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Vegan and Gluten-Free Salad Dressings, Mayo & Butter from Plant Perfect (Exciting New Products!)

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Plant Perfect Vegan Ranch Dressing

Plant Perfect Vegan Ranch Dressing

Quite a while back, I devoured and reviewed Parma!, a Plant-Based Parmesan Cheese Alternative and, frankly, I’ve never forgotten the extraordinary, downright addictive flavor. It often comes to mind when I see other plant-based food, which is why I never, ever brush off the idea… I know better. I only wish Parma! was available in stores. It is available online and is absolutely worth seeking it out… positively addictive, I tell you.

I recently saw the following press release for a new rapidly-growing brand from Pivotal Foods called Plant Perfect. After reading the release, I found myself extremely anxious to try quite a few of the products – especially the one you see pictured above, a Vegan Ranch Dressing. See the “No Palm Oil” on the front of the bottle? LOVE that!

I’ve found a few of their delicious-sounding products on Amazon and have linked to them in photos an/or content below.

As soon as I try these exciting plant-based products, I will write reviews on the food blog and link to them here.

Ready To Pivot To A Better Class Of Vegan Salad Dressings, Mayo & Butter?

STATELINE, NEVADA – For years, countless people following a vegan diet for moral or dietary reasons have been asking the same rhetorical question: why isn’t there a dairy-free brand that actually frees us from our lifelong craving for dairy?

Happily, one company decided to answer that question by developing a line of dairy-free products so authentic in flavor and texture that even non-vegans are singing their praises.

Introducing Pivotal Foods (www.pivotalfoods.com) and its signature Plant Perfect brand, creators of a rapidly-growing line of dressings, mayo and – soon – butter that seamlessly blend mouth-watering flavor, authentic texture and wholesome nutrition in each and every bottle and jar.

Treating consumers to a literal and figurative taste of the future, Pivotal Foods is currently experiencing its most significant period of growth to date since the introduction of Plant Perfect Vegan Mayo in 2020. Indeed, largely due to word of mouth rather than the sort of massive marketing blitz usually needed to break into the crowded vegan marketplace, Pivotal Foods has already expanded its retail presence to over 2500 mainstream and health food stores around the country – most recently adding 1200 Safeway stores in six regions around the country.

Today, consumers can find Plant Perfect vegan salad dressings and mayo in such chains as Whole Foods, Sprouts, Raley’s, Lucky, and Safeway as well as on Amazon.com.. For a complete list of store locations, please visit www.eatplantperfect.com/find-us.

The Name Says It All

Living up to its name, Plant Perfect products represent a perfect fusion of great taste and important nutrition, utilizing wholesome ingredients sure to please even the most discerning vegan and non-vegan palates. The brand’s growing family of products include six distinct salad dressings that are all vegan, gluten-free, cholesterol-free, non-GMO, EDTA-free (EDTA is a chemical that is added to certain foods and beverages to help them keep their color and flavor), palm oil-free and Certified Kosher.

Now Plant-Based Certified, Plant Perfect dressings are available in 8-ounce bottles in these delectable flavors:

  • Ranch
  • Green Goddess
  • Creamy Italian
  • Caesar (Amazon link)
  • Chipotle Ranch
  • Cilantro Lime

Like Plant Perfect’s Vegan Mayo, the brand’s salad dressings are 12-month shelf stable. Plant Perfect salad dressings can be found on the dry goods shelf next to conventional dressings.

Vegan Mayo Comes Of Age

Representing a deliciously nutritious dairy-free version of a classic condiment, Plant Perfect’s Vegan Mayo is every bit as tasty, rich, versatile and satisfying as its traditional counterpart. Like the brand’s salad dressings, Plant Perfect Mayo is all vegan, gluten-free, cholesterol-free, non-GMO, EDTA-free, palm oil-free and Certified Kosher.

Offered in 12-ounce bottles, Plant Perfect Vegan Mayo enhances any dish and represents an ideal alternative to traditional mayonnaise when preparing meals, snacks and desserts (great news for vegan or health-conscious home cooks and bakers during the holiday season!).

Next on the menu for Pivotal Foods will be Plant Perfect Vegan Butter, slated to be introduced next year. Performing just like dairy European butter in every way – but without the cows! – the new line will initially consist of two irresistibly satisfying varieties: Original and Buttery.

A Pivotal Time In The Vegan Food Industry

Committed to developing high quality vegan food products that taste great, are healthy and minimize the environmental impact on the planet, Pivotal Foods is not only attracting a diverse range of new retail and foodservice partners, but is winning over both committed vegans as well as mainstream consumers ready to incorporate healthier dairy-free products into their diet so long as they don’t have to sacrifice flavor in the process.

