Do you like Thai food?  I don’t think I had really given it much of a shot until I started the gluten-free diet and I had to open my mind to new foods.  While I had expanded my taste palate as I aged, Thai food was just one of those things that I hadn’t sampled.  Another bonus about Thai food?  A lot of it is naturally gluten-free.

Once I began following the gluten-free diet, I was grasping for straws for foods I could eat that I enjoyed. I, like most people who have to eliminate gluten from their diet, didn’t want to feel like I was missing out.  The Thai food cuisine often uses rice noodles, which are gluten-free, as a base for many dishes.

Want to say goodbye to pricey Thai restaurants, takeout or delivery?  Thai Kitchen has a wide variety of gluten-free products to help you do just that!  More about Thai Kitchen:

We couldn’t seriously call ourselves Thai Kitchen if we weren’t committed to making nothing but the most authentic Thai food. There’s no faking it. We’re about providing the best Thai food experience available to anyone, anytime, without compromising quality for convenience. That’s why we use only fresh, natural ingredients selected at harvest for their quality and flavor. With Thai Kitchen, you can say goodbye to Thai food delivery and pricey restaurant meals.

Make sure to check out the gluten-free recipes page for inspiration!  I love Pad Thai, and it is so easy to enjoy with the Peanut Noodle Kit!  Talk about fast and easy – much faster than ordering take-out or delivery Thai!  I also enjoy using the Thai Kitchen rice noodles for my own “kitchen sink” noodle bowls.  I enjoy picking a protein, veggies and a sauce to stir into a bowl of noodles.

Thai Kitchen has graciously offered to send one lucky reader a package of gluten-free products.  The giveaway package will include:

1.       Thai Kitchen Thai Peanut Noodle Kit
2.       Simply Asia Singapore Street Noodles, Classic Curry
3.       Simply Asia Singapore Street Noodles, Kimchi
4.       Thai Kitchen Red Rice Noodles
5.       Thai Kitchen Organic Lite Coconut Milk
6.       Thai Kitchen Peanut Satay Sauce
7.       Thai Kitchen Premium Fish Sauce
8.       Thai Kitchen Spicy Thai Chili
9.       Simple Asia clip
10.    Thai Kitchen magnet
11.    Recipe pack

All you have to do to enter is follow the directions in the Rafflecopter box below. Continue reading →

I knew it was only a matter of time before Udi’s Gluten-Free launched gluten-free tortillas.  They’ve really cornered a large part of the gluten-free baked goods/bread market in the past few years.  Gluten-free tortillas have been available for a while, but there is something really special about the new tortillas from Udi’s.  Yes, they still need a little warming in the microwave to become pliable, but they are probably the closest thing to real, non-gluten-free tortillas that I have tried.

The new tortillas come in 2 different sizes – small ($4.35/pack), taco size and large ($5.20/pack), burrito size.  The tortillas are free of dairy and soy in addition to gluten.

INGREDIENTS: WATER, TAPIOCA STARCH, MODIFIED POTATO STARCH, SWEET RICE FLOUR, SUGARCANE FIBER, TAPIOCA SYRUP, PALM OIL, EGG WHITES, PEA PROTEIN, TAPIOCA MALTODEXTRIN, GLYCERINE, CANE SYRUP, GUM (XANTHAN GUM, SODIUM ALGINATE, GUAR GUM), CELLULOSE GUM, CULTURED CORN SYRUP SOLIDS AND CITRIC ACID (NATURAL MOLD INHIBITOR), SALT, LACTIC ACID, ENZYMES, FUMARIC ACID.
CONTAINS: EGG

Ham & Goat Cheese Wrap (with spinach and spicy brown mustard)

Bean & Cheese Quesadilla

I have truly fallen in love with these tortillas and I can’t wait until I can find them locally in stores!  I can think of so many more ways to use the tortillas, including Chimichangas, Burritos and Chicken Enchiladas.

