Mexican Chocolate Popsicles

I could tell my husband thought I was a little crazy when he opened the amazon box with my new Tovolo Groovy Pop Molds inside.  A recipe for creamy banana & brown sugar pops on Whole Foods' Facebook page got me thinking about making homemade popsicles.  Then I remembered the amazing Mexican chocolate Pop Craft pops we used to buy at the Fashion Square Mall Food Truck Bazaar.  They were so good, but sadly, the vendor who used to sell them has gone out of business.  

Less than 24 hours after receiving my pop molds, I was making my first batch of popsicles.  

My family loved batch one, which were made with semi-sweet chocolate chips, but decided that the popsicles needed to be a little bit sweeter.  

We sampled batch two today after lunch, and thought they were perfectly sweet now that I had added some milk chocolate chips.  

As you can probably see from the pictures, the pops are a little darker towards the stick.  I am going to have to do a little research about why they are separating a bit once they are put in the freezer. 

The darker layer is a little denser and less sweet, but still good.  My favorite thing about these popsicles is definitely that hint of cinnamon.  For batch one, I only added 1/4 teaspoon.  Batch two got a heaping 1/4 teaspoon.  Batch three got a 1/2 teaspoon, which was just right.

Mexican Chocolate Popsicles

Ingredients

2 1/4 C half & half
2 T light brown sugar - packed
1/2 tsp cinnamon
4 oz semisweet chocolate chips
2 oz milk chocolate chips

Directions

Heat the half & half in a small saucepan over medium heat.  Add the brown sugar and cinnamon, and whisk until dissolved. Add the chocolate, whisking until all the ingredients are well blended.

Chill the pop mixture for at least 30 to 60 minutes in the refrigerator.  Whisk it before filling the pop molds, and freeze them for at least 5 to 6 hours.

Recipe Notes

I use Guittard chocolate chips.  They are made in a peanut and gluten free facility.  I purchase them at The Fresh Market.  

When I don't have enough half & half in the house to make these popsicles, I substitute equal parts of lowfat milk and heavy cream.  

I use my kitchen scale to weigh my chocolate chips.  

I am sure this will be the first of many popsicle recipes on my blog this summer.  Do you make homemade popsicles?  What are your favorite flavors and ingredients?  

Update - I have found that chilling the pop mixture for at least 30 minutes helps lessen the darker layer at the bottom of the popsicles, so I have updated the directions with that added step.  

With the ingredients I use, each popsicle is approximately 275 calories.  

Linked to: Gluten Free and DIY Tuesday, Gluten-Free Wednesdays

Tusker House Restaurant - Disney's Animal Kingdom

Today, my daughters and I had breakfast/brunch/lunch at Tusker House Restaurant in Disney's Animal Kingdom.  I purposely made advance dining reservations at 10:50, because all the breakfast dishes would still be out, with various lunch selections beginning to make an appearance at 11:15.  

After seeing the Festival of the Lion King in the new Harambe Theater, we checked in at Tusker House.  

Our server arrived with a big pitcher of Jungle Juice to get us started.  Jungle Juice contains orange, passion fruit, and guava juice.  I am not a huge fan of anything with passion fruit, and it was a little too sweet for me, but I enjoyed a few sips.  

Very quickly, various Disney characters in safari gear began to arrive at our table.  

Chef Chris took me on a tour of the buffet, starting with the gluten-friendly station.  Notice, not even Disney likes to use the words "gluten free."  

There was a plate of Udi's bread and bagels, and a plate of Kinnikinnick cinnamon sugar donuts and Udi's double chocolate & blueberry muffins.  I passed on all of these items because I can eat them at home.  

I did order some gluten free Mickey waffles, which are made with Namaste Waffle & Pancake Mix, and served with 100% maple syrup.  The waffles at Tusker House are always consistently good.  

The two main reasons I wanted to arrive while breakfast was still being served were the Mickey waffles and the beef bobotie.   I really need to ask for the recipe the next time I am there.  The beef bobotie would be a great dish to make for breakfast or dinner.  