Commenting on his company’s fast-track expansion, Pivotal Foods’ CEO Mark Garrison said, “Every Plant Perfect item is developed with one overriding goal in mind – to create the most nutritious and delicious vegan alternative product possible. Giving up dairy for ethical or dietary reasons is never easy, so we went to great lengths to make sure our Plant Perfect Mayo, Salad Dressings and Butter not only live up to, but exceed, customer expectations. We’re heartened by the overwhelmingly positive response we’ve received from full-time and part-time vegans alike and look forward to introducing many more vegan products over the years to come.”

For more information, please visit www.eatplantperfect.com and www.pivotalfoods.com.

 

Change Bites: Change Your Plate, Change Your Life (Review)

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I was recently sent a review copy of Change Bites: Change Your Plate Change Your Life in exchange for telling you about this exciting new book. Before I get to the actual book review, itself, I wanted to give a few quick thoughts as well as a brief personal story.

A Few Quick Thoughts

  • I love that the book is relatively short, totally uncomplicated, and very easy and fast to read. Let’s face it, most of us simply don’t have the luxury of sitting and reading for hours each day – especially around Christmas and New Year’s. The fact that this book reads fast is a huge bonus.
  • I love that the book, while using the author’s experiences as examples, focuses on the reader. This is YOUR story about YOUR health and it has the power to help a lot of people.
  • I love that the book is interactive. There are numerous places for you to jot down your symptoms, your goals, your plan of attacks, etc. Books that serve as workbooks keep the reader engaged and the change they seek is infinitely more likely to happen because they are taking an active part.
  • When doing book reviews on my various blogs, I often like to include a “Who Needs this Book” section. I’m not doing it this time simply because everyone needs this book! Whether you’re trying to transition to a vegetarian diet, trying to add more healthy foods into your daily meals, or suspect you may have an intolerance to dairy, gluten, and/or wheat, this book will help you tremendously. What’s more, if you simply want to take a proactive approach to your health and give yourself a good “once over,” this book will prove invaluable. 
  • I have multiple blogs and joyfully do book reviews on each. This year (seems to be a boon on great books!), I allowed myself to become swamped in books. I honestly had to struggle to keep up. Around October, I stopped taking in new books (for the rest of the year). But when the e-mail about this particular book came through. I knew, from the introductory e-mail, alone, that this was a very special book – one that could give people their lives back.. a book that could, in fact, even save lives. As you can see, I made an exception.

It’s a lot easier to take a leap of faith if your current state of “pain” is worse than the pain of changing. – page 21, Change BITES

My Personal Journey

Years ago, I began experiencing a number of health problems that I chalked up to a number of things: allergies, aging (after all, when you get on this side of 40, a lot of interesting things happen), thyroid, etc. I had digestive issues that, honestly, became so commonplace that they didn’t even register with me. I was taking Benadryl daily – in fact, I averaged two or three a day and this, somehow seemed normal to me – as did the Tums I frequently needed and the number of mouth ulcers I was continually getting.

The tiredness, lethargy, and overall feeling that I had to fight to make myself exert energy? That was attributed to the Benadryl – which, I’m certain didn’t help matters.

The worst part was the mouth ulcers.  I LITERALLY kept at least one mouth sore or mouth ulcer for over a year. That’s right… for over a year, each and every day I had at least one mouth sore. The doctors would prescribe medicines, I’d swish with salt water.. it was a nightmare that I cringe over to this day. Those things are so painful and beyond annoying.

And yet… I somehow convinced myself this was all normal. After all, I was seeing doctors and they weren’t alarmed, why should I be?

Around this time, my oldest daughter, Emily, began to have a few health problems. She had to have her gallbladder removed and, just when we thought she was returning to normal, her health seemed to get worse. After reading everything I could get my hands on, I told her that I thought she should do an elimination diet with gluten/wheat because it sounded like she was either Celiac or extremely gluten-intolerant. 

I told her that I’d do it with her – to help her out and give her support. We researched food, restaurants, and armed ourselves with all the information we needed for the journey.  I’m an avid cook, so I knew that I’d be able to come up with gluten-free dishes for us to eat. What could have (and maybe should have) been frightening and depressing was actually kind of exciting and fun. Having someone with you on the journey, in my experience, helps a lot and I had every intention of being her partner in crime.

We decided we’d give it a month and see if her symptoms improved. Not only did they improve – they improved after just two weeks of totally eliminating gluten/wheat from her diet.

But there’s more. 

My mouth sores and mouth ulcers disappeared and, over the years, have only returned when I’ve accidentally eaten wheat/gluten. My energy returned, I slept better, my digestive issues improved, and I was able to stop buying two boxes of Benadryl each week.

We’ve, needless to say, avoided gluten entirely since doing so put us squarely back in the game of life.

Change Bites: Change Your Plate, Change Your Life

Change Bites was written by Marissa S. Costonis, H.C., who had her own personal journey with her health and the way her body was responding to food.

It makes sense, when you think about. So much so that I’m amazed it takes most of us so long to make the food and body connection.

