Chicago Bound....

Hi All!  I did not realize it had been so long since I have posted and updated.  But as most of you know, as of September 22, 2014, I will be a resident of Chicago, IL!   What a roller coaster the last couple of months have been!  Trying to sell my house in NY, get things finished at work and currently I am in Chicago trying to find an apartment and learn a bit about the city.  So while it is drizzling out, I thought I would update you on a few of my adventures while I have been here...

First of all, I have walked and taken both the Metra and the El all over.  It is amazing what a public transportation system will do for a community.  Don't get me wrong, there are still so many cars on the roads and parking is horrifically expensive, but I will not be one of those people contributing to the problem.  ** Note to self: SELL CAR prior to leaving NY **

I have also explored a quite a bit of the city by foot.  Downtown is the place for me. :)  I have also been to Wicker Park, Old Town, Logan Square, Humboldt Park and I finally decided on an apartment in River North.  It seems to be a quick walk to work or I can take the El which is just around the corner.  There is a Whole Foods across the street, a Trader Joe's a couple blocks away and a Starbucks nearby.  The Magnificent Mile is about 3 blocks away (or close) and many shops, restaurants, bars and so much night life! I can not wait to actually get moved in and settled.  The building also has a great Guest Suite which is a full apartment and much cheaper than a hotel :) 

Speaking of shopping, just walk a block in any direction and there is something to do... eat, drink, shop & be merry!  Welcome to Chicago!!  

I have visited Navy Pier and watched the Chicago Air & Water Show practice, had lunch with an amazing view of the sky line and walked all over just people watching!  I guess I will save the Ferris wheel for when I actually report.  

I visited the beach on Saturday where I watched the actual Air & Water Show!  What an amazing day!  Sun and sand and an Air force F-22 Raptor, the Blue Angels and the Golden Knights, a Veteran Team, and a Navy Seal Team jump squads!  It was the perfect day!  

Now lets talk FOOD!   I have eaten at some spectacular places since I have been here!  Some expensive and some not so much... But no matter what the food has been fabulous!  

Pizza:  

Lou Malnati's and Gino's East:  I guess since I am GF and Pizza is a real challenge I was thankful that both places had an option available.  At Lou's I was able to get additional toppings other than the standard cheese, sausage or pepperoni.  At Gino's they only have 3 styles available but they are made off site so there are no cross contamination issues.  Lou's is not a real "thin crust" so it feels more like you are eating Chicago style pizza.  I will say Lou's would be my pick for GF pizza!  

Lou Malnati's

Ginos East

Mexican:  

Cantina Laredo: I had chicken fajitas and chips and salsa!  The salsa was so good!!! I was pleasantly surprised!  

Cantina Laredo

Tapas: 

Cafe Iberico:  A couple of the girls from work took me out for Tapas.  We had a great time and the waitress had a GF menu... It was all in Spanish, so we had a great time playing Memory and matching the little menu with the regular menu!  The garlic shrimp was amazing! 

Cafe Iberico

Breakfast/Brunch:  

The Bongo Room: We traveled to Wicker Park to the Bongo Room for brunch.  I have to say this is not to be missed.  I had a "Greek Breakfast Burrito" and potatoes.  The burrito was deconstructed (no tortilla) with tzatziki and feta!  It was spectacular!  The potatoes were not the typical potatoes from a diner.  There is quite a bit of walking to do while you!

The Bongo Room - Wicker Park

I also picked up a GF Donut at Glazed & Infused.  The donut is a cake type made with Almond Flour.  It is chocolate with chocolate ganache.  Let's just say... this would be a real treat!  At $6.35 for coffee and a donut, not to mention the decadence, I won't be enjoying it often.  Though, it was scrumptious!  

Glazed and Infused

American/Other

Bandera:  I ventured to Bandera on Michigan Ave after a recommendation!  I was not to be disappointed.  I had the Apricot Glazed Roasted Chicken and the Mashed Potatoes... Most of you know chicken is my go to, but I had a difficult time deciding between the BBQ Salmon, the Ahi Tuna and the Chicken but I am sure it was the Mashed Potatoes that made my choice for me :)  They have jazz music in the evenings and if you are a party of 1 or 2, sit at the bar.  The wait is much less!  

