The time has come...

Thank you to everyone for reading my blog but it seems the time has come for me to move on 

Thank you for reading my words, thank you for letting me into your homes and thank you for letting me be part of your day.

I've really enjoyed writing this blog and have learned so much in the process.

I thank you all each and everyone.

Alex G. 

Quote of the Day

No one can cheat you out of ultimate success but yourself.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

GF Product Testing - Pamela's Chocolate Brownie Mix , Part II

As I stood attentively at the microwave sure enough the mixture started to rise. It looked like a cool science experiment. Sixty seconds later my brownie was ready. The end product was a dense and fudgy brownie. Perhaps a little too dense. If you like your brownie light and fluffy this isn't the one. The taste was a little off. It's not the most chocolaty brownie I've ever had. Oddly enough it was also a little salty most likely coming from the addition of sea salt. I found it to detract rather than enhance. The brownie is best when eaten right away. I saved a piece for the following day but that proved to be an unwise decision. Overall, I love the idea but hate the execution. Hopefully with time some much needed improvements will be made.

Overall Rating: 2.5 out of 5

GF Product Testing - Pamela's Chocolate Brownie Mix , Part I

I do love a good brownie, who doesn't? When I bite into one the world seems to fade away. When I saw Pamela's single serving Chocolate Brownie Mix I thought to myself  "I've got to try this!"

The instructions are pretty straight forward. Simply pour water and oil into the dry mix, then stir. I was a little concerned at first I didn't think there was enough liquid to go around but if you keep at it the mixture eventually comes together. The batter is pretty thick and takes on the consistency of silly putty with the sheen of dark lacquered wood (see picture). The only thing left to do is to pop it in the microwave for 60 seconds.

GF Picture of the Day!

Homemade bread crumbs using Udi's Gluten Free Bread.

Happy Labor Day Weekend!

Happy Labor Day Weekend, you deserve it!

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

A big thank you to all of you who have read my blog. I can't believe it but I have officially written 52 post. It's amazing how time flies by. I just thought I was going to write a small little blog about my GF life but it ended up being more than that. What will the next 52 post bring us? I'm not exactly sure but whatever it is we'll do it together.

Diet Wisdom

Start saying no to soda by making your own sun brewed ice tea. Simply take a few of your favorite tea bags and place into a glass pitcher. Place in direct sunlight and a few hours later you'll have fresh sun brewed  tea. The longer it sits the stronger the taste. You can of course steep a few tea bags in hot water as well. Whatever method you chose enjoy the bounty of tea...hot or cold.

GF Update - De Boles Pasta

Back in February I did a review on De Boles Multi Grain pasta. I was pleasantly surprised with the spaghetti but the penne pasta didn't work as well as I had hoped for. I followed the directions on the package but still find it difficult to get perfectly cooked penne. I think I'll stick to the spaghetti pasta.

GF by the Numbers

The number of calories per 1 oz of peaches, sweet  : )

GF Product Review - thinkThin

Back in January I did a review for PureFit protein bars. While they are excellent I believe I found another post worthy alternative, thinkThin bars. thinkThin High Protein Bars consist of 12 flavors packed with 20 grams of protein. Some of their noted flavors include white chocolate, peanut butter, brownie crunch and chocolate covered strawberry. These bars are some of the tastiest I've ever had. My favorite has to be caramel fudge and peanut butter. It didn't even feel like I was having a protein bar, it was more like a treat. Since trying them I've added them to my weekly grocery list. They're perfect for when your sort on time and don't want to stop at the drive thru. While PureFit protein bars don't melt thinkThin bars do so make sure to keep them in a cool dry place.      

The company also features four more additional lines that include thinkThin Crunch bars, thinkThin Crunch Fruit & Nut Bars and thinkThin Bites. All products are gluten free and the fruit & nut bars are vegan.

What's on my Plate

Today I have on my plate a delicious Soy Sauce (gluten free of course) and Sesame Turkey Burger paired with an Asian style coleslaw consisting of napa cabbage, carrots, red pepper and toasted sesame seeds. To finish my meal fruit makes for the perfect dessert.

