Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurant

My GFF Shelley and I have been eagerly awaiting the opening of Cooper's Hawk Restaurant & Winery in Waterford Lakes for months.  

Our daughters had their last day of school today, so we went to Cooper's Hawk for a celebratory lunch.  

 I knew they had an extensive gluten free menu because I had looked at it online, but I was still blown away by how many pages and choices there were.  You can view all of Cooper's Hawk's gluten free options here.  They have a gluten free wine list, drink & beverage menu, appetizers, salads, chicken, seafood & beef entrees, burgers & sandwiches, lunch-sized entrees, sides, and house made desserts.  

There were so many wonderful things to choose from, I didn't know what to order.  

The gluten free bread we started with is the same bread they use for their hamburgers.  It was heated perfectly, and tasted quite good.  

From the appetizer menu, I ordered the Mexican drunken shrimp, which is described as bacon wrapped shrimp, tequila lime butter sauce, and fresh guacamole. My shrimp were cooked perfectly, and I loved all the flavors of this dish.  

I also ordered a lunch portion of the Dana's Parmesan-Crusted Chicken.  It was one of the best entrees I have had at a restaurant this year.  

I loved the combination of parmesan-crusted chicken with tomato basil relish and lemon butter.  My garlic green beans, which are hidden under my chicken, were cooked and seasoned perfectly.  

My chicken dish was served with a bowl of Mary's Potatoes, which are whipped potatoes with butter and cream.   They were just as delicious as my chicken!

My friend Shelley loved her Annie's Chicken Saltimbocca with prosciutto, provolone, garlic, artichoke hearts, capers, tomatoes, white wine lemon sauce, Mary's potatoes, and asparagus.  

Her daughter Bella enjoyed her burger, and said the Mary's potatoes were the best mashed potatoes she had ever had.

For dessert, my daughters and I ordered a gluten free chocolate brownie with vanilla bean ice cream, and chocolate, caramel, raspberry and vanilla sauces.  The brownie is an OMG...It's Gluten Free Fudge Brownie, a brownie we are familiar with from Disney.  They are always fudgy and delicious, and we loved the brownie with the ice cream and sauces, which we ordered on the side.  

I tried a sample of Cooper's Hawk's sangria white and loved it so much, I purchased a bottle of wine before we left.  

Cooper's Hawk takes gluten free food preparation seriously, and the manager and chef are informed when someone with a special diet orders from the gluten free menu.  After reading amazing reviews on Pretty Little Celiac and Gluten Free Living Now, I was so excited to go to Cooper's Hawk Restaurant & Winery.  The food was all incredibly delicious, and our server Katie H. did an amazing job.  We will definitely be going back.  

July 10, 2014 Update

Last night, we met my friend Shelley and her husband for dinner at Cooper's Hawk.  My husband and I split two entrees, which our server offered to have divided in the back, so I ended up with two big plates of food. 

  

I was excited to order Dana's Parmesan Crusted Chicken again, but they were out of gluten free bread crumbs, so I ended up choosing Ellie's Chicken Piccata instead.  I was glad that this dish included my favorite Mary's Potatoes, and I swapped out green beans for the asparagus.  The chicken was tender, and had a delicious lemon butter caper sauce.  I liked the Dana's Parmesan Crusted Chicken better from my last visit, but this was a very good dish.

For a second entree, we ordered the short rib risotto, which is made with carnaroli rice, sweet onions, white wine, shaved parmesan, and white truffle oil.  I would have given this dish an A+ if the short rib had not been so dry.  I really loved the combination of flavors, and enjoyed eating the dish after I cut up the short rib and mixed it with the other ingredients, but the meat itself was disappointing.

For dessert, I chose the creme brulee, which was also a bit disappointing.  It was good, but was a little runnier than I am used to.

Shelley ordered the Mediterranean Salad with cucumbers, red onion, asparagus, kalamata olives, mild giardiniera, sweet grape tomatoes, feta cheese, chicken, and a red wine & lemon herb vinaigrette.  

She loved her salad and her dessert, a chocolate covered strawberry, which she said was the best chocolate covered strawberry she has ever had.  

You can view Cooper's Hawk restaurant locator here.

September 12, 2014 Update - Orlando will have a second Cooper's Hawk on Monday, when a new restaurant opens on International Drive.  This new location will be serving breakfast, lunch and dinner.  

