Mini Pizzelle Cannoli

Having an Italian grandmother, I grew up eating pizzelle.  They were never my favorite cookies, but they were part of our holiday tradition, and I loved to make ice cream sandwiches with them.  If you don't like to bake, Bella Lucia makes some pretty awesome gluten free pizzelle.  You can check out their website here.

One food that I have definitely missed in the past 5 1/2 years since going gluten free is cannoli.  In Pittsburgh, I loved to visit Moio's Italian Pastry Shop in Monroeville.  Their cannoli were amazing!  In the past, I have looked up gluten free cannoli recipes, but decided that making and frying the shells wasn't something I was interested in doing, no matter how much I loved and missed cannoli.  

Several months ago, I purchased Kyra Bussanich's cookbook Sweet Cravings.  Kyra was the first gluten free winner of Cupcake Wars, a favorite show of of ours.  I was so excited to see a recipe for Cannolizelli in her cookbook, using rolled gluten free pizzelle as shells for cannoli.  You can view the recipe here. 

Grandma's House Product Review

Before Thanksgiving, I received an awesome gift in the mail from Grandma's House. 

The biscuits, crumb cake, and pie crust arrived frozen in a cooler with dry ice. 

We had the crumb cake for breakfast yesterday, and all of us were really impressed. 

It baked up beautifully in just 40 minutes.  It was the perfect portion for the four of us for breakfast. 

I used the gluten free pie crust to make our new favorite, Chocolate Chess Pie. 

It was much more substantial than the Whole Foods Gluten Free Bakehouse Pie Crust that we usually use.  This pie crust could easily be used for more savory dishes, like quiche, because it is only slightly sweet. 

We loved all the products we were sent, but our favorite was definitely Grandma's House Gluten Free Home Style Biscuits. 

My whole family of gluten eaters, including my uncle, said there was no way anyone would be able to tell they were gluten free.  The texture and taste were just perfect!  I'm getting hungry just thinking about one of these hot biscuits slathered in butter! 

Grandma's House is currently available in retail locations in Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Illinois.  You can check out their online store here.  I hope to see Grandma's House products in Florida at some point in the future.  We would definitely be eating their biscuits at least once a week if they were available locally.  I love that their products are frozen before they are baked, so you get that home made taste, instead of the taste of reheated food.

All of the opinions expressed in this blog post are my own.  I received these products as a gift from Grandma's House, no strings attached.  I am so glad they chose me to test out their shipping methods, because their products are really delicious!  

Il Mulino New York Trattoria at Walt Disney World Swan Hotel

Last night, my husband and I had a rare date night. We decided to go to Il Mulino New York Trattoria at the Walt Disney World Swan Hotel.  Yep, even on date nights, we still gravitate towards Disney.  

As we waited for the restaurant to open, we checked out the Holiday Chocolate Santa Display in the Swan.  It was impressive in appearance and in the fact that it contains over 5 million calories of chocolate! 

My husband had mentioned gluten free when making the reservation, so I was given a menu with the gluten free choices marked.  Our waiter told us that gluten free corn spaghetti was available, so pasta dishes were an option also. 

There was no way I could take a picture of the whole menu, so I took pictures of select parts that I would be ordering from. 

Along with our bread service, we received this dish, complements of the chef.  It contained roasted eggplant, tomatoes, Parmesan, some sort of Italian meat, and probably a couple of other things I am forgetting.  It was delicious! 

I was disappointed when I saw  that Il Mulino serves Ener-G rolls.  Very rarely are they ever edible, because most chefs don't prepare them properly.  My roll was cold and not worth eating. 

For an appetizer, we split Gamberi Con Fagioli -- sauteed jumbo shrimp over cannellini beans and pancetta.  Everything about this dish was amazing, especially the sauce. 

My husband allowed me to pick the two entrees we ordered.  I love Carbonara, and I had heard that Il Mulino had good gluten free pasta, so I decided to try it.  This dish was disappointing because I didn't like the pasta as much as the brands we cook at home.  I was also shocked to not like the sauce and overall taste of the dish.  I couldn't put my finger on what was wrong, but I kept thinking it tasted like margarine, a product I don't like. 