Observations

           I have long heard about our food proportions getting out of hand but it wasn't until I ordered a medium drink from a fast food chain that it really hit me. Upon receiving my "medium" drink I thought the cashier had made a mistake. This drink was almost as big as my head but apparently it was no mistake, my medium drink was a medium drink. Puzzled I went home to measure how many ounces it contained. To my surprise it was 30 ounces! That's two and half cans of soda. I was thirsty but not that thirsty. I guess it's a good thing I ordered ice tea?

Happy Forth of July!!!

A very Happy Forth of July to one and all.

Remember our freedoms, remember our liberties and remember to uphold democracy.

Out of Office

Hi Folks,

I'll be out this week but I'll be back soon with some more tips and tricks to share until then have a great time.

Thanks,


Alex G.  

Favorite New Thing - W.S. Chile Lime Rub

     Sometimes the day just seems to get away from you or your running a little short on time that you end up needing a little help in the kitchen. My newest favorite thing is just for that occasion, it's Williams-Sonoma's Chile-Lime Rub. A spice blend consisting of a variety of flavors including lime, peppers, cilantro, cumin and sea salt will conjure up the taste you would expect to find in Mexico and Latin America. It's perfect for a variety of proteins especially chicken and shrimp but feel to experiment with beef and pork. With the summer in full swing this will make a great addition to all your BBQ. Just as a caution the ingredients are gluten free but it's not made in a gluten free facility.   

The Big Idea

Every now and then it's important to remind yourself why it is your eating gluten free. This will help to reinforce the goal you have in mind.

GF Recipe - Mango-Sesame Dressing

     I love chicken as much as the next person but it can get a little bland. How do you bring back life to this  stable? Try using a sauce. Bon Appetit Magazine has a really great recipe for Mango Sesame Dressing that's great on chicken and vegetables. It's got a really unique taste by incorporating Major Grey's Chutney. The dressing is a little sweet, a little spicy but with great depth. It last for a week in the fridge. Not all the ingredients are gluten free but by swapping out soy sauce for gluten free soy sauce you can add this recipe to your repertoire.

Mango-Sesame Dressing: bonappetit.com

GF Video - Plantain Crusted Mahi Mahi

I came across this interested video for making plantain crusted (as in banana chips) mahi mahi. I have never heard of it that I just had to share it. What an interesting use for what I thought was just a snack.

Try plantain-crusted mahi mahi with pineapple salsa

Happy Memorial Day

A special thanks to all our troops serving in our Armed Forces.

Thank You 

GF by the Numbers

The number of calories in one cup of strawberries, go ahead enjoy every bite.

GF Quick and Easy

         As the summer months quickly approach the last thing you want to be doing is spending time over a hot stove. This is the perfect time to use fresh fruits and vegetables in their natural state. In today's GF Quick and Easy we'll be making a salad, best of all you'll only need 3 ingredients! Start of by cubing watermelon into bite size chunks, follow that up be slicing rounds of cucumber. If your cucumber slices are too big slice them in half, making them into half moon sizes. Season with fresh chopped cilantro and salt. There you go a quick and easy refreshing salad that will become a stable in the summer months.

Deals and Steals - C.B. Mixing Bowls

        Taking cooking classes in my spare time isn't just a hobby, it's so much more. I always seem to learn an interesting fact or tidbit that makes the cost of enrollment all worth while. While attending a cooking basics boot camp the chef instructor took a moment to talk about essential tools that every chef should have. As he went down the list I checked the items off in my mind. Then all of a sudden he said "mixing bowls... lots of them" and then I realized the closest thing I had to a mixing bowl was a cereal bowl.

      Determined not to fall in that trap I set out to find my own set of mixing bowls. I started looking online and came across Crate and Barrels 10 piece glass bowl set. Dishwasher and microwave safe, they come in varying sizes from 1 oz to 4.5 qts. They're sturdy, perfect to serve out of and they stack inside each other for added space saving benefits.  All that for only $29.95...SOLD! I've had my set for some time now and I don't know what I would do without them. I'm surprised how useful they've become time and time again. Thanks chef for the great advice!