Have you been to Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurant?  What are your favorite gluten free dishes?  

Banana Muffins with Cup 4 Cup Wholesome Flour

Last week, I purchased a bag of Cup4Cup Wholesome Flour from Williams-Sonoma.  I ordered it online because I had a coupon for 15% off + free shipping.  Locally, you can purchase Cup4Cup products at the Williams-Sonoma locations in Winter Park or the Mall at Millenia.  I have been using Cup4Cup's original flour blend since it was first released, and it has become my favorite gluten free all-purpose flour.  It contains cornstarch, white rice flour, brown rice flour, milk powder, tapioca flour, potato starch, and xanthan gum.  

The wholesome flour blend contains brown rice flour, white rice flour, ground golden flaxseed, rice bran, and xanthan gum.  It is gluten free, dairy free, and non-GMO.  

Important information from the back of the bag -- Wholesome Cup4Cup flour's performance, taste and texture is similar to whole wheat flour, resulting in hearty and nutritious baked items.  Due to the high fiber content, recipes may need to be adjusted slightly like you would with whole wheat flour by adding a bit more liquid or fat.  

As soon as I received my flour, I started thinking about what I wanted to make.  Cup4Cup doesn't have any recipes on their Facebook page or website for the wholesome flour blend yet, and I have had no experience baking with whole wheat flour or a blend that would work like it.  In the end, I decided a whole wheat banana muffin recipe would work well for my first experiment with Cup4Cup Wholesome Flour.

I always try and weigh as many ingredients as I can on my kitchen scale, so I weighed out 280 grams (2 cups) of flour.  If you like to bake and don't have a kitchen scale, what are you waiting for?  My kitchen scale is one of my favorite kitchen gadgets.  

The Two Peas and Their Pod recipe I adapted to make gluten free makes 15 muffins, so I had to use both my USA Pans muffin pan and one of my Polish Pottery muffin pans.  

I sampled a banana muffin about 30 seconds after it came out of the oven.  I just couldn't help myself!  

I sampled a second banana muffin after they cooled down and I took this picture.  They were great warm and at room temperature.  The muffins were so moist and delicious, they really didn't even need butter, which is something I seldom say.  

Wholesome Banana Muffins - makes 15 muffins

Ingredients

280 grams (2 cups) Cup4Cup Wholesome Flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp kosher salt

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1 3/4 C mashed ripe bananas (about 4 large bananas)

1 C (218 grams) light brown sugar - packed

1/2 C plain Greek yogurt - room temp

1/4 C unsalted butter or coconut oil - melted and cooled

1 large egg - room temp

2 tsp pure vanilla extract

Optional - turbinado sugar

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease muffin pans.  

In a medium size bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.  

In a large bowl, combine the bananas, brown sugar, yogurt, butter, egg, and vanilla extract.  Stir well, then slowly add in the dry ingredients, mixing until just combined. 

Fill 15 muffin cups about 3/4 full.  Optional -- sprinkle the muffins with a little bit of turbinado sugar.  Bake for 23 minutes, or until a knife or toothpick inserted into the middle of a muffin comes out clean.  Allow the muffins to cool in the pans, then store them at room temperature.

Recipe Notes

This recipe was adapted from a Two Peas and Their Pod recipe for Whole Wheat Banana Muffins.  You can view the recipe here.  I switched the flour, decreased the baking soda, increased the cinnamon, used butter instead of coconut oil, and didn't use paper muffin liners.  They sprinkled their muffins with turbinado sugar, but I didn't have any in the house, so I used a little bit of organic cane sugar instead.  

Next time, I might make 12 regular muffins and 9 mini muffins, cooking the minis for about 10 minutes less.  I will keep you posted.  

I froze a good number of the muffins for future breakfasts.  In my experience, banana muffins freeze very well.  The rest, I stored covered, at room temperature.  

To make these muffins dairy free, use coconut oil and dairy free So Delicious Greek style yogurt.  

Cooking tip -- when you need room temperature eggs, put them in a bowl of hot tap water for a couple of minutes.

Update  - The muffins are great leftover.  I stored them in an airtight container overnight, and served them at room temperature the next morning.  My kids liked them, but were sad they didn't contain chocolate, because they are used to my Mexican Chocolate Banana Muffins.  Next time I make these muffins, I will definitely be adding some Taza Mexican chocolate.  It is gluten, dairy, and soy free. I purchase it at Whole Foods.  