Single Serve Quesadilla

INGREDIENTS:
1 Udi’s Gluten Free Flour Tortilla, Large
1 tsp, vegetable oil
½ cup shredded cheese, preferably cheddar or Mexican blend.
Optional Extras:
½ cup diced chicken
¼ cup diced tomatoes
¼ cup chopped onions
1 T sliced olives
1 T diced mushrooms
DIRECTIONS:
1. Brush skillet with 1 tsp vegetable oil and heat to Medium-High.
2. Place Udi’s large tortilla in pan. Layer with a thin layer of cheese, leaving about 1/2 inch
around edges.
3. Personalize quesadilla with thin layer of optional ingredients, if desired.
4. Fold quesadilla in half and let it cook in the pan 1-2 minutes until slightly brown underneath
before turning to brown the topside.
5. Slide onto plate and enjoy!

About Udi’s Gluten Free Foods:
Udi’s is determined to show you a new way to approach gluten free living. Don’t waste another bite on
bland, crumbly, and tasteless food. We create delicious products that will fill your stomach and warm your
soul. We revolutionized the gluten free category by introducing the first gluten-free bread that tastes and
looks like ‘real’ bread. Thanks to our loyal customers, Udi’s is the #1 gluten-free baked goods brand!

Udi’s Gluten-Free products can be found in grocery stores across the US and online.  Have you found or tried the new Udi’s tortillas yet?

*I was provided free samples of these tortillas for review purposes.  The thoughts and opinions shared here are mine and have not been influenced by anyone or anything.

As much as I was bummed to see that there was snow cover when I got up this morning, it was kind of cool to see these prints outside on our front walk when I headed out for my 3 mile recovery run.

A birdie!!  I almost didn’t take the time to pull my phone out of my pocket to snap a picture, but I am glad I did.  The poor bird is probably wondering why it is snowing in March, just like the rest of us.

Weekly Menu:

Sunday – Chipotle

Monday – Rotisserie chicken stir-fry with quinoa and roasted veggies

Tuesday – Easy Enchilada Bake, corn and salad

Wednesday – Bourbon chicken, coconut baked brown rice, sugar snap peas and salad

Thursday – Dinner with friends at a new-to-me gluten-free restaurant!

Friday – Make your own pizza and salad

Saturday – Breakfast for dinner or bison burgers and steak fries

*For more gluten-free meal ideas, make sure to visit Jo-Lynne over at Musings of a Housewife.

Week in Review:

Enter to be one of 5 lucky readers to win 2 tins of Karlie’s Kookies

Heart Rate Guided Training Update

Glutenfreeda Launches New Products at Expo West

Panera Bread’s Hidden Menu

Review: Katz Gluten Free Cinnamon Raisin English Muffin

Help find a cure for MS by donating to Miles for Myelin!  A $5 donation will enter you to win a gluten-free gift box worth over $50!

Have a great week!

It is no secret, when I do something, I do it 150%.  There is no half-assing it for me.  I either do it or I don’t.  This can be a good trait to have, but it can be detrimental to body and mind, as well.  A good example of where it can be bad or detrimental is training.  Yes, it is good to push through some workouts, but the saying “No Pain, No Gain” doesn’t always win.  There is a time and a place for that mantra, but there is a “small” thing called “overtraining” that is very real.  Take it from someone who has been there, has been forced, by her body, to take time off (to the tune of approximately 90 days).

Having done the VO2 Max test two times before, I was not looking forward to it.  The test itself doesn’t last long, but it is pretty intense.  It comes down to a mental thing for me – mind over matter.  I made sure to let Dr. D know my concerns before the test began and he had me running faster with less incline to really get my HR up.  The other challenge is wearing the mask while running – it is hard to get a good breath when you are really working hard (the point of the test) and I always feel like I am slobbering on myself.  Why was I interested in doing the test again?  In the past year my Zone 2 run paces have significantly changed.  They were roughly 10:00 – 10:15/mile at this time last year and are roughly 9:00 – 9:30, depending on the day, now.  I wanted to make sure that the data that I have been putting so much faith in, using to guide my training, was still accurate for me.