If it's free, it's for me - Chick-fil-a

I wasn't born in the South but I may have been in a past lifetime. I have an obsession with barbecue sauce. I can't seem to get enough of it. One of my favorite places for "free" sauces and dressings is at Chick-fil-a. They offer a wide range of gluten free condiments. The service is excellent and the product is always top notch. See below for a listing of GF sauces or head over to their website for the complete list of GF foods.

• Barbecue Sauce
• Honey Mustard Sauce
• Honey Roasted BBQ Sauce
• Polynesian Sauce
• Buttermilk Ranch Sauce
• Chick-fil-A® Buffalo Sauce

Tools of the Trade - Fitness

            My sports sack I take to the gym is filled with all my essentials towel, water bottle, ipod shuffle and one of my favorite gym gadgets, my heart rate monitor. A heart rate monitor is a great tool to have. I find that it keeps me focused by ensuring that I stay in the right heart rate zone and that translates to no slacking off. My heart rate monitor can also track laps, the duration of my workout, the calories I've burned and it's waterproof. If your fan of cardio (and I know you are) you'll love this tool. P.S. Best place to get one, eBay or Craigslist.

If your looking for a tool to assist with your general fitness I suggest the Fitbit Ultra. It's like a pedometer taken up a couple of notches. It tracks your steps, sleep patterns and is used in conjunction with the website for further capabilities. I haven't tried it yet but it looks interesting from the reviews I've read and the information I've seen. It you try one let me know what you think.

New Year's Resolution Update

              It's roughly been 3 months since I've started my New Years's Resolution of going "screen free" one night a week. It was a little hard in the beginning. I sometimes caught myself starting to watch television before realizing it was time to pull the plug. Now that 3 months have pasted my new weekly ritual has become habit and I no longer have to think about turning the t.v. (or laptop, smartphone, tablet, etc...) off. The benefits have been numerous and I've found some great ways to use my time such as

1. doing my finances
2. reading 
3. cooking
4. going to the gym
5. organizing myself

       I've been paying myself $3 for every night I go screen free and I'm glad to say I've accumulated $30. I'm not sure what I'll do with the money at the end of the year but I do know I plan to treat myself. Hope your resolutions are going well and I'll keep you updated with my progress and time goes on.

Diet Wisdom

         Having a little something sweet after dinner signals your brain that the meal has ended but how can you get your sugar fix without ruining the hard work that went into your meal. One way is to indulge in Wrigley Extra Dessert Delights Gum. A line of gum inspired by classic desserts. You can now indulge in apple pie, chocolate chip mint and strawberry shortcake gum. It's all the flavor minus the calories since each stick of gum is only 5 calories. My absolute favorite has to be Key Lime Pie. Go ahead and indulge your sweet tooth for once.

Gluten Free Reasons - Cold Stone

         Sweet treats can provide you with a sweet escape but what happens when desserts go wrong? Take a look at the Cold Stone Creamery's Brownie a La Cold Stone. A decadent dessert featuring vanilla ice cream, caramel, hot fudge and whipped cream all on top of a brownie. Once you get pasted the wow factor your left with a dessert packing 810 calories. Your 810 calories will get you 75 grams of sugar or roughly 19 teaspoons of sugar (talk about a sugar rush). If the sugar doesn't get to you the fat will. Your dessert will also includes 55 grams of fat, 40 of those being saturated fat. You'll find more saturated fat in this dessert than in 1 cup of mayonnaise (David Zinczenko and Matt Goulding, Eat This Not That! 2012, New York: Rodale Inc., 2011. Print). Opt out of this sweet treat and treat yourself to a much healthier dessert.

Favorite New Thing - De Boles Pasta

        After going gluten free I abandoned the thought of finding great tasting pasta. Brown rice, corn, quinoa all great grains but in the end made for terrible pasta. My world was turned upside down when I encountered De Boles Multi Grain Spaghetti Style Pasta. Made from a delicious blend of rice, quinoa and amaranth De Boles is the first pasta I've kept in my cupboards (as opposed to tossing it out after the first use). It's surprisingly great tasting and filling. I love the fact that it blends well with sauces (instead of tasting like corn or rice with spaghetti sauce on top of it). To use simply toss in boiling water for 5-7 minutes or until al dente. I'm still having a little problem getting the al dente part down but I will get it. Best of all I love how it's given me a pasta experience I can look forward to.