These muffins did freeze really well.  I defrost them for a minute in the microwave for an easy snack or breakfast.

Update - I did make my girls Mexican chocolate banana muffins with Cup4Cup Wholesome Flour.  You can view the recipe here.

Sweet Christine's Bakery

Last Friday, I received a box of baked goods from Sweet Christine's Bakery.  All of Sweet Christine's products are gluten free, organic, and contain no artificial flavors or preservatives.  The bakery opened in 2008, and this month, Sweet Christine's Bakery & Cafe opened in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. 

After dinner on Saturday, my daughters and I sampled the chocolate chip cookies and the chocolate chocolate chip brownie.  Both treats contain eggs and dairy, but are made in a dedicated, certified gluten free and nut free facility.  I liked that the ingredients were similar to what I would use at home if baking these products from scratch, with the exception of evaporated cane juice.  My girls and I preferred the brownie over the cookie, but they both tasted good.  My only complaint is that they were a little crumbly.  

On Sunday, my husband used the baguette to make egg salad sandwiches.

He liked the baguette better than my daughters and I did, but we all enjoyed it with the egg salad.  This is a product that I would love to try the day it has been baked, fresh out of the oven.  The consistency was very good, and when sliced, it certainly looked like a gluten-filled baguette.  

Today, I finally had a chance to try the gluten-free sandwich bread.  I decided to taste it as is first, before getting out my toaster.   

I was amazed at how fresh it still tasted four days after it had arrived at my house.  I am so glad I didn't put it in the fridge or freezer, because it was great at room temperature with some butter.  Oddly enough, it tasted a little bit like my husband's grandmother's Easter bread.  This is not a light and airy sandwich bread, which is ok with me.  I like a denser, slightly sweet bread that I can eat with butter.  This would be the perfect bread to eat with eggs, or make French toast with.  If I lived near Sweet Christine's, I would be buying this bread on a regular basis.  It contains a flour blend (brown rice, white rice, potato starch, tapioca), dry milk, sweet whey flour, organic brown sugar, organic eggs, organic butter, xanthan gum, and yeast.  It is made in a dedicated gluten free facility, but it has a warning that it is produced in a facility that uses peanuts, milk, egg, and soy.  

The last product I tried was Sweet Christine's Home Style Pizza Crust.  The package I received contained 6 individual thin crust pizza shells.  I brushed olive oil on top, then added oregano, and roasted garlic sea salt from a spice grinder I bought at The Fresh Market.  It was delicious, and so nice and crispy after only 5 minutes in the oven.  I would love to serve my oregano and garlic salt pizza with my homemade white bean hummus, Caprese salad, or roasted red peppers, but it was great on its own.  

Sweet Christine's Pizza Crust contains white rice flour, potato starch, cornstarch, evaporated cane juice, olive oil, xanthan gum, and yeast.  It is dairy and egg free, and processed in a dedicated, certified gluten free and nut free facility.

You can purchase Sweet Christine's products on their website here.

Have you tried any of Sweet Christine's baked goods?

All the opinions expressed in this blog post are my own.  I received these complimentary products from Sweet Christine's Bakery for a possible review, no strings attached.  I only review products on my blog that I really like, and hope you will enjoy as well.

Lundberg Organic Alfredo Risotto

I am writing this review of Lundberg Organic Alfredo Risotto in honor of my daughter Emma.  If you ask her what her favorite food is, she consistently says "cheese rice," her name for this risotto.  

Lundberg Organic Alfredo Risotto is gluten free and non-GMO project verified.  I usually purchase it from Whole Foods, but I have also seen it at Publix and The Fresh Market.  

The box has stove top and microwave cooking instructions, but I always cook it on my stove.  Of the top 8 allergens, this product lists that is contains milk.  

Last night, I made two boxes for six people in my medium size pot.  I start by sauteing my rice in olive oil for two minutes, then I add water, lowfat milk, and the seasoning pouches.  The box says it cooks in 20 minutes, but I find it takes a little bit longer when I am making two boxes.  

I always stir in a little extra Parmesan when it is done cooking.  This risotto is definitely best served hot, or as the box says, "piping hot."  