Before I get to the results, I want to recap the past 2 tests:

The results from February 2011:

• VO2 Max: 46.8
• Max HR: 171
• Weight: 126

Zone 1 – Active Recovery – 106 -133
Zone 2 – LSD (long slow distance/Saturday runs) – 133 – 145
Zone 3 – Tempo – 145 – 153
Zone 4 – Interval #1 – 153 – 163
Zone 5 – Interval #2 – 163 – 171

The results from January 2012:

• VO2 Max : 42.3
• Max HR: 174
• Weight: 130

Zone 1 – Active Recovery – 120-131
Zone 2 – LSD (long slow distance/Saturday runs) – 132 – 146
Zone 3 – Tempo – 147 – 157
Zone 4 – Interval #1 – 158 – 166
Zone 5 – Interval #2 – 166 – 174

And now the most recent results:

The results from February 2013

• VO2 Max: 46
• Max HR: 178
• Weight: 128-130 (I don’t weigh myself, so this is based on the last time I was weighed at the dr’s office)

Zone 1 – Active Recovery – 115 – 129 <—high end 2 beats lower than last year

Zone 2 – LSD (Long Slow Distance/Saturday Runs) – 130-143 <—high end 3 beats lower than last year

Zone 3 – Tempo – 144-157 <—low end 3 beats lower than last year

Zone 4 – Interval #1 – 158 – 167 <—higher high end

Zone 5 – Interval #2 – 168 – 178 <—higher low end and MHR

Notes and Thoughts:

The first thing I noticed is Zone 2 has changed.  This is significant because most of my running is done in this zone.  A few heart beats from each side, low and high, can make a big difference, especially on the high side.  It is the difference between an easy run and a tempo run, which on a tired body can cause problems over time.  In the scheme of things it comes down to me just keeping a closer eye on that high end when I am running, especially outside since I run a lot of hills.

VO2 Max has increased from 42.3 ml/kg/min last year to 46 ml/kg/min this year.  What does that mean?  It means that today I am a fitter version of myself than I was at this same time last year.  Dr. D says an increase of 10 ml/kg/min equates to 10 minutes off of your marathon time. I am not running marathons, but half marathons and I did take 5 minutes off of my time from October 2011 – September 2012.  Interestingly enough, my VO2 Max increased 4.3 ml/kg/min from last year.

Speed work and intervals are to be done a little differently than traditionally prescribed.  The time between intervals should be spent walking slowly to bring the HR back into the middle of zone 1.  Once my HR is in the middle of zone 1, I am to take off from right where I am.  If I am on the track, it will be a different place from where I stopped the last interval.  I am not to pay attention to the time between intervals.  If my body is ready to go back at it after 30 seconds, so be it.  If it takes 2+ minutes, again, the HR dictates readiness.  <—I have known this for a while, but got away from the practice.

Alternate interval intensity week to week.  Interval 1 (zone 4) one week for speed work and Interval 2 (zone 5) the next week.

Long runs are run in zone 2.

Recovery runs are run in zone 1.

My week should look like this:

• Easy zone 2 runs: 1-2
• Speed work: 1
• Tempo runs: 0-1
• Long slow runs: 1
• Recovery runs: 1

Assess resting heart rate and use that as a guide to see how the body is recovering.  To get an accurate idea of my resting heart rate I will take my resting heart rate upon waking (before getting out of bed) for 5-8 non-consecutive, non-weekend nights and then figure out the average.  It will then be important to take my resting HR on days where I may have a tougher workout to ensure that my body is ready.  If my resting HR is more than 5 beats higher than normal it is probably best not to add any extra stress like a tough speed workout.  Perhaps a easy run is a better choice on this particular day.

Resting is just as important as any other workout or run.  If you don’t believe me, read this great article from Runner’s World.

I am excited to for my very full race season to start!  My first (of six) half marathons this year is on April 7, 2013 and I am hoping to run a sub 1:50!  UPDATE: I ran 1:48:19 on April 7, 2013!