Bandera - Chicago

I am sure there is more, but I can't remember at the moment!  Maybe I will see you when you visit!  

~ Share & Enjoy ~

Sweet Potato & Tuscan Chicken Chili

As a foodie, I find inspiration everywhere!  This time I found my inspiration in a support group.  This group is about starting and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.  We technically call it a "weightloss" group, but I hope I can speak for most of us, when I say, it seems to be much more than that for me.  So many of the women are up honest and up front about the good, the bad and the ugly of changing their lives to become more healthy!  Whether it is to lose a few pounds, or to eat better or whatever their goal is we are a group that is motivated and encouraging.  I always appreciate that support in my journey.  One of the ladies posted a picture of her dinner which was recommended by her cousin (Melanie Edwards) and it looked delish!  Her dish included sweet potatoes, turkey, italian tomatoes and black beans.  I wasn't quite sure how to accomplish this, so I attempted my own and not only was I surprised about the combination with the sweet potatoes but it was so filling and yummy!

1 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp lemon olive oil
3 small or 1 large sweet potato - washed and small diced
1 lb tuscan chicken sausage **
1 can fire roasted diced tomatoes
1 c chicken stock
1 c drained and rinsed black beans
3 hot cherry peppers - diced (no seeds)
 S&P

Add olive oil and the small diced sweet potato and S&P to a cast iron chicken fryer on medium heat.  Saute' for about 5-7 minutes. Then add the lemon olive oil and the chicken sausage.  Cook the sausage until it starts to brown and is in small pieces.  Then add the tomatoes, beans cherry peppers and chicken stock.  Cook on medium to medium low heat for 15 to 20 minutes until the sweet potatoes are soft.  The key to this is making sure that the dice on the sweet potatoes is small and fairly uniform.  This helps them cook evenly and around the same time.  I try to dice mine to about a 1/2 inch.

** If you can't find the Tuscan Chicken Sausage (I get it at Roma's Imports in Latham, NY:  http://www.romafoods.com/) then you can use ground chicken with 1-2 tbsp Italian Seasoning and 1/2 tsp garlic powder.)

Share & Enjoy!!

Chicken Riggies

The first two years I lived in NY were spent traveling... traveling between Albany and Syracuse and between Albany and Plattsburgh, NY.  At this point I was not Gluten Free so I tried many new dishes that included an amazing amount of pasta dishes. Between Albany and Syracuse are a couple of towns known as Utica and Rome, NY.  The area is known for Utica Greens and Chicken Riggies. These are just two of the spectacular dishes that I tried and loved while traveling back and forth.  Upon my diagnosis (as you will often find in the blog), I shied away from trying to recreate dishes that were favorites or something I wasn't sure could be "just as good GF".  Now after a couple of years, I feel better about taking the leap!  This is one that I am so excited that I tried and succeeded at!

** Sorry, I didn't have any GF Rigatoni, so I used the only GF pasta I had... It was still delish!! **

1 lb Rigatoni
2 lbs chicken breast  (cut in small chunks)
2 Roasted Red Peppers (1/2" slices)
1 - 28 oz can San Marzano Tomatoes (whole)
7-10 hot cherry peppers (rough chopped)
5 cloves garlic (minced)
1 cup Romano cheese (grated)
1 cup Cooking Sherry Wine + 1/2 cup water
4 tbsp EVOO
4 tbsp butter
1/4-1/2 cup heavy cream
1 tsp Basil
Pinch of Salt

In a heavy stock pot (I used a cast iron dutch oven) add 2 tbsp of the olive oil and 4 cloves of the garlic over low heat.  Don't let the garlic burn and then add the tomatoes, sherry wine and water.  Simmer for about 5 minutes.  Add the butter, basil and salt.  Turn it down and let it simmer on low.  In a separate skillet add the chicken to brown over medium heat.  Once it is almost brown, add the roasted red peppers, hot cherry peppers and the last minced garlic clove.  Saute' for a couple more minutes.  (I turned to medium low and cooked about 5 minutes).  In the sauce pot, smash the tomatoes with a potato masher carefully and stir in the cream.  Add the cheese and then the chicken and peppers.  Simmer on low while cooking the pasta to al dente.  Toss the pasta with the sauce and serve romano cheese on top.