My first plate of food contained basmati rice, sweet plantains, spit-roasted ham, oven-roasted red skin potatoes, potato and leek frittata, and mealie pap.  Everything was really delicious!  

Other gluten free items on the breakfast buffet include fresh fruit, coconut-sweet potato casserole, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage patties, ham and cheese frittata, and assorted yogurts with toppings.  

From 11:15 to 11:45, Tusker House shifts to what they call brunch, with some breakfast items and some lunch items being served.  

The spit-roasted beef top sirloin and the peri-peri marinated baked salmon, both lunch items, were excellent.

Both of my daughters ate every bite of their salmon, which was a little shocking, because Emma rarely eats fish.  

One of the last lunch items to make an appearance was the spit-roasted chicken, but I was too full at that point to eat it.  Served at the same station were two other gluten free options, mashed potatoes and sauteed green beans.

I really liked the curried rice with golden raisins, but I didn't try the saffron-infused root vegetables and cabbage.  I am definitely trying this dish on our next visit.

The hummus and fruit chutneys are gluten free, and I have enjoyed them with some gluten free flatbread while dining at Tusker House on previous visits, but I decided to pass on these items today.  I didn't want my kids to have to roll me out of the restaurant!  

The flatbread I make at home using Udi's Gluten Free Pizza Crust was inspired by previous dining experiences at Tusker House.  You can view the recipe here.

My girls and I waited patiently for the arrival of the strawberry mousse cups, which are a lunch item.  They are the only gluten free dessert on the lunch buffet, but on previous visits, I have been offered OMG...It's Gluten Free Fudge Brownies, and gluten free chocolate chip cookies.  

Update - June 22, 2017 

On our recent trip to Disney World, I stopped at Tusker House to pick up their new allergy-friendly menus.  We are hoping to dine there on our next trip in November.  

If there is a green check mark under the first column for gluten/wheat, it means that the dish is gluten-friendly.  Here are pictures of the breakfast menu:

There is not a green check mark for Mickey waffles, because the waffles on the buffet contain gluten, but gluten free Mickey waffles are still available at Tusker House.

Here are pictures of the lunch/dinner menu: 

As you can see, there are plenty of gluten-friendly options to choose from.  Buffets are definitely high risk for cross contamination as people let serving utensils touch food containing gluten on their plates.  I suggest that you take a tour of the buffet with a chef, have them make note of the dishes you are interested in, and have those dishes brought from the kitchen.

Tusker House is our top choice for character dining at Disney World, because of the food and atmosphere, and we get to see some of our favorite Disney characters while we dine.  

Prices from June 12, 2017

You can read more about Tusker House Restaurant, view their menus and hours, and make advance dining reservations on Disney's website here.   

What are your favorite gluten free dishes at Tusker House?  

My Favorite Quick Service Restaurants at Disney World

This post was last updated September 23, 2018 

My family prefers to dine at table service restaurants when we vacation at Disney World, but we do have some favorite quick service spots that we visit when we return to our former home twice a year. I am going to start with quick service restaurants at Disney Resorts and Disney Springs, which anyone can visit without a park pass. You can click on the names of the restaurants to see my latest reviews.

Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory - Port Orleans French Quarter 

The quick service restaurant we visit the most is Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory at Disney's Port Orleans Resort - French Quarter, because of their delicious gluten free beignets. Be sure to order them with dipping sauces. Our two favorites are the chicory coffee ganache, and their strawberry sauce. Besides the beignets with dipping sauces, I also love their shrimp and grits, which is available for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.



Sanaa Breakfast - Animal Kingdom Villas - Kidani Village

I am nervous to recommend any restaurant that serves gluten free waffles right now, because so many restaurants at Disney World are switching to Golden Malted gluten free waffle & pancake mix, which I do not enjoy, but when we visited Sanaa in July, they made me amazing Simba waffles with fresh berries. Sanaa is one of our favorite table service restaurants for lunch and dinner, but for breakfast, they have quick service options with a great view of Sunset Savanna if you sit at a window table. We are also big fans of The Mara, the quick service restaurant at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge.