Have you had the VO2 Max done?  Do you follow heart rate guided training?

Have you heard about “The Perfect 10 Kookie” or Karlie’s Kookies?  It is this amazing cookie kookie that was created by famed Momofuku Milk Bar pastry chef, Christina Tosi and her long-time friend and supermodel, Karlie Kloss.  More about the kookie:

The Perfect 10 Kookie (see recipe below) is a delicious treat made with healthy, all natural ingredients and is dairy-free, gluten-free and sweetened with agave.  The cookies are available for sale at Momofuku Milk Bar in Manhattan and 30 percent of the proceeds go to FEED, an organization that provides school meals to children around the world through the United National World School Feeding program. Each “perfect 10 kookie” sold provides 10 school meals to hungry children around the world.

I was blown away by these kookies!  They have a wonderful texture and flavor and I love the simple and natural ingredient list. I kept waking up thinking of the cookies and almost justified having one for breakfast!

Ingredients:

• 7 cups almond flour
• 4 1/4 cups gluten-free oats
• 1 tsp kosher salt
• 1 tbsp cornstarch
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1 cup slivered almonds
• 1/4 cup vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1 cup agave
• 1 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips

(Makes 20-24 large cookies)

The cookies can be made by following the recipe above, or enter below for a chance to win one of 5 giveaway packages of Karlie’s Kookies.  Each winner will receive 2 tins of Karlies Kookies!

Continue reading →

Even though the groundhog seems to be a liar based on our recent weather, February is still coming to an end and that is something I am happy about.  We are less than 2 weeks away from “Springing Forward” which means more daylight and it always seems like there is more time to get things done.  I hope the weather follows and we start seeing more days that are warmer than this crap we have now. 

Have you seen this new Pop Crunch snack from Orville Redenbacher?  The bags say “Gluten-Free” right on the front (Holla!), so of course they caught my eye.  I didn’t pick up a bag because I already had plenty of snacks at home, but I am interested in trying them at some point.  Upon searching on the website I found there are 4 different varieties:

• Brown Sugar Cinnamon
• White & Sharp Cheddar Mix
• Cheddar & Caramel Mix
• Paremsan Herb Mix

I noticed there is a “Gourmet” line as well, but was unable to find out if they were labeled “Gluten-Free”, as that page would not open.  Anyone try this yet?

Tuesday – Baked Ziti, peas and salad

Wednesday – Leftovers

Thursday – BBQ pulled pork tacos, black beans, corn and salad

Friday – Make your own pizza and salad

Saturday – Takeout

Miles for Myelin – Enter to win a gluten-free food package worth over $50 by donating at least $5.00 towards MS research.

Only 1 more day to enter to win a great gluten-free package from the Almond Board of California!

Review: Emmy’s Organic Macaroons <—Best.Ever.Macaroon.

Manischweitz debuts new gluten-free products just in time for Passover.

Accidentally Ingesting Gluten…how do you handle this?

Appetizer Recipe: Easee Capresee Piecee

Have a great week!

The 85th Academy Awards are tonight and what better way to enjoy the evening than with some fun gluten-free appetizers? Glutino recently introduced Gluten-Free Sea Salt Crackers that make a great base for many appetizer combinations. 

These crackers are awesome straight out of the box, but the Oscars are a time to get dressed up, so dress up your gluten-free crackers with this mouth-watering recipe.

Easee Capresee Piecee

Ingredients:

• Fresh mozzarella cheese, cut into bite-size slices
• Cherry tomato halves
• Fresh basil leaves
• Olive oil
• Kosher salt
• Balsamic vinegar
• Glutino Gluten-Free Snack Crackers

Instructions:

On a Glutino Gluten-Free Snack Cracker, stack a slice of mozzarella, a basil leaf, a cherry tomato half and a blip of olive oil, a flick of Kosher salt and a smirk of balsamic.

Check out some other Oscar-worthy snacks from Glutino.

