American

Breakfast Casserole

Ingredients:

  • 3 slices gluten-free bread, coarsely torn*
  • 2 chicken sausages, cut**
  • 1/2 cup reduced fat pepperjack cheese, grated
  • 3 medium eggs
  • 1 cup of low fat milk
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1/2 tsp. black pepper

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a baking pan and evenly place bread pieces in the bottom of the pan. Sprinkle with sausage pieces and cheese. In a medium bowl, beat eggs, milk, salt, and pepper. Pour over bread mixture in the pan. Bake for about 40 minutes or until mixture is set and the casserole has browned. Enjoy! Now you can eat breakfast for dinner!

* I used Rudi’s GF Multigrain Bread

** I used Apple-Chicken Sausage for additional flavor. You can use any kind of savory sausage!

Tango

Howdy y’all! It’s like Christmas all over again! (minus the snow, the tree, the festive lights, and the caroling) Just add some cake and candles and there you have it folks… a few (okay, more than a few) days back, I celebrated my birthday!

My family and I went to a lovely restaurant on the mainline called Tango. Coincidentally, (or not so coincidentally) this happens to be my brother’s favorite restaurant. Although the contemporary American cuisine can be both exciting and risky in the more-so adventurous choices, it’s the location of the restaurant that really adds an edge. Tango is located just off the train tracks of the Bryn Mawr train station. And what’s really cool is that the restaurant features a Train room that is similar to a dining cart as the trains zoom by the window. You can even feel the tables shaking when a train speedily passes by!

Let me start off by giving kudos to Tango for having a gluten-free menu that corresponds with their complete dinner menu. I was very intrigued by the Shrimp Dumplings, for an appetizer, as I’ve never had GF dumplings before. And I’m happy to say the first time left a good impression! The Shrimp Dumplings didn’t resemble your typical steamed-pork dumpling when taking out Chinese food, but rather it had a crunchy, fried outer coating filled with minced shrimp. Although they were delicious, according to my brother, they were not quite dumlping-like. For my entree, I settled on the grilled rainbow trout served with basmati rice and sugar snap peas. The combination of toasted almonds, lemon, and capers to top the grilled fish added flavor and a zing to it. Believe me, I’m usually criticizing a piece of meat or seafood for being too bland! This is a dish I’m looking forward to recreating at home with my own twist.

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If you do get a chance to go, I recall wanting to try the fish tacos (don’t worry, they use corn tortillas!). However, the trout is definitely worth a try.

Cheers,

Anika

Avenue Kitchen

I owe you all a big apology for my lack of posts for these past ten days (yikes, I’m twitching at how long its been!). Over spring break,  in all the free time I had on my plate, I decided to try out a fairly new restaurant on the mainline. Avenue Kitchen adds a little twist on classic American dishes you all know and love. The restaurant not only features a contemporary American cuisine, but the environment could be described as “modern meets sophisticated”. When I checked out this restaurant online, I caught a glimpse of the white Emeco chairs and mistakenly associated this place with airing on the side of casual. But boy was I in for a surprise, especially given that I enjoyed a meal at dinner time, so the lighting further enhanced the ambiance.

Aside from the aesthetics, this little tasteful place left me with no doubts that I’d be dining here again. There are gluten-free options within the appetizers, salads, entrees, and sides. I ordered the Pan Roasted Chicken Breast with roasted garlic mashed potatoes, roasted baby root vegetables, and toasted lemon jus (can be found under entrees). I know this may sound like the least adventurous or exciting meal I’ve ever willingly had- and that very well may be true. I normally don’t order grilled chicken at a restaurant as a general rule of thumb. But my taste buds were in need of a cleanser to the typically very colorful palate. Surprisingly though, the chicken wasn’t dry and the flavors were well marinated. However, the next time I dine at Avenue Kitchen, I must try the ‘Day Boat Scallops’. I was eying it on the menu going back and forth between the chicken for quite some time. The scallops dish is very similar to the one I enjoyed at Keating’s. If its anywhere close, I’m in for a treat!

Definitely grab a few friends and check out Avenue Kitchen!