D-Luxe Burger - Disney Springs

When it comes to burgers at Disney World, D-Luxe Burger is my top pick, and they have amazing fresh cut french fries too, with an interesting array of dipping sauces. Their lettuce wraps are so good, I have no interest in getting a gluten free bun, but I have heard they are very good if you choose that option.

Cookes of Dublin - Disney Springs

Gluten free fish & chips, and onion rings - need I say more? Raglan Road's quick service restaurant also makes gluten free battered burgers and chicken tenders, that I have heard are amazing. You can read my friend Sarah's reviews on her blog Gluten-Free & Dairy-Free at WDW. 

Be Our Guest - Magic Kingdom

You can't beat the theming of Be Our Guest in the Magic Kingdom. Dinner is pricey, and advance dining reservations are very hard to come by, but you can visit Be Our Guest for a quick service breakfast or lunch. For breakfast, we enjoy the Feast a la Gaston and the open-faced bacon and egg sandwich. For lunch, my favorites include potato leak soup and the braised pork. 

Columbia Harbour House - Magic Kingdom

Columbia Harbour House in the Magic Kingdom has always been my favorite Disney quick service restaurant for allergy-friendly chicken tenders and fries. They recently started using a new brand of gluten free chicken nuggets, which are the best I have had since my celiac diagnosis.

La Cantina de San Angel - Epcot

My family loves dining at La Cantina de San Angel at the Mexico Pavilion in Epcot. They have several gluten free entrees to choose from, and if you eat there for lunch, you can dine inside neighboring La Hacienda de San Angel, which has air conditioning, and beautiful views of the World Showcase Lagoon. Another great quick service restaurant at Epcot is Sunshine Seasons in The Land, especially if you are looking for healthier options. If you are interested in burgers and chicken tenders, I suggest Liberty Inn at the American Adventure Pavilion. 

Woody's Lunch Box - Hollywood Studios 

In July, we had breakfast at Woody's Lunch Box in Toy Story Land at Disney's Hollywood Studios. Their s'more sandwich and breakfast bowl are great gluten free choices in the morning, and they have several sandwich options for lunch and dinner that I plan to try when we return to Disney World over Thanksgiving Break. 

Satu'li Canteen - Animal Kingdom

Satu'li Canteen is located inside Pandora - The World of Avatar at Disney's Animal Kingdom. Their build-your-own bowl options are a favorite of many special diets guests, and are perfect if you need a break from more typical quick service fare.

Flame Tree Barbecue - Animal Kingdom 

Flame Tree Barbecue in Disney's Animal Kingdom has great ribs, chicken, and pulled pork, but my favorite menu item might be their watermelon salad with mixed greens, feta, pickled red onion, and white balsamic vinaigrette. I love to make this dish at home, but I serve it with arugula instead of mixed greens, which is originally how this salad was made at Flame Tree Barbecue.

Mobile ordering is now available for people with special diets at select quick service restaurants. You can read more about mobile ordering on Disney's website, and find links to all the restaurants that offer it here. After you go to each restaurant's page, click "view menu" to see gluten-friendly options, which appear after the regular menu. 

What are your favorite quick service restaurants for gluten free dining at Disney World?  

Gin Gins Candies

I wouldn't say as a family that we are candy people.  My daughters usually eat a little bit of candy on Halloween, but like Easter and Valentine's Day, almost all of the candy they receive is eventually disposed of months later, when I clean out my pantry.  Now don't get me wrong, we are dessert lovers. We pretty much eat dessert 365 days a year.  I like something sweet after I eat lunch and dinner, and if I am eating a sweet treat, I feel that my daughters should be able to eat them too.  That being said, I am all about watching the calories and portions of the desserts we eat, and my kids cannot partake in dessert if they haven't eaten their fruit, vegetables, etc.  

