Daily Forage - gluten free

Pork, Beet and Fennel Hash

... Quick, Colorful Weeknight One-Dish-Wonder Dinner!

This is a super easy, super tasty weeknight meal that can be ready in about 30 minutes. If that’s not enough, it's free of the top eight allergens. This is a “stacked” dish (also referred to by Daily Forage members as a “one-dish-wonder”) so you get all the flavors in each bite. I LOVE that kind of dish. Whenever I’m looking for something fast and easy for dinner, I seem to put it into this style of cooking and plating - kind of a comfort food to me. I don’t really know how much style is involved, but it works for me. The other aspect of one-dish-wonder meals is they are completely adaptable to whatever ingredients you have in the kitchen, so if you read through this recipe and find you don’t have (or don’t care for) the suggested beets or fennel, simply substitute them with veggies of your choice. Just try to keep it as colorful and texture-rich as possible, for eye appeal, nutritional value, and yum factor. Enjoy!

Mega-Vit Juice

... Blending Up Goodness!

Happy Fruit & Veggie Friday, Everyone! I'm so happy to be back to juicing and making fresh liquid fruit and vegetable flavor and nutrient combinations to share with you. 

Today I've used my Hurom Slow Juicer to juice my oranges and carrot, then I combined those in the blender with some sweet apple, tangy cherries, and fresh baby spinach leaves (go iron), and blended them to a homongeous frothy juice smoothie.

The result ... a high fiber, slightly sweet, and nutrient rich "great way to start your day" drink. For more healthy info, check out the nutrition facts for each fruit and veggie listed below the recipe.

Cheers to good health by daily foraging those naturally gluten-free, dairy-free foods! :D

Red Apple Lipstick Rallye Balm and Exfoliate Stick

... For Smooth, Kissable Lips ... This is the Perfect Team!

Here I am again, ready to tell you about another Red Apple Lipstick product that I’ve recently added to my box of Red Apple Lipstick “must-haves”. It’s their Exfoliate Stick. If you’re not familiar with lip exfoliators, let me assure you that these are a very good thing.

Exfoliators, in general, are types of salves or balms which contain tiny bead-like particles. These particles act as a micro-dermabrasion treatment when rubbed or massaged into the skin. This process gently sloughs off the dead, dry skin cells and exposes new, soft, supple skin, leaving a smooth and healthy appearance ... kind of like putting on a pretty dress that just makes you feel good when you wear it.

Chocolate Cupcakes with Lemon Zest Buttercream Frosting

... Harmonious Flavors in Cheery Cupcake Papers!

I usually don’t splurge on this kind of thing, but when I saw these cheery cupcake papers at the local market recently (on an otherwise very gray day), I simply couldn’t pass them by. Initially not having a plan for their use, other than cupcakes of course, I set them aside. Then spring showed its head one day, and my craving for fresh lemon dawned. And thus, this cupcake recipe was born.

Summertime Egg Salad

... Refreshing and Light!

Warm weather has finally come to Minnesota ... Wow, that took awhile! With its arrival also came the desire for lighter fare foods and "fresh" tasting dishes. Suddenly I’ve moved from soups and “meat and potatoes” style menu items to salads, much more fresh fruit, easy sandwiches, etc. You can relate, right? 

Our gluten-free, dairy-free egg salad delivers the summertime, refreshing entree feel for me. With crisp, juicy, bits of sweet cucumber, the occasional tang of the gherkin pickles, and the bright taste of fresh parsley, this is more than just egg salad. The recipe is quick and easy to make, especially if you have some pre-cooked hard boiled eggs in the fridge, and includes ingredients that are most likely on hand in your kitchen already. An easy, go-to recipe ... great for the summer vacation days of playing hard, relaxing hard, and having kids around the house who are probably hungry all the time. It's a high protein, healthy snack food that won't weigh anyone down. I like to eat it as shown in the photo, but it's great in sandwiches, on crackers, or dolloped into half an avocado too. Hope you enjoy it ... and the change of pace that’s coming up (or may have already begun).

Rustic Chocolate Chip Cookies

... It's Never Too Late to Make Chocolate Chip Cookies!