This should serve 4-6.

As you can tell, I modified the recipe just a bit.  I actually used: 5 peppers because they were fairly large and 1/2 c of the heavy cream.  I also used I also used a bit more basil because I thought it needed it.  I love, love, love roasted red pepper and sliced mine into 1/2 inch slices instead of chopping them into chunks.

These are the hot cherry peppers that I bought.  I found them at the local Italian Market.  They are usually available in the International Foods isle at the grocery store.

Here is the link for the original recipe that I started from... Please Share & Enjoy!!

The Brooklyn Ragazza: Utica Chicken Riggies

GF Pound Cake with Balsamic Strawberries

Amazing! Divine!  Perfect!  Okay, enough about me :)  Now, that you have laughed really hard, if you have ever read any of my posts you know that I traditionally don't bake.  I am scared of it.  In the past I have tried and tried again, but even before I found out I had Celiac, baking was not something I was particularly good out, unless it was something I had been doing since I was a kid.

So, when I get the wild hair and decide it is time yet again, to waste expensive ingredients and try, I pray the end result is actually edible.  In this case.... WOW!  BOOM!! POW!!!  I DID IT!!!

Total Disclaimer:  This is not my recipe.  I found the cake recipe on Pinterest.  I will include the information from the webpage and the link also.  The only think I did to make it my own was to serve with Balsamic Strawberries.

Link:  http://glutenfreeeasily.com/perfect-pound-cake/

Author: Shirley Braden of Gluten Free Easily

 

Ingredients

• 2 ¼ cups gluten-free flour **
• 1 ½ tsp xanthan gum**
• 1 ¼ tsp sea salt
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ¾ cup light olive oil
• 1 ½ cups sugar
• 2 tbsp orange juice
• 2 tsp vanilla extract 
• 3 large eggs
• ⅔ cup full-fat coconut milk 

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. (Update: Reader Wendy lives at a higher altitude—6600 ft—and she adjusted oven temperature to 375 degrees, per her comment below.) Grease two loaf pans or grease and flour (use gluten-free flour) a Bundt pan.
2. Combine flour, xanthan gum, sea salt, and baking powder in an extra large measuring cup or separate bowl. Set aside.
3. Pour olive oil into large bowl, and slowly mix in sugar, orange juice, and vanilla extract.
4. Add eggs one at a time, stirring after each addition.
5. Add milk. Mix 2 minutes. Gradually add dry ingredients into wet ingredients, mixing well.
6. Pour batter into loaf pans or Bundt pan.
7. Bake for 50 – 55 minutes.
8. If using a Bundt pan let set for 10 minutes before flipping to cool.  

** I used Authentic Foods Baking Mix with Xantham Gum included.  This means I left out the additional Xantham Gum. **

Balsamic Strawberries

1 lb Container Strawberries - washed, hulled and sliced

1/4 c 18 year Balsamic Vinegar

1 tbsp Coconut Sugar

Add all ingredients to a bowl, stir to combine and cover and refrigerate until just before serving.  

Non-Cooking: Buffet Transformation

After recently having to have some major home repairs done, including a wall taken down and put back up in my dining room, I have learned to have faith in myself in things other than cooking! I wanted to find a piece of furniture to make this dining room my own.  I was so excited that during another remodel project I discovered the local Habitat for Humanity Store in Albany, NY.  I was fortunate to find a solid wood buffet/dresser which was very inexpensive but yet in great condition despite the horrible color (green).  After begging a friend with a truck to help me go pick it up, I then realized how LARGE and HEAVY it was, but with a bit of determination and a couple of stops along the highway to adjust the drawers to keep from losing them we made it!