Cheers,

Anika

Keating’s River Grill

Hope everyone is staying warm during the snowstorm (and enjoying the many bonus snow days)! Unfortunately, my power went out early Wednesday morning, so we had to pack our bags and camp out at a hotel Wednesday night. We stayed at the Hyatt Regency at Penn’s Landing in Philly. All of the hotels on the mainline were booked or had no power! But lucky for us, while we stayed at the Hyatt, we were in for a treat when we dined at Keating’s River Grill. My family and I enjoyed dinner and breakfast at the restaurant.

The waiter wasn’t particularly knowledgeable as to what foods contained wheat, however, he was very flexible and accommodating and got all the information we needed from the chef. However, if you look at the menu online, the dishes that are gluten-free are marked as “*gluten-free”. It is very helpful! I ordered scallops with “golden” quinoa. This was one of the few occasions that I have opted for scallops, but after this meal, I am completely sold! And quinoa has become a new favorite. I prefer it to brown rice or mashed potatoes any day! This colorful quinoa was topped with butternut squash, dried apricot, and cranberries. As for dessert, I had a refreshing lemon sorbet to cool my palette from the flavorful meal. Although, considering the terrible weather, it probably wasn’t the smartest choice! If I have the opportunity to return to Keating’s soon, I would definitely want to try the White Chocolate Ginger Creme Brûlée and the Chocolate Framboise (a gluten-free chocolate cake with raspberry sauce).

Thursday morning we were fortunate enough to receive the news that our power was back! We enjoyed a relaxing breakfast at Keating’s and then headed back home. With our room, we got breakfast package, so I assumed I would opt for the buffet and get some eggs, cold cuts, cheeses, and fruit. However, I was pleasantly surprised wen I looked at the a la carte menu. I ordered Almond Pancakes that were made from almond flour and yogurt and topped with brown sugar, yogurt, blueberries, and slivered almonds. It was simply divine! They were hands down the best gluten-free pancakes I have ever had. I will attempting to recreate these at home very soon! And I would never have thought to top pancakes with yogurt… it’s definitely a healthy and tastier option (in my opinion!) than maple syrup or butter.

If you’re in the city and looking for a simply yet delicious bite, Keating’s River Grill is your place! And the Hyatt was an excellent hotel as well.

Bundle up and stay safe!

Cheers!

Anika

Minella’s Diner

Although it may not always feel like it, living in the suburbs of a metropolis, you truly experience the best of both worlds: you get the perks of a small town and the hustle and bustle of the big city. I am constantly reminded of this when I dine at Minella’s Diner. The cozy, family-run diner is packed 24/7. You never fail to run into someone you know. The “small-town” feel makes it a truly special place. And that’s something you don’t want to miss out on just because you’re gluten-free!

Although I am disappointed to say that there is no gluten-free menu, Minella’s expansive menu (it’s 10+ pages!) does have gluten-free options. From french toast to burgers, pancakes to wraps, diners in general can be quite tricky in terms of finding gluten-free choices. Minella’s has a wide variety of salads that are or can be altered to be gluten-free. Additionally, they have omelets, “broiled and grilled” seafoods, and certain “diner classics” that can be made gluten-free. I personally love the Lancaster Ave Salad: mixed greens topped with pecans, cranberries, sliced apples, and blue cheese. The staff are quite flexible and are happy to confirm what is gluten-free with the chef.

Definitely check out Minella’s!!

Cheers!

Anika

Pecan Pie

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup Karo Light Corn Syrup
  • 3 eggs
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1-1/2 cups pecans
  • 1 unbaked 9-inch deep dish pie crust (we always use GlutenFree Bakehouse Pie Shells)

Preheat the oven to 325°F. Stir the corn syrup, eggs, sugar, butter, and vanilla extract in a large bowl. Mix in the pecans. Pour this mixture into the pie crust. Bake for 60-65 minutes. Remove pie before it blackens. When tapping the center of the pie lightly, the center should spring back up if the pie is done. Cool for about 2 hours and store in the refrigerator.

Recipe modified from karosyrup.com.

 

Candied Sweet Potatoes (Yams)

Ingredients:

  • 1 can (29 oz.) Sweet Potatoes
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter, cut into small slabs/pieces
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup gluten-free mini marshmallows

Preheat oven to 400°F. Place sweet potatoes in a baking dish. Place the slabs of butter evenly over all of the sweet potatoes. Sprinkle with brown sugar. Evenly place mini marshmallows. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 25 minutes (or until all of the marshmallows have melted and sweet potatoes are tender).