Okay, so I found out at the "eleventh hour" that May 15th is National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day. No problem, I'll get up in the morning and make a batch of cookies ... oh, wait ... May 15th is TODAAAAY! Well, no matter what time it is, and I mean that (almost) literally, it's never too late for me to make chocolate chip cookies. I LOVE to bake! It's relaxing. It clears my head from the day's clutter. It centers me and makes me feel new again. Even if it's late at night. I know, I'm weird. That's okay ... it's still May 15th and I've made a new recipe of gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free, peanut-free chocolate chip cookies. And now I'm centered ... until tomorrow ... :D

Tuesday’s Travels - gluten free in Boulder, CO

... Choices, Choices, Choices!

Recently one of my readers sent an email asking if I had any detailed information on eating gluten-free in Boulder, Colorado (as I had referred to this in a previous post of Tuesday’s Travels in Aurora, CO). I’m so glad she inquired!

Green “Bloody Mary Mix” Juice

... “Walking on the Wild Side!”

Happy Fruit & Veggie Friday, Everyone! Today's juice, Green Bloody Mary Mix Juice, is bold! There’s no other way to say it! WOW! It is reminiscent of V-8 juice, but in a green version. The combination of sweet tomatoes, fresh lime, basil leaves and baby spinach leaves create a salty, bright, acidic flavor. When making a Bloody Mary mix, the spices added, such as Tabasco, celery salt, fresh cracked pepper, onion powder and garlic bring out the flavors. But with this juice, the bold flavors and kick are already present. I almost added a bit of salt and pepper to the juice before I tasted it, which I rarely do except to a tomato-based juice, and I’m so glad I waited. It is enough by itself. If you want to dial down the punch a bit, try reducing the lime in the recipe to just one instead of two. Pairing it with some Vodka just might make walking on the wild side of this juice a very pleasurable combination. In my mind, this is a party juice ... not an everyday, morning juice. But that’s just me. You decide.

Gordy and the Magic Diet Book Review

... Finding the Courage to Slay the Hidden Monster!

Gordy and the Magic Diet, written by Kim Diersen and April Runge, with whimsical illustrations by Carrie Hartman, is a children’s book about a little boy who struggles with a belly monster that makes him feel yucky, cranky, sad, and very frustrated. He doesn’t know why the monster shows up sometimes more than others. He just knows that the monster really bothers him and is beginning to take over all the fun things he used to be able to enjoy, but now they often leave him feeling sick ... like birthday parties, school celebrations, even Grandma’s special treats. 

Gordy’s doctor discovers a special diet that eventually makes Gordy feel better ... but Gordy thinks this diet is too difficult. So he cheats, hoping that “maybe a teeny-tiny piece won’t hurt”. He discovers very quickly that even a little bit of the wrong foods can bring back all the yucky, cranky, sad, and frustrated feelings. Gordy ultimately has to decide for himself if he is strong enough to slay that monster that lurks in his belly. Can he be brave enough to say “no” to the favorite foods to keep himself feeling good?

Tuesday's Travels - gluten free in Aurora, Colorado

... I’m Hooked!

I visited Aurora, Colorado this past week and enjoyed some much-needed quality family time. While there I also stopped in on some wonderful gluten-free companies in the greater Denver Metro area, as well as Boulder. More about that later. 

One of my favorite discoveries while in Aurora, (thanks Sarah!), was learning about a fantastic casual-dining eatery that does delicious food - and not just delicious food, but deliciously AWESOME gluten-free, dairy-free food. Tokyo Joe’s is the place to which I’m referring. It was so good, I made sure to fit TWO trips to Tokyo Joe’s in during my quick-paced week in CO.

Tokyo Joe’s is a Colorado-based company (oh, I wish they were in MN too!) with 25 locations between Colorado Springs and Fort Collins. Tokyo Joe’s is a family friendly, reasonably priced, casual dining restaurant with a healthy Japanese cuisine theme. The food is fresh and made to your order. Their menu has everything to create a fulfilling and satisfying gluten-free meal, including starters, made-to-order sushi, Protein/Rice/Veggie Bowls - designed either by you or as Signature Bowls with pre-determined combinations - plus soups and salads, noodle bowls, and even Joe’s Tea Bar. 

While not all items on the menu are gluten-free, there are numerous options to choose from or to create. Be sure to ask for their gluten-free Teriyaki Sauce! It’s sweet and savory and oh, so good!