Imagine if a new experimental drug came onto the market. If you’re like me, there’s no way on earth you’d take even one, let alone a daily dose, if you weren’t certain of the effects it’d have on your body. Yet, we put bite after bite after bite of food into our mouths each day without a second thought.

Some of this food may be doing as much harm to your body as the drug would be.

One of the interactive exercises in this book involves taking a close look at your health. You’re asked questions you probably had not considered before and are given an opportunity to uncover clues your body has been leaving for you – clues that something is wrong. If my daughter and I had had this book years ago, we would have saved ourselves a lot of pain and sickness. What’s more, we’d have been able to STOP eating something that was causing damage to our bodies.

About the Author: Marissa S. Costonis spent over a decade in change management consulting leading a variety of business transformation initiatives around the world. After developing neuropathy and a host of other health problems began to pile up, Marissa decided to break down the change process one bite at a time to transform her health with great success. She became a Certified Health Coach and launched her business, Change Bites, LLC.

Change Bites by Marissa S. Costonis

From the Back Cover:

Finally, a step by step process for how to change your eating habits and transform your health!

  • Are you inspired or even forced to try a new eating strategy, but not sure how to get started?
  • Do you have a good sense of what to eat, but not sure how to to make lasting changes to your eating habits?
  • Want to improve your health, but don’t want to give up all the foods you love today?
  • Have a growing list of health problems, but afraid to admit that food could be the culprit and the cure?

New Year, New You?

My husband and I frequently talk about the important role food plays in health. I love how, on the back of Change BITES, the author says food can be the culprit and the cure. Profound and so very true.  Whatever the condition my daughter and I have, I’ve often thought of people in our family and wondered if they, too, had this condition and suffered needlessly. Perhaps, because their problem wasn’t caught early enough, they did lasting damage to their bodies.

I hope you’ll read more about Change Bites: Change Your Plate Change Your Life – if you recognize yourself in any of the following, this could be your first step to making 2019 the year you begin feeling better than you have in years!

  • Do you feel more tired than usual? It is NOT always a sign of the aging process. Your body could be maxed out simply trying to digest food that it’s having difficulty digesting.
  • Are you, for health or other reasons, thinking about becoming a vegetarian or vegan? This book can help you overcome any initial setbacks and help strengthen your mind and resolve.
  • Do you suspect that you have a food intolerance? Does dairy seem to make you bloat or do you feel unusually gassy after something as simple as a sandwich? Food you eat each and every day could be doing more harm than good. This book can help you know for sure.
  • Do you want this to be the year you and your family eat healthier… and not just for the first two weeks of January?! The reason resolutions usually don’t stick is because we don’t have the “glue” to make them stick. This “glue” is how we react to change and the various challenges it presents. Again, this book could prove invaluable.
  • How about your moods? Food intolerances don’t just effect how we feel – they often effect how we behave. If you suspect you’ve been crankier or more emotional than you used to be (undoubtedly loved ones will let you know if this is the case), the cause may be in the kitchen and not the person in front of you. I read an article written by a man with a severe gluten-intolerance. He said that the first (and most profound) symptom he had when he had been accidentally glutened (when gluten or wheat passes your lips without you realizing it) was a severe shift in mood. In fact… and I found this kind of fascinating… his wife and children usually realized it before he did. They’d basically tell him to go to his man cave for a week or two until the symptoms passed! 

Basically, if you aren’t the same person you were a few years ago (or even a few months ago), it may be what you’re putting into your mouth. The self-assessment exercises and golden advice given in this book can help you get back to the person you remember. Again, I really, really, really hope you read more about Change Bites: Change Your Plate Change Your Life and consider grabbing a copy for you and/or anyone in your life who could benefit.

~ Joi (“Joy”)

Gluten Free 101: The Importance of Reading Labels

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Free for All Kitchen Brownie Thins

Free for All Kitchen Brownie Thins Review

If you have to (choose to, want to, get to…) eat gluten free, you know that finding food with “Gluten Free” on the label is imperative. I’ve known this for years but was recently reminded of the fact.

After MONTHS with zero issues, I was recently accidentally “glutened” twice within 10 days. The double whammy knocked me off my game for weeks.

My personal responses to being glutened include the following lovelies:

  •  Stomach pain – sometimes so bad I walked hunched over like the Humpback of Notre Dame for a few days. I belted out, “Sanctuary! Sanctuary!” at my cat once but she didn’t even blink. She’s grown accustomed to my ways.
  • Inability to sleep or stay asleep if, by some miracle named Benadryl, I happen to arrive.
  • Weight gain. You can imagine what back to back issues did for me.
  • Pounding headaches – the kind Ibuprofen can’t touch.
  • Itchy hives… a trick my body has only recently learned. Luckily for me, it has upped its game.
  • Inability to concentrate. My mind becomes a two year old – running all over the place and staying nowhere for more than a minute and a half.
  • Achy legs and arms. I can only describe the feeling as “flu like.”
  • Ballooned belly. I don’t think we need to elaborate on this one.
  • Zero appetite – usually not that big a deal for someone, but I happen to have low blood sugar and experience hypoglycemia when I haven’t eaten within what my body thinks is a reasonable time frame.
  • Mouth or tongue sores.
  • A general feeling of the “nasties.” Again, like the flu – with a few extra tricks up its sleeve.