Gins Gins are definitely my favorite candy, and they can always be found in my pantry and in my purse.  

Gin Gins Original Chewy Ginger Candy is gluten free, fat free, non GMO & vegan, and contains cane sugar, ginger, and tapioca starch.  The allergy statement on the bag says that they are made in a facility that processes milk, soy, and peanuts.  Each piece of candy is 20 calories.  

Gin Gins Super Strength Ginger Caramel Candy is the most potent candy made by The Ginger People, containing 30% fresh ginger.  Like the original candies, they are also gluten free, fat free, non GMO & vegan, but they contain cane sugar, glucose, ginger, modified cassava starch, non-hydrogenated palm kernel oil (trans fat free), salt, and soy lecithin.  They contain soy, and are made in a facility that processes milk, soy and peanuts.  Each piece of candy is only 10 calories.  Notice that they are called "The Traveler's Candy" on the bag.  Ginger is known to combat that queasy feeling some people get when they travel.  You can check out all the health benefits of ginger on The Ginger People's website here.  

I have tried other products from The Ginger People, but these are my two favorites.  I used to buy the blue ones (super strength) in bulk from amazon.com, but on our recent trip to Williamsburg, I realized that I like the green ones (original) better, and they don't contain soy, an ingredient I try to avoid whenever possible because of my hypothyroidism.

Locally, I have purchased Gin Gins at The Fresh Market, Whole Foods, and Chamberlin's in Winter Park.
If you love ginger like I do, you will love these candies from The Ginger People.  They pack a serious ginger punch!

You can view The Ginger People's website here.  Have you ever tried any of their products?  What are your favorites?

Mexican Chocolate Banana Muffins with Cup4Cup Wholesome Flour

Last month, I purchased a bag of Cup4Cup's new gluten free, dairy free Wholesome Flour and made banana muffins with it.  You can view the recipe here.  My whole family enjoyed the muffins, but my daughters asked me to add Mexican chocolate the next time I made them.  Isn't everything better with chocolate?  

This morning, I made 12 mini muffins and 12 regular size muffins.  

If you don't have a mini muffin pan, this recipe will make 15 or 16 regular size muffins.  

The minis didn't brown as much and they are never as moist in the middle, but they still tasted great, and they are just so adorable!  

This recipe makes a lot of muffins, but they freeze beautifully.  I usually defrost each muffin for a minute in the microwave, and they are ready to eat.

I do have another recipe for Mexican Chocolate Banana Muffins on my blog, but I prefer this recipe, because it tastes great and contains Cup4Cup Wholesome Flour, which is high fiber and non-GMO.  The wholesome flour blend contains brown rice flour, white rice flour, ground golden flaxseed, rice bran, and xanthan gum.  

Mexican Chocolate Banana Muffins

Ingredients

280 grams (2 cups) Cup4Cup Wholesome Flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp kosher salt

1 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 or plain lowfat kefir - room temperature

1/4 C unsalted butter - melted and cooled

1 large egg - room temperature

2 tsp pure vanilla extract

2.7 ounces (about 1/2 cup) Mexican chocolate -- chopped

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.  Gently stir in the Mexican chocolate.  

Fill your mini muffin pan using a slightly heaping 1T cookie scoop or measuring spoon.  Fill the cups in the regular muffin pan about 3/4 full.  

Bake the minis for 13 minutes, and the regular muffins for 23 minutes, or until a knife or toothpick inserted into the middle of the muffins comes out clean.  

Store at room temperature or freeze the leftovers.  

Recipe Notes

I used Taza Mexican chocolate that I purchased at Whole Foods.  It is gluten, dairy, and soy free.   If you can't find Mexican chocolate, you could use 1/2 cup of mini chocolate chips.  

To make these muffins dairy free, use coconut oil (melted and cooled) instead of the butter, and dairy free So Delicious Greek style yogurt.  

I purchased my 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.

Important information about Cup4Cup Wholesome Flour 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.  

Linked to: Gluten-Free Wednesdays