, we decided to make our way back down toward the recovery area. Runners were still streaming up the hill, so we shouted more words of encouragement to them, letting them know it was all downhill from there. I don’t know if we helped any. When we came back to the recovery area, I went to grab a couple of waters because we were going to go settle in on the steps for a little bit and wait for the awards. While sitting, we had our snack that we packed…Cathy a Luna Bar and for me a thinkThin bar of delicious awesomeness. We munched and drank some water. Then I got up and did a few stretches…high kicks…and then settled back down in the shade. While we were waiting, another runner headed up the steps carrying a pint glass saying that they got it for running in the entire Trifecta. So, I went down to the table and retrieved mine. It was a beautiful glass, actually. After posing with it for a moment, Cathy rolled it up in my race shirt and tucked it into her backpack.
It took about 40 more minutes before results started to get posted at the Packet Pick-Up Tent. But soon, the papers were being taped down. I hopped up to go and check on my placement. And…BAM…confirmed…third female to finish the race. Awesome!! I was thrilled. My chip time didn’t register, however, so my finishing time was based solely on gun time…which sucks because it took me a few seconds to get across that start line. But this isn’t the first race this has happened on. They had the sensors pointed one way for walkers, but runners started coming in at the same time and they didn’t have time to flip them the other way for the runners, apparently, so some have chip time…most are just off gun time. I’d say there is something to fix for next year’s race. Still, I had a new PR…I was third overall…and I was at least third female in the open women’s category for the entire racing series. That’s simply amazing. Afterwards, I found Linda sitting with the Cool Comfort running group. She introduced me to everyone and they commented on how some of their race bibs got shredded just like mine. I made a joke about having a Velociraptor jump out on the course at me and they all got a kick out of it.
After a rather long wait…the awards ceremony finally got underway. Cathy and I moved off the stairs to stand with the other runners who were waiting around. They did the awards for the Capital City Stampede 10K first. And they started with the overall men’s winners. It was the same rogues gallery from the previous races…in the same order, I think. We had a new female winner at the 10K race…an Erin Harper, who apparently runs trail marathons and ultras too. Kendall was 2nd. And I was called for third female overall. Awesome. I received this beautiful plaque which is already hanging on the wall. We all stayed and cheered for the age division winners and were told that the Trifecta awards would be handed out soon.
Me with my awards for finishing Third Overall Women in the Capital City Stampede 10K (plaque) and for finishing the 2013 Trifecta Series as the First Overall Woman in the Open category.
Soon took a little longer than expected. In fact, the tents and booths at the finish area were being broken down by the time the microphone was back in hand and the trophies for the entire Frankfort Trifecta were going to be given out. They decided to start with the Trifecta Overall Female…and the winner for the women was Kendall Hayes. That brilliant little 11-year-old girl. She’s going to go to the Olympics one day…and I’m going to be able to say…”I ran with her!”
However, this put a big surprise on me because they moved on to the Open Women’s Division for the entire Frankfort Trifecta…and first place was…ME! Yes. They called my name and I stood their stupidly for a moment because I wasn’t expecting that. But sure enough…me. I finally moved to retrieve my beautiful trophy, a rearing horse that has a clock built into it. Gorgeous. I was in shock. I couldn’t believe it.
Afterwards, once all the awards were handed out…Cathy and I went to find the Trifecta 2nd and 3rd women open winners and take pictures. They were in the group of runners I chatted with before the Stampede awards. Very nice women, all of them. Very talented runners too. And with everything wrapping up…it was time to head back to Louisville.
So…the official results of the Capital City Stampede 10K are that I finished with a new 10K PR of 45:31. WOOHOO!! That means I took a full 2 minutes off my previous 10K time. NICE! I was 20/287 finishers of the 10K run overall. And, I was the 3rd female finisher overall for that race. Awesome.
Moving on to the Frankfort Trifecta series itself…I was the winner of the 2013 Trifecta Women’s Open Division. Which is…awesome. They stated my time when I went up for my award…but I don’t remember it. I’ll post the cumulative time whenever that gets posted on the site. For now…I am just really proud of myself for pushing myself in this series and accomplishing a lot. I improved by leaps and bounds from the previous year and am very, very proud of this.
I am already looking forward to taking part in this series once again…next year. Frankfort is one of my favorite places to run. It does involve a bit of a drive, but the crowds, the other runners, and the atmosphere always make the journey worth it.