I love to serve Lundberg Organic Alfredo Risotto with Publix GreenWise Organic frozen steam-in-bag sweet peas.  They are great mixed together.

I am a huge fan of Lundberg products.  In my fridge and pantry, I currently have basmati, sushi, arborio, and brown short grain and long grain rice.  They are all labeled gluten free and non-GMO.  I better buy some more alfredo risotto soon, because Emma begs me to make it about once a week. 

Update - The box for Lundberg Alfredo Risotto has a new look.

What are your favorite Lundberg products?

Marinated Pork Tenderloin

Tonight, we made our favorite pork tenderloin recipe, a recipe my mother introduced me to years ago.  

The key to obtaining the most flavor is to let this pork marinate for at least 6 to 8 hours, or overnight, if possible.  

I put all the ingredients in a freezer bag, then massage the bag to blend everything together.  

Tonight, for the first time, we made a board dressing for the pork out of olive oil, honey, and rosemary.  As my husband cut the tenderloins, he dipped each piece in the board dressing.

Marinated Pork Tenderloin

Ingredients

2 pork tenderloins

3 T olive oil

3 T honey

3 T gluten free dijon or stone ground mustard

2 T gluten free soy sauce

juice of one lemon

2 sprigs of fresh rosemary

Optional Ingredients for Board Dressing

1 or 2 T olive oil

1 or 2 T honey

2 or 3 sprigs of rosemary -- finely chopped

Directions

Place all the ingredients in a freezer bag, seal it, then massage the bag until the marinade is evenly distributed. 

Put the pork in the refrigerator, and let it marinate for at least 6 to 8 hours, or preferably overnight.  Flip the bag every couple of hours to redistribute the marinade.  

Grill the tenderloins over indirect heat for about 25 to 30 minutes, until the pork reaches an internal temperature of 145 degrees.  Allow the pork to rest for 5 to 10 minutes before slicing it.  

Optional  -- Make the board dressing on a cutting board by combining the olive oil, honey, and rosemary.  Dip each piece of sliced pork in the board dressing before serving.  

Recipe Notes

We like to buy a pack of four pork tenderloins from Costco, marinate all 4 (two per bag), then put one bag in the freezer and one in the refrigerator.  This pork dish is actually at its most flavorful when it has been frozen.  The marinade really soaks into the meat best when it has spent some time in the freezer, then given a day to defrost in the refrigerator.  We usually cook two tenderloins at a time, unless we have guests over.  We eat one tenderloin the night we cook it, then keep the second for dinner the next night.  We never reheat it because it is excellent cold.  

I buy gluten free Organicville stone ground mustard from Whole Foods to use in this recipe.

Tangierine Cafe - Epcot

We enjoy all three of the restaurants in the Morocco Pavilion at Epcot - Tangierine Cafe, Spice Road Table, and Restaurant Marrakesh.  

Tangierine Cafe, a quick service restaurant, has always been one of my family's favorite lunch spots at Epcot. 

The cast members that work at Tangierine Cafe are always very knowledgeable about gluten free options.

I always order the Shawarma Platter with chicken.  It is usually served with  hummus, tabouleh, Tangierine couscous salad, and fresh Moroccan bread.  

The tabouleh and the Tangierine couscous salad contain gluten, but they let you substitute marinated olives and lentil salad.  I usually just get chicken,  a double portion of hummus, and lentil salad with my Shawarma Platter, because I am not a huge fan of most olives.  Tangierine Cafe does have gluten free bread, which is typically an Ener-G bun, but I usually skip it or get Moroccan bread on the side for my gluten eating family to enjoy.



The chicken at Tangierine Cafe is tender and flavorful, and I love to eat it dipped in my hummus.  The hummus is nice and smooth, and is as tasty as the chicken and lentil salad.  I always enjoy my meal at Tangierine Cafe, and the food is certainly plentiful for the price.  We love to eat outside and enjoy some shade under the umbrellas.

March 9, 2015 Update 

Gluten Free Disney Dining has heard from several app users that the chicken platter at Tangierine Cafe is no longer gluten free.  It appears that only the Moroccan Kefta Sandwich is gluten free, but they are no longer carrying gluten free rolls.

You can view Tangierine Cafe's menu here on Disney's website.

What are your favorite gluten free options at Tangierine Cafe?