Our second entree was a perfectly cooked piece of sauteed salmon in garlic and olive oil, with wild mushroom sauce over broccoli rabe. 

Here's another view of this wonderful dish. 

Even though I was pretty full, we decided to order dessert.  Our sorbet trio came out first, serving as an excellent palate cleanser.  We chose blood orange, pomegranate, and passion fruit.  They also had apple sorbet.  I'm not much of a sorbet lover, but the pomegranate was really good, and I enjoyed the blood orange. 

I couldn't pass up the flourless chocolate cake, which was served with whipped cream and fresh berries.  We received two generous pieces in one order, but sadly, the cake was a bit dry. 

After we paid, our server brought us two glasses of Limoncello, which might have been the best Limoncello I have ever had. 

From the Swan, it was a short walk over to Disney's Hollywood Studios to see the Osborne Lights.

I would consider going back to Il Mulino again, but next time, I will definitely avoid the gluten free pasta and order the mushroom risotto instead.  Il Mulino's gluten free menu was extensive, the service was good, and we enjoyed the ambiance of the restaurant.  If you have a Tables in Wonderland card, you can receive a 20% discount on food and beverages, including alcohol, at Il Mulino. 

Gluten Free Grammy's Chocolate Cookies

Back in 2001, both my mother and I purchased the Martha Stewart Holiday Cookies Special Issue.  I think she might have been the first one to make Grammy's Chocolate Cookies.  I loved them so much, I have made them for Christmas every year since.  For years, we have considered them to be our favorite Christmas cookies. 

Disney Cruise Line Gluten Free

Last Thursday, we headed to Port Canaveral, which is about an hour away from Disney World, for our fourth cruise on the Disney Dream.  We have always taken the three night cruise from Thursday to Sunday.

We like to arrive by 10:00 and get in the line on the 3rd floor of the parking garage.  At 10:30, passengers are allowed into the terminal to check in.  The earlier you check in, the earlier you get to board the ship.  I was impressed by all the Christmas decorations at the terminal and on the ship.  At 11:30, boarding began, and by 12:00 we were having lunch at Cabanas on Deck 11. 

Bosphorous Turkish Cuisine -- Winter Park

What's not to love about Winter Park?  It's beautiful, they have a great park and shops, and best of all, they have some amazing restaurants with an array of gluten free choices.  We started dining at Bosphorous shortly after moving to Baldwin Park in 2009.  They do not have a gluten free menu, but their servers are incredibly knowledgeable about their gluten free choices, and when they are not sure of something, they are always willing to ask a chef. 

The hummus is amazing, and my gluten eaters love to order the lavas (hollow bread) to go with it. 

I like to eat my hummus with my main course.  It's great with my lamb adana and vegetables.  Bosphorous' menu describes the Grilled Lamb Adana Kebab as a mouth watering creation of freshly ground lamb flavored with bell peppers, light hot peppers, slightly seasoned, then expertly char-grilled.  It is amazing!  For lunch, you get one kebab, for dinner, you will get two.  Make sure to tell your server that you cannot eat gluten so they do not include the rice with this dish.  It has little bits of pasta in it. 

My entire family loves both the chicken and lamb adana.  In this picture, you see one of each kebab, and the marinated cabbage, onions, and carrots it is served with. 

Bosphorous has many gluten free choices, like their sis and adana kebabs, on their lunch and dinner menus, which you can view here.  The next time I visit, I will write down some of their other gluten free menu items and update this blog post.  At our local Costco, you can buy gift cards for Bosphorous at reduced prices.  Bosphorous might be my favorite restaurant in Winter Park.  My extended family and friends love it too, and ask to go there when they are in town.  Bosphorous has a second restaurant on Dr. Phillips Boulevard.  It's a great location to visit if you are staying at the theme parks or live in that area of Orlando. 