Love that app!!!

        With so much going on in our daily lives it can be tough to keep track of our obligations. Evernote, a free app through the Android market place allows you to stay organized by allowing users to take photos, create to do list, record audio, draw, sketch and last but not least take notes. Best of all it remembers everything since it syncs across all your devices (laptop, tablet, smart phone, etc...). It's somewhat similar to ColorNote Notepad but with more features and functionality. I use my Evernote to create

• Daily to do list
• Grocery list
• Take photos

        It beats using pen and paper and you don't have to worry about remembering about taking your list with you everywhere (instead just take your smart phone). It takes some getting use to but if your into organization Evernote is for you. 

   

Happy V-Day!

Happy Valentine's Day to you and your loved ones!

Tools of the Trade - Misto

Controlling your fat intake (especially the unhealthy kind) can be challenging, looking for a product that could assist me I stumbled upon Misto Olive Oil Sprayer. Available for $10 at various retailers, Misto is perfect when you’re watching your oil usage. Suitable for a variety of oils including olive oil, corn oil (or in my case canola oil) you can even use lemon juice in your sprayer. To use simply remove the top, fill half way up with the liquid of your choice and screw the nozzle back on. Use the cap to pump air into the container and all that’s left to do is point and spray.

             I’ve been using Misto now for four months and I am definitely pleased. I’m amazed how little oil I end up using. My oil seems to last longer and there hasn’t been a difference in the quality of food. The before and after in my oil usage is very apparent. I'm really glad I purchased it. After reading the reviews online I’ve learned a few helpful hints that I think will help you with your Misto. 

1. Keep Misto upright to get the best mist of oil (tilt the pan instead).
2. Release any used pressure from the canister by unscrewing the nozzle. 
3. Wash your Misto after you used all the oil. 

GF Product Review - PureFit

You wouldn't believe the struggle it took to find a gluten free protein bar. I ran into many imitators but never the real thing. Bars laden in sugar but low in protein wouldn't do. When all of a sudden I learned of PureFit Bars. Dairy, wheat and gluten free PureFit Bars come in five different flavors

• Granola Crunch
• Almond Crunch 
• Berry Almond
• Chocolate Brownie
• Peanut Butter Crunch 

Each bar contains around 220 calories, packs 18 grams of protein and follow a 40/30/30 (carbs/protein/fat) ratio. They have a bit of a chewy texture close of that to a dense brownie (but nothing that's unruly). They're excellent for when you're on the go. I simply place in my backpack and walk out the door with confidence that I have a gluten free option with me. The fact that the don't melt is an added plus. My favorite flavor has to be Peanut Butter Crunch, Chocolate Brownie didn't live to my expectations. Having an alternative like PureFit Bars really helps me in the course of my day. I just wish I could have found them sooner. 

Book Review

         I use to think that salad was a road block on the way to the entree. After all anything that healthy can't possibly taste that good...can it? Since picking up Raising The Salad Bar by Catherine Walters I now think of salad as a welcomed addition to the meal. RSB takes you on a journey through the world of salads opening your eyes and mind to what a salad could be. Your journey begins with an intro into salad basics before moving on to chicken, steak and seafood salads. As you continue your mind is further immersed as potato, pasta and bean salads are highlighted. Grain, cole-slaws and garden salads round out your education. Through out the book you'll find useful tips, techniques and recipes for delicious home made salad dressings. Once you make your own dressings you'll never go back to store brought. While the book is not entirely gluten free and few simple swap outs can convert most recipes into safe fare. I've had RSB for close to two years I can honestly say it was money well spent.  The best part of the book isn't the great recipes, the exposure to new ingredients or the new found love I have for making my own dressings but the way it changed my view on salad. When a book can open your mind that makes it pretty special.

Quotes and Sayings

"An onion can make people cry, but there has never been a vegetable invented to make them laugh." 

Will Rogers