My body reacts to gluten and wheat as though it’s been poisoned, Disney style. What basically happens is it hits panic mode and any combo of the above symptoms start coming at me left and right. Within the ten day double-poisoning last month, every single bell was rung. In spite of my misery, I couldn’t help being impressed.

One poisoning came from eating something off of a menu that I wasn’t sure was gluten free. We were at a Japanese restaurant where (like authentic Mexican restaurants) you have to do a lot of guess work. I guessed wrong.

A mere 10 days later, I took my chances (can you say DUMB??) with a bottle of BBQ sauce. While it didn’t actually say the words “Gluten Free” on the label, I scoured over the ingredients and felt it had to be safe.

Wrong.

It may sound like I’m making excuses, but I’m not entirely certain my brain had recovered from the first glutening. Unless you’ve experienced this, first hand, you cannot possibly imagine what it does to every corner of your body – brain included. That’s why it’s so important to have people around you who understand the gravity of the situation and can help look out for you.

Being glutened isn’t just about the miserable weeks it takes you to convince your body it isn’t under attack. It goes further than that. Each time you’re glutened, the damage is done. If you have intense allergic reactions to gluten or wheat, the reactions could actually be fatal.

In other words – don’t eat or drink anything unless it assures you that it’s gluten free. I will not let my guard down again.  I have adopted a new code word and it’s DILIGENCE. I will be completely diligent about making sure everything I buy says Gluten Free on the label and I’ll be diligent about ordering food that I know is gluten free in restaurants. If you’re in the same wheatless and gluten free boat I’m in, I hope with all that’s within me that you’ll do the same.

Be diligent and never let your guard down.

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Gluten Free Aisle - Schnucks Store in Newburgh Indiana
Gluten Free Aisle in Schnucks
When it comes to finding a great variety of gluten free food, I want to tell you about some of my own favorite goldmines and tips:

  1. Think Outside of the Grocery Store Box. Wal-Mart, Meijer, Target, Big Lots, and TJ Maxx are some of my favorite places to find gluten free products.  Most Wal-Marts even have “gluten free sections” where you can find products you can’t find anywhere else. What’s more, they’re adding a lot of gluten free products to their store brand and the ones I’ve tried have been great. Wal-Mart’s gluten free food is cheaper than just about anywhere else, too, which is a plus. Be sure to check throughout the store as well as the gluten free section. They have gluten free food spread out everywhere! TJ Maxx might be the most surprising store in the list, but they’ve been blowing me away with their gluten free cookies, candy, and snacks. Some of the best gluten free cookies I’ve ever bought have come from TJ Maxx. Target and Meijer are also wonderful places to check and Big Lots can knock you over with their savings on Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free products.
  2. Cheat on Your Favorite Grocery Store.. I Won’t Tell. Check out other grocery stores in your town and even in surrounding towns. They may carry a gluten free product you’ve never even heard of.  When travelling, be sure to check out grocery stores in other states as well. If you find something you fall in love with – stock up, then order online or, better yet, ask your grocery store to start selling your new find. The picture above is from a Schnucks store in a neighboring state (Indiana). They carry a lot of different gluten free items my own beloved Kroger (here in Kentucky) doesn’t, so it’s worth the occasional drive to stock up on a few rare gems.
  3. Check out My Reviews. I frequently write gluten free food reviews in an effort to let you know what’s the best of the best.
  4. Check out Farmer’s Markets and Local Stores.  A few weeks ago, I was in a local Farmer’s Market and, literally, lost track of the number of “Gluten Free” labels I saw. Farmer’s Markets are all about wholesomeness, freshness, and food that is as unprocessed as possible, so it’s only natural that they’d want to offer gluten free food.
  5. Amazon, Amazon, Amazon. I can wear my favorite pajamas and fuzzy pink house-shoes to one of my favorite places to shop for gluten free food: Amazon. I use Amazon religiously for gift-buying, cookbooks, and kitchen gadgets and, with each order, I throw in a couple of gluten free foods to keep things delicious. There are countless brands of gluten free products on Amazon that you simply won’t find anywhere else. For example, I can find several Pamela’s Products Gluten Free foods, which I love, in stores but Amazon has Pamela’s Products I’ve never even heard of. The same is true of Katz – another favorite brand. OMG, their gluten free doughnuts!!!  When shopping online, as is the case in stores, always look for the magic words: Gluten Free.