March 28, 2014 Update -- We went to Bosphorous today for lunch, and I finally got to meet Felicia, one of my blog readers.  Felicia has celiac, and happens to be a server at Bosphorous.  I asked her about some of the other gluten free options on the menu.

Gluten Free Appetizers -- cold cucumber dip, sauteed eggplant, babaganoush, ezme, humus, tarama, haydari, the feta plate, and stuffed grape leaves.

Gluten Free Specialties & Entrees -- chicken & lamb adana (minus the rice), stuffed cabbage, shrimp casserole (minus the rice; recommended by Felicia), lamb shank (minus the rice), doner kebab (minus the rice), and the beef tenderloin, chicken & lamb sis kebab (minus the rice).

Gluten Free Desserts -- pistachio ice cream, turkish coffee chocolate mousse, and the rice pudding served with pistachios.

I am sure there are more gluten free entrees, but these are the dishes Felicia and I talked about today.  Be sure to ask for her when you stop in!  It's great to have a server that understands Celiac and will be double checking that your food is taken care of the right way.

Today, I ordered the Doner Kebab, which is tender lamb, vertically broiled and thinly sliced.  The Lamb Adana and Doner Kebab are definitely my favorite dishes at Bosphorous.  I can't wait to try the rice pudding and the chocolate mousse the next time we stop in.

You can view Bosphorous Turkish Cuisine's website and menu here.  

Orchid Thai Cuisine

We love everything about Winter Park, especially all the great restaurants.  Last night, we dined at Orchid Thai Cuisine, a restaurant we first tried earlier this year.  We liked it so much, we went back on a weekly basis until summer hit, when we started cooking at home more and traveling a lot.  In the window of their restaurant, which is located on Park Avenue, you can view their gluten free choices. 

Once inside, I was given a gluten free menu.  I love that there is so much to choose from!  

My favorite dish last night was the Short Ribs in Massaman -- tender braised beef short ribs in massaman curry, a sweeter curry with hints of roasted peanuts, sauteed with potatoes, onion, and bell peppers.  It was so incredibly delicious!  The ribs were tender, and perfectly complemented by the sauce and vegetables. 

We also ordered our usual favorite -- Massaman Curry with chicken.  This dish is always consistently good! 

My daughter Katie loves another gluten free choice -- the Pad Thai.  She's not a fan of the bean sprouts or scallions, so those were left off her dish. 

This photo is a picture from a previous visit of the Massaman Curry with chicken.  It's a much clearer shot because there was still some daylight.  

Orchid Thai Cuisine does not have any gluten free dessert options, which is no big deal for me, because it's a block away from Le Macaron, where I can get my favorite caramel salted butter macarons.

All of the macarons at Le Macaron are gluten free, with no preservatives or artificial flavors.  They are not macaroons, cookies with lots of coconut.  Macarons are French confections created from ground almonds and soft meringue.  They are slightly crispy on the outside, and have delicious creamy centers.  Another favorite of mine is the pistachio. 

If you love Thai food, you should definitely check out Orchid Thai Cuisine in Winter Park.  In good weather, we love to dine outside.  This is a great time of the year for it because of all the beautiful Christmas lights that have been strung in the trees down Park Avenue. 

April 28, 2014 Update

Today, my friend Shelley and I met for lunch at Orchid.  The salad that came with our lunches was so good.  I could eat the house peanut dressing every day!  

We split an order of the summer rolls, which were served with peanut sauce.  I found myself wishing that they had some type of meat or shrimp inside them, but they were very good.  

For my main dish, I ordered the praram chicken, which is chicken marinated in coconut milk and thai spices on a bed of steamed spinach, topped with the house peanut dressing.  

I enjoyed this dish, but had to ask for more of the amazing house peanut dressing.  It was great on my rice too!