Before

After letting it sit in the garage for a couple weeks and searching out paint and what I actually wanted to do with it I discovered Annie Sloan Chalk Paint.  The closest location for me was Bennington, VT.  This trip included a local antique store (to purchase the paint), the covered bridges and local lore of the town and many pictures!

Upon my return, I pulled out the picture I was using as inspiration and I asked a friend if I could borrow a sander.  Yes, Heather used a power tool... I already had a cold, so why not add to it with a bit of dust!  I anticipated a quick sanding of the top to get the green color off and then I could stain the top a bit darker.  What happened was I discovered, 2 layers of paint on top of this amazing wood.  So I sanded to the actual wood.  Three hours later, sand in my hair I trucked to the hardware store.  I am fairly certain I scared the employee in the paint section, when I asked for stain and what type of paint brush I needed.  Then I told him I was going to put wax on the top so I did not need anything to seal the stain.

After 2 coats of stain, the wood absorbed everything I put on, so I decided to add one more to even it out.  The third coat made it!  While the overnight drying began I started removing hardware and painting the drawers and base of the buffet.  After a couple days of painting and drying the base and drawers were painted.  Finally I could move everything in doors to wax and have my garage back for my car.  :)

I followed the directions (which most of you know, I rarely do), applying a coat of clear wax, buffing and then applying a coat of dark wax.  This is a tedious process but made the outcome spectacular!

I hope that you enjoyed something other than a cooking and/or Celiac post!  This was so much fun and I wanted to share it!  :)

After

Fresh Fruit Water

If you are anything like me, you could probably drink more water.  It would be better for you and you would probably feel much better!  I have realized, especially during the winter, when the temperature is sub zero, my skin and my body feels even drier.  But I don't want to drink water.  I want to drink anything but water.  After willing spring to get here, and buying some fruit that wasn't necessarily as sweet as I would have wanted (and seeing all types of pictures on Pinterest) I created all types of flavored waters on my own!  I drank all of them and more this week!  It was a total hit and became quite the joke at my office with all the trips I made to the fridge to refill my cup :)

I recycled glass pasta sauce jars that are 24 oz each.  I made 5 jars and 1 plastic pitcher that I used in the morning and the evenings when I was home. 

2 strawberries - thinly slices
4 fresh mint leaves
1 orange - rinsed and sliced with skin on
1 lemon - rinsed and sliced with skin on
2 limes - rinsed and sliced with skin on
2 pieces of pineapple
Filtered Water

Jar #1 - Strawberries and Mint
Jar #2 - 2 slices Orange
Jar #3 - 1 Lime
Jar #4 - Pineapple
Jar #5 - 2 slices Orange and Lemon
Pitcher - Rest of Citrus


I used my Brita to fill each jar and the pitcher with filtered water.  Since the jars are 24 oz, you are already getting a head start of water.  I refilled each of the jars 2X a day and they lasted in the refrigerator 3-4 days.  I don't know if they would last longer but I drank them that quickly. 

** I use Organic Produce when I am going to use the skin or when I purchase it the grocery store.  I try to support the local farmers markets but in the winter that brings me mostly potatoes :) **

Share & Enjoy!!

Buffalo Roasted Chick Peas

In case it hasn't been apparent, I went thru a "buffalo everything" phase.  It could have been because of the amount of football I was watching or because I was trying to eat something besides chicken but I have found that I love, love, love these buffalo chick peas!  They are super simple and very filling.  I promise you will be making a double batch the next time!!  Hope you share & enjoy!

1 large can chick peas, drained and rinsed

1/8 cup Franks Red Hot

Preheat oven to 400. Drain and rinse the chick peas.  Add them to a cookie sheet.  Drizzle the Franks Red Hot over the chick peas.  Shake the pan to coat.  Bake for 15 minutes.  Toss and bake another 15 minutes.  Remove and let set for 5 minutes.  Serve with Ranch or just plain.  

** You can add the chick peas and the Franks Red Hot to a ziploc bag and shake for a more even coating.  I just find it to be more clean up, so I just roll them around on the pan for a bit before I put them in the oven. **