Final words to the wise – be diligent and read those labels. If it doesn’t say, “gluten free,” walk away. While you can do so without looking like Quasimodo…. Just sayin’. – Joi (“Joy”)

A Few Words for My Fellow Gluten Free Guys and Gals

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Jimmy John's Unwich
I’m usually much more concerned with a cereal box than a soap box, but I feel compelled to briefly step up on one. It’ll just take a few minutes and I promise to keep it free of politics.

I have not been in the gluten free world as long as some of you have. In many ways, this makes it extra tough for me because I had SO MANY YEARS of eating without really giving it a second thought. To now have to be conscious of each bite is still taking a lot of getting used to.

My oldest daughter and I had to give up gluten for health reasons.  I understand that many people are giving up gluten for reasons that don’t fall under Celiac Disease, food allergy, or gluten intolerance.

Whether your brain chooses to give up gluten or your body makes the choice for you really doesn’t matter for what I’m about to say.

I’ve noticed a lot of anger among the gluten free crowd lately and, frankly, I kind of “get it” but I mostly “don’t get it.”

I understand being annoyed when food manufacturers, restaurants, and stores don’t give enough attention to those of us who have to eat gluten free.  I know it’s frustrating to see restaurant after restaurant introduces new menus and new menu items that (consistently) fail to address those of us who have special needs.

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Chick-Fil-A Grilled Chicken and Fries
 

But here’s the thing…. they don’t have to acknowledge us or cater to us. Their vast majority of patrons can eat gluten and this is where their vast majority of money comes from. If you feel that a restaurant isn’t sensitive to your needs, eat elsewhere. Seriously. Don’t wage war against them on social media. You are not doing any good whatsoever – in fact, you’re doing harm by making all of us look like militants.

I choose to focus on the positive in all corners of my life, including what I put into my face. I celebrate the fact that Jimmy John’s has a gluten free “Unwich” rather than fixating on the fact that Subway can’t seem to figure it out.

Like a lot of gluten free people, I send  polite, courteous suggestions to restaurants requesting more options. I even heard back from one (Arby’s). These restaurants usually say the right things – things like…

  • “We’re working on it…”
  • “I know we’re dropping the ball…”
  • “This is something we care about..”

BUT, if they don’t put the words into action, it’s a clear sign they simply don’t care enough.

Frankly, to keep after them seems a bit like a rejected boyfriend or girlfriend begging to be loved. If they don’t care… have a little pride, move on!  If, at this point, they haven’t figured out how to come up with gluten free options, we are simply not welcome there.

There are plenty of restaurants that DO care – give them your business.  If you will simply do this (and are certain to praise them for their thoughtfulness), you’ll be a lot happier.

Also, if you happen to have family members and friends who love you enough to take their business only to places YOU are “welcome,” the point will be made even better.

In my experience, the following restaurants are just a few that have rolled out the welcome mat:

  • Jimmy John’s (all chips are gf and any sandwich can be made into an unwich)
  • Chick-Fil-A (grilled chicken, fries, and coleslaw are all gf)
  • Five Guys (Fries are GF and you can order your burger wrapped in lettuce)
  • TGIFriday’s (they even have a gf bun for burgers!)
  • Olive Garden (gluten free pasta and salad W/Out croutons)
  • Cracker Barrel
  • Wendy’s (chili, baked potato, salad)
  • Denny’s (really taking strides!)
  • Bob Evans (a lot to choose from)

Visit them, thank them, and stop demanding love from those that don’t care – especially if you’re militant and angry in your approach. You’re making us look bad, dude.

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Lean Cuisine Gluten Free Ranchero Braised Beef Frozen Meal

The same holds true for food manufacturers. If a company makes a great effort to meet our special needs, acknowledge and thank them to the moon and back. Support the gluten free food companies as much as you possibly can. Write thank you letters and praise them on social media.

Isn’t that the cool thing to do, after all?

I heard from a woman once who said she had so much anger – not because of her own gluten free needs – but because of her son’s. She said she’d get so mad when she saw the many restaurants they couldn’t eat at.  At the risk of wading out into self help-y waters, this kind of anger is toxic. Not just for the mom, but for the child…. for the whole family, for that matter.

Please, just stop with the anger. It’s easy to fall into a victim role (especially when you’re more concerned for your child than yourself… believe me, I get that as well as anyone) – but we aren’t victims. We simply have to eat a certain way, that’s all, and common sense says if you can’t eat HERE, you go eat THERE…

… and you thank the good Lord above that THERE is there.

As we head into 2016, I just hope you’ll remember to look for the positive in all areas of life, including food. Don’t let bitterness, anger, resentment, or a sense of being victimized define you or us.

We’re better than that.