Gluten Free Options

Small Plates -- summer rolls, beef jerky & sticky rice

Soup & Salad -- lemongrass soup, thai coconut soup, orchid salad, grilled beef salad, papaya salad, nam sod, larb salad

Noodles -- pad woonsen, pad thai

Rice -- praram chicken, ginger chicken, thai basil fried rice, short ribs in massaman

Curry & Rice -- massaman curry, red curry, green curry, panang curry (all available with vegetables, tofu, chicken, pork, shrimp, beef, jumbo lump crab, tilapia, soft-shell crab, scallops, or duck)

September 14, 2014 Update

Friday night, I had dinner at Orchid Thai with my daughters.  On this visit, I ordered the massaman curry with shrimp.  I loved the dish, but I wish the tails had been removed from the shrimp.

September 29, 2014 Update

Last night, I ordered myself takeout from Orchid Thai, and took it down to BurgerFi, where my family was eating dinner for a school event.  I decided to try the Thai Basil Fried Rice with chicken.  It was completely different than any fried rice I have ever had, but I really enjoyed it, and so did my daughter Emma, who ate what I had left in my bowl after finishing her burger.  Portion-wise, it was huge, and it definitely tasted like basil, my favorite herb.  I love that the server who helped me told me that he triple checked with the kitchen to make sure I was getting the gluten free version of this meal.    

What are your favorite gluten free dishes at Orchid Thai Cuisine?
 

Bakery on Main Oatmeal

August 7, 2016 Update - I recently learned that Bakery on Main is no longer using purity protocol oats, so I will no longer be buying their products.  

I recently decided that I wanted this blog to be a mix of gluten free recipes, restaurant reviews, and product reviews.  Yesterday, I reviewed my favorite cupcake mix, Williams-Sonoma Gluten Free Red Velvet Cupcake Mix.  Today, I am reviewing one of my favorite gluten free products of 2013 - Bakery on Main Blueberry Scone Oatmeal. 

I first tried Bakery on Main Instant Oatmeal after winning 3 packets in a Twitter contest.  I liked the carrot cake and strawberry shortcake, but instantly fell in love with the blueberry scone, and ordered 6 boxes from Amazon.  It is made with whole grain certified gluten free oats, chia, flax, amaranth & quinoa.  It's not only gluten free, but also free of dairy, casein, and GMOs. 

Each packet of oatmeal contains 200 calories.  I usually add 1/2 cup of water, and microwave it on high for 60 seconds.  I sometimes add a little milk after I cook it, especially if I think it has gotten too thick. 

The oatmeal already contains chia seeds and flax meal, but I add an additional 1/2 tablespoon of chia and 1/2 tablespoon of flaxseed meal to my cooked oatmeal for extra fiber and Omega-3 fatty acids. 

I also love to add fresh berries to my blueberry scone oatmeal.  This oatmeal has become my favorite breakfast during the school/work week.  

Bakery on Main Instant Oatmeal is available in the following flavors:  apple pie, strawberry shortcake, traditional, blueberry scone, carrot cake, and maple multigrain muffin.  You can read more about Bakery on Main's Instant Oatmeal on their website here.  Locally, I have seen a couple of flavors of Bakery on Main Instant Oatmeal at Chamberlin's in Winter Park. 

January 6, 2014 Update 

I recently won 6 boxes of Bakery on Main Instant Oatmeal in a Simple Side of Life giveaway. After sampling them all, I still like the Blueberry Scone the best, with the Maple Multigrain Muffin and Carrot Cake a close second and third.  

I also love Bakery on Main Raspberry Chocolate Almond Truebars.  They are non-GMO and certified gluten free.  I have purchased them at Whole Foods.  

July 9, 2014 Update

I have recently been enjoying maple multigrain muffin oatmeal with fresh peaches, and 1/2 tablespoon of additional flaxseed meal and chia.  It's a great summer breakfast!  

I am also happy to report that select Target stores are now carrying four different varieties of Bakery on Main oatmeal.  I found them at the Target in Oviedo, and a Target in Greenville, South Carolina while we were visiting my parents.  

April 15, 2016 Update

Bakery on Main sells certified gluten free purity protocol steel cut oats, rolled oats, and quick cook oats, which you can order on their website here.  They use purity protocol oats in all of their products, which are the only oats I trust as a celiac.

What are your favorite Bakery on Main products?