Thank you, Frankfort…for giving me the race I needed on Saturday. You helped me more than you can even imagine.
Let’s face it, my gluten-free friends. When it comes to pizza crust, we usually have two options – make it ourselves…or use the frozen pre-packaged cracker crust pizza shells made by numerous gluten-free companies. While these aren’t all bad…I have been fortunate enough to go to a few restaurants that actually make gluten-free pizza crust that isn’t crunchy thin and tastes like…real…awesome…pizza…crust.
But, tradition for me is a gluten-free pizza before the night of a big race. For 5Ks…I’m apathetic on the tradition, but on a 10K or higher…you better believe I want my gluten-free pizza the night before. I’m a superstitious athlete…and this has just been my magic night-before-the-race fuel. It just works for me. But…recently I’m on a tighter-than-usual budget (I blame race fees!), so instead of dropping money at a restaurant, I decided to pull out this kit I purchased at my local Earth Fare awhile back and give it a shot. It would be…the best of both worlds. A crust made from a mix that I got to roll out like a real pizza…without it feeling or, hopefully tasting, like those gluten-free cracker crusts of gluten-free pizza monotony.
I should trademark that…
Anyway…
It had been a long day at work and I was rather hungry when I walked inside from a long day at the office. Immediately I settled into the kitchen to get this pizza working. I opened up the kit, pulled out the vacuum-sealed pizza crust mix, the sauce packet, and the baking paper that they provided. I preheated the oven to 450 degrees and put my pizza stone in there to warm up. So far…so good. Now came the fun part.
I call this the fun part because this is where I felt like I was really, truly, making a real…yes a REALpizza. The crust was vegan, which means it had no eggs added to it and no dairy was involved in making it. In fact…it took 1/2 cup of water, warmed in the microwave for about 30 seconds, then the pizza crust mix that was provided. This was a simple blend of organic brown rice flour, organic buckwheat flour, teff flour, sweet rice flour, yeast, organic raw sugar, sea salt and vitamin C. Seems legit, yes? Well, I did as instructed and poured the mix into the warmed water, stirring it until it was all incorporated and then making a dough ball, as instructed, in the bowl, covering it with the provided baking paper, and letting it sit for 10 minutes to rise.
While that was happening, I prepared the rest of the toppings…which is whatever you want. For me…vegan Daiya cheese, avocado, pinapple, tomato, onion, green pepper, and broccolette. Mmmm…veggie pizza with a hit of sweet pineapple. It would be epic. I just knew it.
With my veggies chopped and ready for the pizza, I removed the baking paper…and noticed my dough ball hadn’t even altered in size. It looked just like it did when I rolled it into a ball and left it there. Hmmm…
Well, I ran with it. The baking paper was placed on the counter and I put two teaspoons of olive oil on it. The dough ball was plopped onto the paper and rolled around into the olive oil, then I grabbed my rolling pin and rolled it out into a 12-inch circle as best I could, doing a horrible job at crimping the edges. No surprise. This isn’t my forte. Anyway, I slid the baking paper with my crust base over to the warm pizza stone and set it on the low rack to begin cooking for about 10 minutes.
GalloLea Gluten-Free Pizza Kit includes a gluten-free pizza crust mix, a sauce pack, and baking paper
When that 10 minutes was up, I pulled it out and did as I was instructed by the kit…I poured the sauce packet on top and spread it out to coat the crust. The sauce, by the way is a simple blend of organic whole peeled tomatoes, organic tomato paste, organic extra virgin olive oil, organic garlic, organic raw sugar, organic basil, organic oregano and more organic spices. It sounded organically awesome, honestly. Pure, natural ingredients. I like it. Then, over the sauce I added all the toppings and a scattering of my Daiya mozzarella shreds. Vegan pizza…is awesome. Trust me. And back into the oven it went for another 10 minute baking session, allowing the crust to cook more, the toppings to warm, the cheese to melt, and that pineapple to caramelize.
When 10 minutes was up…the pizza stone came out and my pizza was done and ready to eat. All of this is around 30 minutes time. Not too bad for a dough you prep by hand. That was, actually, my favorite part of this process. I felt like I was eating something real. Not just a frozen mass of dough already pre-made for my convenience. I like getting my hands into things and making and rolling the dough was a nice step in that direction.
So…here it is…the truth, the whole truth…and nothing but the truth.