Five Guys Burgers and Fries
 

P.S. Oops, guess I wasn’t ready to step down off the soap box after all. When an unfortunate mistake happens (and we’re all human, these things happen!), please don’t berate and bludgeon the one who made a mistake to death.  If a company’s gluten free product is compromised and you are “glutened” or you hear of other people who were “glutened” please think before you lash out with wrath only befitting God in the Old Testament.  Yes, it’s horrifying that something needless happens and it’s tragic that someone would have to suffer needlessly for someone else’s mistake.

However, if the mistake is addressed and the company has apologized… what do you want? Blood? If we (the gluten free crowd) want others to WELCOME us, we must NOT come across as angry militants looking for a fight.

Would you welcome such a person? Of course not.

We’re in this together and we tend to represent one another. The militants are making more trouble for us, as a group, than anyone.

  • Don’t make everything a fight!
  • Go where you’re welcome.
  • Brush off the places you aren’t welcome.
  • There’s a difference between standing up for yourself and pushing yourself on someone.
  • You are not a victim.
  • Remember life only comes once – be happy.

Confessions of a Salad Addict

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Salad with Chia Seeds and Kale
Have you ever met a salad fanatic? Someone who is so completely consumed with salads that they anticipate their salad at a restaurant the way most people anticipate steak?  Someone who surveys the produce department like a cat surveys a bird feeder – looking for tasty morsels to light up their taste buds and, thereby, world?

Well. You’ve met one now.

Obsessed. I am completely obsessed with salads of all kinds – tossed, potato, gelatin, pasta, fruit, bean… you name it, I’m there.  I am SO there.

My particular “problem” occurred to me recently when my husband took me out for lunch at a wonderful steak house. My reaction to and enjoyment of my salad equaled his reaction to and enjoyment of his steak.

Truth be told, if I could – at this very moment – either have my steak or salad magically appear in front of me, I’d take the salad.  And his salad, too, if he didn’t mind. I’d trade my steak for it.

Not only are salads ridiculously beautiful (if done right) and ridiculously delicious (if done right) – they’re ridiculously healthy.

If done right.

I’ve always had a section on the food blog for salads, salad recipes, and good old-fashioned salad love, but I’m (even as we speak… okay, I’m the only one speaking, aren’t I?… make that even as I speak) throwing a lot more energy and emphasis into salads.

There are a number of reasons, a few of which are:

  1. We all need to eat healthier. Salads are, primarily, made up of vegetables and fruit – things we should eat A LOT more of. Salads are the IDEAL way to go about it. Ever stop to think how many servings of vegetables and fruits you can consume each day if you simply ate more salads?
  2. Salads are the perfect “side” to just about any meal.  They’re inexpensive to make, healthy, colorful, and delicious. And don’t add a ton of calories.
  3. Salads can be the perfect “main” dish for any meal.  If you add a little protein (hard boiled eggs, turkey, chicken..) to the vegetables, you turn a classic side into a classic main course.
  4. Salads are pretty! Okay, so this reason may be a “girly” one, but I don’t care. They ARE pretty and I like that.
  5. The options are endless.  Honestly, you could, literally, come up with different combinations each and every time you had a salad.
  6. Salads are perfect for those of us with food allergies and intolerances.  So many of us have food allergies and food intolerances these days – it’s a great comfort to know there are foods that are usually safe for all of us. You simply don’t add anything to your salad that causes you problems. Special note, if you’re gluten intolerant or have a wheat allergy – when you’re in a restaurant, be sure you tell your server that you don’t want any croutons. If, like me, you’re extra sensitive, let them know you can’t have any salad that has come into contact with croutons.

The tossed salad at the top of the post is a great example of combining delicious flavors with healthy foods.  I love to use a mixture of greens in the tossed salads I make at home. Romaine lettuce, leaf lettuce, iceberg lettuce (it may get a bad rep with food snobs, but I love the freshness and crunch it brings to the party) – any kind of lettuce you can find is perfect. The magic, however, is in combining several in one salad.

In addition to lettuces, I have gotten to the point that I simply do not make a tossed salad with strips of kale! Kale is uncommonly healthy and I’m crazy about what it adds to a salad. Same can be said of spinach, of course, but kale happens to be my personal favorite.

In addition to these, a few other personal favorite tossed salad ingredients are:

  • black olives
  • carrots (either shredded or sliced)
  • celery
  • tomatoes (but I have a strict rule with tomatoes in my salads – they can only be added at the last minute – otherwise, I don’t like the effect they have on the rest of the ingredients)
  • canned baby corn
  • mild banana peppers
  • roasted red peppers
  • green, yellow, orange, or red peppers
  • green onions
  • cucumbers
  • radishes
  • green olives
  • green chilies
  • bacon
  • turkey
  • ham
  • hard-boiled eggs
  • cilantro
  • parsley
  • cauliflower
  • asparagus
  • corn
  • “mostly” thawed frozen green peas
  • hominy
  • chickpeas
  • broccoli
  • black beans
  • kidney beans
  • and on and on and on…