Cheesy Green Bean Casserole

Ingredients:

  • 2 (16 oz.) packages of French Cut Green Beans
  • 1 bottle (16 oz.) of Ragu Alfredo Sauce (or any other of your favorite Gluten-Free Alfredo Sauces)
  • 3/4 cup low-fat milk
  • 2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
  • 1/4 pound of sliced cheese (Velveeta, Kraft Singles, etc.)

Preheat oven to 325°F. Apply cooking spray to a casserole dish. In a bowl, combine Alfredo sauce, milk, and cheddar cheese and mix well. Layer the bottom half of the casserole dish with 1/2 of the green beans and pour half of the Alfredo mixture over it. Cover that with half of the sliced cheese. Repeat the layering (green beans, Alfredo mixture, and then remaining sliced cheese on top). Bake for 30-40 minutes.

Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.

I’m back! But unfortunately not for long. After a very long Fourth of July weekend traveling about the east coast, I am departing for camp tomorrow morning! I will not be able to post for three weeks, but I’m going to try my best to fill you in on my travels before I depart once again.

So, first stop, New York City. Despite the horrid smell of trash in the streets, the boiling summer sun, and people crammed against each other in the touristy Times Square, I return many times each year. And I love it.

We took the train in on the Fourth of July and headed straight for Times Square. There we enjoyed a meal at a family-favorite: Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.

If you are unaware, the restaurant is based off of a classic movie: Forrest Gump. The walls are lined with memorable quotes from the movie such as “Stupid is as Stupid does” and “Life was like  a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get”. The entrance has a gift shop filled with movie paraphernalia sporting the restaurant’s name or the famous words of Forrest Gump. From the movie-based décor to the fun trivia questions asked by the waiters, the restaurant is a must visit. And there are many locations; I have previously been to one in Orlando as well as the one in Times Square once before.

Now besides the family-friendly atmosphere, they do have gluten-free options! They have a gluten-free menu (sadly it’s not online), which is very helpful. I ordered a refreshing watermelon lemonade and the Pear and Berry Salad. They did have four other entrees in the gluten-free selection and another salad; so there was enough variety. Overall, the food was pretty good, but nothing special. However, I would definitely return time and again for the Forrest Gump-esque atmosphere.

Cheers!

Anika

Paramour

When going out to celebrate out of my friends birthdays, she chose to dine at Paramour in Wayne, PA. The cuisine is American, but with a distinctive modern and contemporary twist to it. We all had to dress up for the occasion, because the restaurant is classy and chic. My friend knew of my allergy and informed the restaurant beforehand, allowing them time to notify our waiter of appropriate gluten-free choices for dinner.

When walking in, on the left is a sports bar, straight ahead, I caught a glimpse of a private room decked in bright oranges and contemporary furniture. On the right was a posh little table with five of my friends eagerly waiting for me to arrive. Resting on our napkins were small fragrance sachets. I still use mine in my room at home; the scent of ‘Petals of Spring’ never fades away. Additionally, each of us were treated to caramel covered marshmallows. I considered saving mine for my brother, but that plan was quick fall through!

The waiters brought around a variety of rolls and breads, which I had to skip out on. But I was quite satisfied with the earlier sweet treat! For my entree, I ordered the Chop Chop Salad without the turkey. I guess I just wasn’t feeling the meat that day. A rather large portion of salad came out about ten minutes later with carrots, goat cheese, beets, golden raisins, and almonds well mixed in. I throughly enjoyed the salad as I was pretty hungry at that point!

After our belly were full and top buttons opened, we proceeded to the private room! I was very excited to see the colorful room that had caught my eye once more. The room was posh was furnished with a large sofa and many armchairs in the center. A chandeliers glistened above us, and the waiters brought out a birthday cake. We sang and hugged. After heading back to the table, other were brought slices of a red velvet cake, and I was delighted to have a waiter give me about four gluten-free dessert items to choose from. I ended up picking the Cherry Port ice cream. The ice cream was delicious, but after I couple bites, it dawned on me that it had a distinguished taste of wine. I naively had not picked on the play of words of ‘port’. Port has meant port wine. The ice cream was still very good with whole cherries and a French vanilla base, if I’m not mistaken. I would strongly recommend dining at Paramour, and I’ve heard they do superb brunches as well!

Cheers,

Anika