GalloLea Gluten-Free Pizza Kit let me down. It just…let me down hard.
I went to slice through the crust and found that it was…very difficult to slice into. My hopes of having this beautifully crisp yet soft pizza crust flew immediately out the window. I was already frustrated with the crust and I hadn’t even tasted it. Once I managed to slice it into fourths and then into smaller pieces for consumption purposes, I took a serving (1/4 of the pizza) to my roommate and served up another serving for myself. I settled in, hoping the taste would make up for the tough to slice through crust.
Nope. This crust turned out to be completely tasteless. It was crunchy and bland…reminding me more of the cardboard flavored gluten-free products of yesterday rather than the amazing flavor, texture, and taste that can come with gluten-free products that are done right. SO frustrating and aggravating. I was let down. The underside of the pizza crust got this amazing crunch to it, but the top, the part that was sauced, turned into a soggy mess. I’m sorry…pizza crust should not be soggy. Ever. It was lackluster, uninspired, bland, and just plain…disgusting. I almost didn’t want to save the other half of the pizza for the following evening. But I did…because I didn’t want to waste money. Ugh. I reheated it the following night in a skillet, hoping it might improve the crust some. Nope. Still a bland, soggy mess of a pizza.
GalloLea…you did everything wrong with this mix. I mean, who says that pizza crust has to be bland and just…not worth the effort to make it. I was so disappointed with the time I spent rolling out this dough and preparing it. The sauce was bitter and didn’t taste good at all. I’d recommend using your own sauce if you happen to have one of these in your pantry. I’m just saying.
As for the nutritional worth of this bland pizza crust…with the sauce included…the serving of 1/4 of a pizza will set you back 170 calories, and that’s without counting the toppings you add to it. There is only 1 gram of fat in the mix and sauce, however, and it does provide 3 grams of fiber and 6 grams of protein. This mix is also low on sodium (220 mg) and contains only 3 grams of sugar. It is cholesterol free as well.
Unfortunately…it is also disgusting. And I was so disappointed that once again I was stuck with a less-than-satisfying pre-race pizza. I want a good pizza before a race, dammit. Is that too much to ask?
My recommendation…make your own gluten-free crust. Don’t rely on mixes. And if you are pressed for time, there are plenty of tasty, frozen, pre-made gluten-free pizza crusts out there to throw into the oven with your own sauce and toppings. Don’t waste your time and money on the GalloLea Gluten-Free Pizza Kit. You will regret it. I sure did.
GalloLea Pizza Crust stopped with my amazing toppings. The toppings were the best part. The crust was horrible!
Product: The Good Bean Sea Salt Roasted Chickpea Snacks – $2.99+
I’m on a mission. A mission that was set forth by my sports nutritionist.
Yes…I have a sports nutritionist.
Why? Because I’m preparing to run my first marathon and I want to make sure I am doing everything right. From following a good training plan to making sure I am fueling my body to the best of my abilities. This is important to me. So, as I work through some of the stuff that is in my pantry…as I am cheap and won’t throw it away…I am already looking for new things to replace some of these snack items with.
I found a winner at World Market a couple weeks ago. I broke them out on Friday as my snack at work and I fell in love at the first bite.
The product: The Good Bean Sea Salt Roasted Chickpea Snacks.
Yes…roasted chickpeas.
And yes…I am quite aware that I could easily make these myself, but my life is pretty busy and hectic as it is. Maybe when things settle down in a couple months I’ll work more toward making a lot of my own food items. But…this is pretty much as healthy as it gets when it comes to a snack. Let’s start with the nitty-gritty and work into my opinion on these.
These are…what the bag says they are…roasted chickpeas. I love chickpeas and I have my mom to thank for that (Thanks, Mom!). However, I had never tried them roasted (but have pinned many recipes for this very snack on Pinterest to try…one day). I chose to start with a trial on the original. The very first snack by The Good Bean – roasted chickpeas flavored simply with…sea salt. This concept was inspired by street vendors in Indian cities, who roast chickpeas in salt, resulting in hard little beans that give off this nutty, crispy, buttery texture of awesomesauce. Yes…that is an accurate description. Building off this concept, the people at The Good Bean roast their chickpeas in salt, bringing out the natural deliciousness of the chickpea itself. Let’s face it…chickpeas are awesome. They are a powerhouse of nutrition and just taste really good. They taste even more badass when they are roasted. Trust me.