A few favorite Gluten Free toppings for tossed salads are:

  • chia seeds
  • flaxseed
  • sunflower seeds
  • Frito’s Corn Chips
  • dried cranberries
  • crumbled potato chips
  • small fried tortilla strips
  • gluten free bread, butter, toasted, seasoned and cubed
  • onion rings (coated with gluten free flour instead or all purpose flour)
  • crumbled bacon
  • freshly shredded cheese – experiment with different cheeses (cheddar, white cheddar, Asiago, Swiss, Monterrey Jack, Colby, Parmesan…)
  • fresh cracked black pepper
  • sea salt (or Kosher)

Chia seeds are a delicious way to sneak in a little extra nutrition. Kids will just think they’re fun, they’ll never suspect how healthy they actually are.

Tomorrow we’ll pay homage to the greatness that is a Wedge Salad.  Beautiful, delicious, and oh so very, very cheap!

What are your own favorite salad ingredients and toppings? Share in the comments!

P.S. Whether it’s for salads or ANYTHING, don’t buy shredded cheese, buy the blocks and shred it yourself, as needed. It is SO much better this way – trust me.

Salad with Chia Seeds and Kale

Easy Gluten Free Vegetarian Mexican Pizzas

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Gluten Free Mexican Tortilla Pizza
There are countless reasons to love this Gluten Free Mexican Pizzas recipe – they’re quick, easy, and very inexpensive to make.  I also love the fact that they’re ideal to make for just about anyone – because, while they’re gluten free and vegetarian, anyone and everyone loves them.

They’re that delicious.

Gluten Free Mexican Pizzas

1 (16 oz) can refried beans
1  (4 oz) can chopped green chiles
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 tsp. ground cumin
1/4 tsp. chili powder
dash of Kosher salt
8 – 10 Corn Tortillas (I use white corn tortillas)
Pace Picante Sauce (or your favorite Salsa)
Shredded Cheddar Cheese
Your favorite toppings: green onions, sweet onions, jalapenos, diced green pepper, black olives… 

You can make these pizzas in the oven OR on the stove, in a skillet. The latter’s pretty convenient in the summer months if you don’t want to heat up your kitchen. I’ve made these both ways and honestly don’t have a clear-cut favorite. I will say this, though, for whatever reasons, using a skillet seems to draw out more of the delicious corn flavor from the tortillas.

If you’re using an oven, preheat it to 400 degrees.

In a small bowl, combine the beans, chiles and spices.  you could also throw in a little diced jalapeno if you’re brave enough.

Oven Method: Place tortillas on a large baking sheet.  Spread with the bean mixture, to within 1/2 of the edges.  Top with another tortilla, gently pressing down.  Spoon Pace Picante Sauce or salsa over the top, then sprinkle with cheese and your favorite toppings.  Bake at 400 for 10 – 15 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Stove Top:  Toast tortillas (two at a time, side by side)  in a skillet.  Spread one of them with the bean mixture and top with second toasted tortilla.  Spoon Picante Sauce or salsa over the top and sprinkle with cheese and your toppings.  Put each pizza back on the skillet cover, and heat on low until cheese is melted.

Use a pizza cutter to cut each pizzas into fourths.   Serve with a salad or tortilla chips and you have a quick, easy, budget-friendly, and delicious meal.

Picante Sauce or Salsa? Either is delicious – but I’m a sucker for Picante Sauce for the simple fact that it’s sweeter. I actually prefer to mix things up and alternate between Picante and salsa.

Toppings: Use however much or however little you want – you call the shots. My favorite toppings for these pizzas are black olives and green onions but feel free to use any type of pepper that catches your eye. Finely shredded lettuce, finely chopped tomatoes and a dollop of sour cream are also great additions after the pizzas have come out of the oven or off of the stove.

Gluten Free Corn Tortillas and Pace Picante Sauce

Kinnikinnick Gluten Free Vanilla Glazed Donuts

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Kinnikinnick Gluten Free Donuts

When it comes to Gluten Free food, one name you’ll want to remember is Kinnikinnick – even if, like me, you have to look at the box when it comes time to spell it.  I’m completely obsessed with this brand’s Gluten Free Pizza Crusts (I’ll have the raving review up for them soon), so when I saw a box of their Vanilla Glazed Donuts, I couldn’t resist.

I found the box shown here in a local health food store but I’ve also seen them in the frozen aisle of a few grocery stores – including Kroger and Schnucks.

These donuts are best warmed up ever so briefly in the microwave, just be sure not to overdo it or they’ll be hard. The first one I tried to microwave did, in fact, become pretty hard – but a few dunks in my coffee made it delicious in spite of its abs of steel.

From then on out, I began to nuke them just a handful of seconds at a time, checking along the way.  There’s a golden spot for these babies and, depending upon your own microwave, you’ll have to experiment to find the perfect time.