*Recipe courtesy of Glutino.

I can’t believe I am going to admit this, but I haven’t seen any of the movies that are mentioned on the list except for a few in the Animated Feature Films category.  What does that tell you about my movie companion?  Yes, she is 10 years old.  Of the movies that are mentioned in that category, I would say “Wreck it Ralph” gets my vote (we have seen “Brave” and “ParaNorman” too).  That being said, there are quite a few on the list that I would like to see, such as Argo, Silver Linings Playbook, Lincoln and Zero Dark Thirty. 

Do you plan on watching the Oscars tonight?  Have you seen any of the movies on the list?

Only 2 more days to enter to win a great gluten-free package from the Almond Board of California! 

*The crackers mentioned in this blog post were sent to me free of charge for the purpose of sharing this recipe and my thoughts.  The thoughts and opinions shared on this blog are mine and have not been influenced by anyone or anything.

Almonds are naturally gluten-free and naturally yummy.  I love to eat them by the handful, on salads and baked into my favortie recipes.  I am excited to share the winning recipes of the Almond Board of California’s Nutrition Pros Know Best Almond Challenge, where nutrition professionals submitted their best almond-inspired recipes.  I made both recipes and fell in love.  My favorite is the Intense Chocolate Almond Bites – these little bites of heaven are so easy to make and are the perfect way to end a meal or even refuel after a tough workout!

Intense Chocolate Almond Bites (Gluten-free)

Created by Cheryl Harris, MPH, RD, CWC, CLC

Ingredients

· 1 cup whole roasted almonds

· ⅓ cup cocoa powder

· ¼ tsp salt

· ¼ cup honey

· ½ tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 325º.

2. Put the almonds, cocoa powder and salt in a food processor and grind until only small pieces of almond remain, about 2 minutes.

3. Add in honey and vanilla extract and pulse for 30 seconds.

4. Form into balls the size of a cherry and flatten down.

5. Place on a Silpat mat or parchment lined cookie sheet for ease of cleanup (these do not spread, so feel free to put them close together).

6. Cook for 9-11 minutes or until browning.

7. The bites harden as they cool after baking.

Makes 20 bites, serving size is four bites

Approximate calories per serving: 205 calories

The other winning recipe was very good, but chocolate anything is the way to my heart.

Orange Almond Cake (Gluten-free)

Created by Laura Uyemura, RD

Ingredients

· 4 large egg yolks

· 2 Tbsp orange zest

· ½ tsp cinnamon

· 2 Tbsp sugar

· 1½ cups almond flour or almond meal*

· 2 Tbsp sugar

· 4 large egg whites

· 4 Tbsp sugar

· Pinch salt

· Powdered sugar

· 2-3 Tbsp slivered almonds for decoration

*You can purchase almond flour or almond meal, the latter is ground with skin. You may also grind your own in a food processor or blender, using about 1½ to 2 cups of almonds.

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375º

2. Prepare a 9 inch cake pan or springform pan: grease bottom and sides well. Cut out a circle of wax paper and fit it into the bottom of the pan. Grease the paper. Coat the bottom and sides of the pan with almond flour, shaking out the excess.

3. Beat egg yolks, zest, cinnamon, and 2 Tbsp sugar with electric mixer.

4. Mix almond flour with 2 Tbsp sugar and stir into the mixture above.

5. Beat egg whites, pinch of salt, and 4 Tbsp sugar until soft peaks form.

6. Blend a large spoonful of the egg white mixture into the almond mixture with a spatula. (It will be very stiff so mash it in, and add more whites until it’s soft enough to fold in the rest.)

7. Fold in the rest of the egg whites.

8. Pour into prepared pan.

9. Bake for 35 minutes until tester comes out clean.

10. Cool in pan, then un-mold and turn onto a serving platter.

11. Sprinkle with powdered sugar and slivered almonds.

Now for the really exciting part! One lucky reader will win almond flour, slivered almonds and whole roasted almonds so they can create the winning recipes.  All you have to do to enter to win is follow the directions in the Rafflecopter box below. Continue reading →

(source)

The gluten-free lifestyle is often mislabeled as an expensive one.  Sure, it can be expensive, but take the time to read the post below contributed by Taste Guru to learn some ways to save some money.