So, let’s talk numbers. No one likes numbers…but these…these are impressive. The Good Bean Sea Salt Roasted Chickpea Snacks will only set you back 140 calories for a serving of 1/4 cup (which is the serving size). This will also serve you up only 2 grams of fat (the healthy kind you get from beans!), 6 grams of fiber, 7 grams of protein, and only 260 mg of sodium. Nice. These chickpeas are low fat, nut-free, gluten-free, cholesterol-free, contain nothing over-engineered, nothing artificial, and are just SO good for your body, your heart, your waistline, and for giving you energy. Nutritional powerhouses…that’s what these are.
But what about taste, right? You gotta go off of taste!
Mark my words…these are totally AWESOME!! Crunchy, tasty, with just the right about of salt to excite the taste buds. Oh yeah…these are full of yumminess. I loved the buttery texture and how, instead of having a mushy bean, you get this crunchy snack. It’s like eating potato chips that are good for you. Honestly. I was so impressed by these. In fact, I bought two of the other flavors today while grocery shopping. That’s how yum-tastic these are. As I move towards cleaner eating, these are more of the snacks I’ll be turning to. Thankfully…these are delicious!!
So, if you’re looking to break your potato chip habit, I totally recommend The Good Bean’s roasted chickpea snacks. Start with the basics…Sea Salt was the ideal place to start with me. But if you want to be bold…try one of the other three flavors available. I promise…you’ll love every crunchy bite of them.
Product: Udi’s Gluten-Free Dark Chocolate Brownie Bites – $5.99+
Nothing is quite as indulgent, quite as sinful, quite as delicious as dark chocolate. It is, by far, my favorite type of chocolate. And a little can go a long way. Maybe that’s what I love about dark chocolate. It’s rich and decadent and bittersweet…so overindulging doesn’t really come into the equation.
A long time ago…no joke…I spotted Udi’s Gluten-Free Dark Chocolate Brownie Bites in my grocer’s gluten-free freezer section. Being the chocoholic that I am…I had to have them. And, my roommate was feeling generous that day and offered to purchase them for me as a treat. I had just baked something for dessert that would last a week or so, so these went back into the freezer upon our return home that day. And there they sat. When I bought them, they were relatively new to the market and one of Udi’s new products. These…these are probably old news to much of the gluten-free world these days. But, seeing as I finally dug them out of the freezer yesterday…well…it’s my turn to taste and tell.
Udi’s Gluten-Free Dark Chocolate Brownie Bites are beyond amazing. Each brownie is baked inside a mini cupcake wrapper and is about 2-bites per brownie. And these are rich and totally satisfying. I want to take smaller bites just to make them last longer, honestly. The dark chocolate brownie base is like a moist, soft cake. I loved it. And each brownie is infused with fudgy bits of dark chocolate, perfect to melt on your tongue as you savor each sweet bite. Do you realize how difficult it was for me to resist going back for more? If it weren’t for the fact that I know how many servings are in that plastic container, I’d probably be swiping some…constantly…because I love that delicious chocolate flavor. It’s just enough, in each bite, to wake up the palate and keep things interesting. Those dark chocolate chips that are baked into each one…are heaven when you find them. I was in brownie heaven last night. It’s not often I say nice things about pre-packaged brownies…but these were so incredibly moist, soft, decadent, and delicious. They needed to be raved about.
Honestly, I’ve come up with dessert ideas that revolve around these little bite-size brownies of awesomesauce!
We are talking a snack and sweet treat here, so nutritionally speaking…keep that in mind. A serving size is two of these little two-bite brownies. That will set you back 180 calories and 8 grams of fat. A serving also provides you with 100 mg sodium, 16 grams of sugar (it’s dessert…it’s dessert…it’s dessert), 1 gram of fiber and 2 grams of protein.
Treat these brownie bites as they are intended…as a bite-size treat. The entire container doesn’t need to be consumed all in one or two sittings. It’s best to savor…or…expand on it with little touches of your own. A mini scoop of ice cream, some nuts, whatever your heart desires. Just know that when that chocolate craving hits…whether you are gluten-free or not…these are the little treats you should be consuming…because they are just that awesome. I wouldn’t lie. In fact, I can’t wait to get to dessert tonight. Four bites of heaven. I can’t wait.
The Celiathlete 