Kinnikinnick Gluten Free Donuts

Make no mistake about it, though, they’re more than worth it. These gluten free donuts don’t taste like the fat ones you get (or “got,” past tense) from your favorite bakery. Kinnikinnick Gluten Free Donuts are closer to cake donuts – covered in a delicious glaze.

Whether you dunk them in chocolate milk, coffee, hot chocolate or simply eat them by themselves, I think you’ll love these donuts as much as I do.  Apparently they make chocolate donuts, too, which is something I’m keeping my chocoholic eyes out for!

Kinnikinnick Gluten Free Donuts

I just searched for Kinnikinnick Gluten Free Food on Amazon – the results make me feel like a kid in the candy store! If you can’t see the slideshow below on your device, just click the link above to see their many (many, many, many) gluten free food products. They actually have something I was looking for a few days ago – Gluten Free Graham Crackers (Amazon link). I wanted to make a Chocolate Éclair Cake and searched all over town for gluten free graham crackers. Now I know where to find them!

 

G.H. Cretors Popped Corn: Addictively Delicious, and No Gluten!

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The wonderful people at G.H. Cretors Popped Corn sent me bags of what can only be described as Popped Corn Heaven.  Although they, in the process, created a couple of brand new addictions in my family, I am forever indebted to them for their kindness, generosity, and stoopidly delicious popped corn.

I guess you can tell that this G.H. Cretors Popped Corn review is going to be a ridiculously positive one.

G.H. Cretors Kettle CornI’m a bit of a Kettle Corn addict, to begin with, so the first bag I tore into was the G.H. Cretors Kettle Corn.  If you aren’t familiar with Kettle Corn, let me lay it on the line for you: Kettle Corn is what all popcorn would be if it had a choice.  Kettle Corn is so additively delicious that you’ll find yourself going at it with both hands. G.H. Cretors has the best Kettle Corn I’ve ever tasted – and, believe me, I’ve been around the Kettle Corn block a million times. Okay, a billion times, but who’s counting?  At times, while deliriously throwing in G.H. Cretors Kettle Corn in, I forget to breath – let alone chew.

I keep reminding myself, “Pace yourself. No one’s taking it away from you.”

At one point, my husband (a new Kettle Corn addict – unaccustomed to its power) handed me the bag and told me, “Put it away before I kill myself.”   Oh I put it away all right.

From G.H. Cretors:

Today we make our Kettle Corn just like Great Grandpa did – with four simple, natural ingredients: popcorn, sunflower oil, cane sugar, and sea salt. That’s all it takes to bring you the perfect combination of sweet and salty – the tastiest fluffiest popcorn – with a little surprise in every kernel. From our kitchen to yours, enjoy!

All Natural…Naturally!

  • No artificial flavors or colors
  • No gluten ingredients
  • We use natural sweeteners
  • We use locally grown Non-GMO popcorn
  • Just four simple ingredients

G.H. Cretors Chicago Mix: Popped Cheddar and Caramel CornG.H. Cretors Chicago Mix

Equally delicious is G.H. Cretors Chicago Mix Popped Corn. Hold onto your seat for this one.  This is a delicious mixture of Cheddar Cheese popped corn and Caramel popped corn. My youngest daughter Stephany loves this particular variety so much I seldom see her without a bag in hand.  I can’t blame her, whatsoever, because this mix is out of this world.

Although I’m obsessed with cheese popped corn, oddly enough I’ve never been much of a caramel popped corn fan. For some reason it’s just too sticky for my taste.  I realize that some people live for that sticky caramel texture, but I’m not into it.  I was THRILLED that G.H. Cretors caramel popped corn doesn’t have that traditional stickiness. Somehow it keeps all the caramel flavor without making your teeth feel sticky and weird.

I love it for that.

From the Website:

Today we make our Caramel Corn just like Great Grandpa did- in old-fashioned copper kettles, one batch at a time. Then we mix it up the Chicago way, with our rich, creamy, Aged Cheddar Cheese Corn to create the perfect combination of Sweet and Salty. You don’t even have to come to Chicago to try this special treat. From our kitchen to yours, enjoy!

All Natural…Naturally!

  • We use Brown Rice Syrup
  • No artificial flavors or colors
  • No gluten ingredients
  • Made with fresh creamery butter
  • We use natural sweeteners
  • We use locally grown Non-GMO popcorn

 G.H. Cretors has the following varieties of Popped Corn:

  • Kettle Corn
  • Chicago Mix (Cheddar and Caramel)
  • Cheddar
  • Caramel
  • Caramel Nut Crunch

Each of these varieties should come with warning labels – these people know their popped corn like no one else.

G. H. Cretors Popped Corn is available on Amazon:
In addition to Amazon, G.H. Cretors is available in many stores across the U.S.  We don’t have any such stores in my area, so Amazon will be my source of deliciousness. Click HERE for the store locator.