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Gluten Free Savvy on a Shoestring

For many people, making the switch to a gluten-free lifestyle seems like an overwhelming investment. The question “Can I afford it?” often is one of the first things that comes up in the doctor’s office. Unfortunately, consumers who judge the cost of gluten-free living by that special aisle in the grocery store packed with fancy alternative flours and various processed foods are not getting a realistic idea of the bigger picture. In reality, gluten-free living is largely about eating unprocessed, whole foods. Despite the assumption that these foods are more expensive, they are actually the least expensive options for someone with cooking basics in their back pocket.

There are many natural, delicious, and versatile foods that fall under the guise of gluten free, like black beans, brown rice, sweet potatoes, and eggs. These simple, delicious basics can be turned into a multitude of meal options with some simple, healthy recipes at your disposal. Feeling overwhelmed? Here are some handy tips for cutting back on your gluten-free food budget.

Stock Up During Sales

There are some days when you just crave a big bowl of spaghetti or a couple of easy-to-make brownies. Fortunately gluten-free pantry staples like baking mixes, pasta, and specialized flour go on sale several times throughout the year and can be found regularly on sale or discounted through bulk-buying deals or subscriptions on Amazon. They also last quite a while in the pantry. So when you find a good deal on these items stock up!

Embrace Your Inner Coupon Clipper

Don’t underestimate the power of the Sunday newspaper! Clipping coupons for gluten-free pantry items can put more than just pennies back in your wallet, especially when combined with a sale. Be sure to check in with your favorite gluten-free brands online, as most regularly post coupons on their websites or social media accounts. Also, plenty of frugal gluten-free foodies out there regularly compile the best and newest coupons available on the web, so be sure to bookmark these sites.

● Stockpiling Moms

● Coupon Divas

● Surviving the Stores

Get Trendy and DIY

Believe it or not, making your own gluten-free snacks like cookies, cakes, and other treats often is cheaper than buying processed gluten-free food. You’ll also get the added benefit that it’s likely healthier, lower in sugar, and lacking other unhealthy additions, as well.

Find a few hours in your week to hunker down and whip up gluten-free muffins, breads, and other freezer-friendly meals for the week or month. Cooking in large batches and freezing means you always have gluten-free goodies on hand, helping to reduce impulse purchases of expensive, processed gluten-free food and snacks. It will allow you to stretch your meats, beans, baking supplies, and gluten-free grains further. Not sure where to start? Hearty options like Lentil Stew and Chinese Rice Stew with Chicken freeze well, use fresh ingredients, and they taste good, too!

Mull Over a Meal Plan

You crave a frugal, gluten-free lifestyle, right? So, to stay on-budget, your kitchen should run like a well-oiled machine with a rotating meal plan. Make sure to consider what fruits and vegetables are in-season, what recipes are in-house favorites (try storing them in an online recipe box), and create a schedule so that you can cook ahead, freeze, and mix-up your culinary adventures.

If you’re at a loss of where to start, check out these websites for some tantalizing, budget-conscious gluten-free meal plans.

● $5 Dinners

● Stockpiling Moms

● The Peaceful Mom

● The Gluten-Free Homemaker

Whatever you do, make sure that you stick to your gluten-free diet in a fun, frugal, and meaningful way. Think of your newfound diet and all of the new and exciting food adventures as a means of enhancing your health — not detracting from it.

Founded by a celiac sufferer, Taste Guru is a gluten-free box of the month club committed to boxing up the tastiest and most exciting gluten-free products on the market every month and delivering them with free shipping right to your door! Sign up now using code PINGURU and get six months for only $100!

For delicious gluten-free recipes, tips, and news, check out Taste Guru on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter.