Texas Road House is GF friendly!

Now, I used to love my Texas Roadhouse visits.  I used to get my gravy on!  However, these days I can't have that........nor can I have those delicious rolls.  Ugh. But I found a list on a Celiac board that listed the items that are GF from Texas Roadhouse either as is or with adjustments.  Well, cool!  I got to have some awesome Chili, some Smothered Chicken, and how is it smothered?  With the most terrific grilled mushrooms, onions and cheese, of course!  Then I got a baked potato, which I brought home with me because I was full (and happy!)

I've never had less than excellent service at this restaurant and our server tonight was just amazing!  He understood my food issues and not only wrote up the ticket with my needs, but he personally went back to the cook and explained to them as well.  Now that's not bad in a family type steakhouse!  In case you need a GF selection and want to visit too, here's the list of choices:

Just for Starters
.
Killer Ribs w/o BBQ sauce
Texas Red Chili with or w/o beans

Salads - Select dressing from our approved list
House Salad w/o croutons. Clean bowl
Caesar Salad w/o croutons. Clean bowl
Chicken Caesar Salad w/o croutons. Clean bowl
Grilled Chicken Salad w/o croutons. Clean bowl

Hearty Steaks - Request that your meal be prepared w/o grill shortening
Sirloin Steak
Ft. Worth Ribeye
T-bone Steak
New York Strip
Dallas Fillet
Sirloin Kabob w/o seasoned rice
Filet Medallions w/o seasoned rice
Road Kill
Prime Rib

Killer Ribs & Texas Combos - Request that your meal be prepared w/o grill shortening
Ribs w/o BBQ sauce
Sirloin Steak and Marinated Chicken w/o BBQ sauce
Ribs and Marinated Chicken – both w/o BBQ sauce
Sirloin Steak and Ribs w/o BBQ sauce
Ribeye Steak and Ribs w/o BBQ sauce

Country Dinners - Request that your meal be prepared w/o grill shortening
Smothered Chicken w/o cream gravy
Oven Roasted Chicken w/o seasoning mix
Southwest Chicken w/o Black Bean Sauce
Sirloin beef tips w/o seasoned rice or mashed potatoes
Grilled pork chops

Dockside Favorites - Request that your meal be prepared w/o grill shortening

Grilled Salmon
Grilled Catfish
Grilled Mountain Trout w/o batter

Regional Seafood Specialties - Request that your meal be prepared w/o grill shortening
Baked Cod w/o topping
Grilled Mahi Mahi
Blackened Swordfish
Grilled Swordfish

Sides - Request that your side dishes be prepared w/o grill shortening
House or Caesar salad w/o croutons. Clean bowl.
Fresh Vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, carrots)
Sautéed Onions
Sautéed Mushrooms
Baked Potato
Baked Sweet Potato

Miscellaneous
Oil & vinegar
Italian Dressing
Caesar Dressing
Cajun Horseradish Sauce
Honey Mustard Sauce
Thousand Island Dressing
Tartar Sauce
Sour Cream

Smokehouse sandwiches - Request that your meal be prepared w/o grill shortening or bun. All burger toppings are acceptable.
All-American Cheddar Burger
Smokehouse Burger w/o BBQ sauce
Southwest Chicken Grill w/o black beans
Mushroom Jack Chicken Grill

Kids  Meals-w/o sides. Prepare w/o grill shortening
Lil' Dillo Sirloin Bites
Cheeseburger w/o bun
Hot dog w/o bun

Ranger Meals-w/o sides. Prepare w/o grill shortening
Andy’s Steak
Ranger Rib Basket w/o BBQ sauce


Beverages
Fountain drinks
Iced tea (sweetened/unsweetened)
Hot tea
Bottled water
Coffee
Decaf coffee

Desserts

Ice cream with caramel sauce only 

*These are guidelines only.  Texas Roadhouse does not maintain a gluten free kitchen and cross contamination can occur.  Use due diligence with this or any dining experience!

Nick's Restaurant at Tatum & Shea

My friend Joan was going to meet me at Nourish123 in Scottsdale on Monday, but luckily, we both noticed that it's closed on Monday so we ended up meeting at Nick's at Tatum and Shea.  We go where we have groupons, etc. and she had one to try it out.

I can honestly say that I was quite happy and surprised when I showed up first and saw a sign outside of the restaurant which said they were featuring a gluten free pizza for less than $10!  I was all set to just have a salad but this changed my mind.........since I figured an Italian place would have great pizza!

I entered the restaurant and saw that I had arrived first so the Host greeted me and I told her I was meeting a friend.  She said that she'd bring her over when she got there and seated me.  She asked what I wanted to drink and left to get my Iced Tea.  She came back with the Tea and a bowl of bread, which I asked her to remove until Joan showed up.......too hard to look at something I love and can't have!

Then she informs me that they closed at 2:00 p..m.  I really don't understand why she failed to mention this to me when I sat down!  We might have decided to dine elsewhere....and before I ordered a $3 Iced Tea.  It wouldn't have bothered me to order a $3 Iced Tea if it were good but it tasted like Lipton Tea which had been in the canister for a week............you know, when it tastes like tin?

So Joan arrived and we decided to eat anyway........and I ordered the GF pizza with tomato slices, mushrooms and onion.  Joan got a bowl of soup and salad.  We chatted and waited for our food.  The pizza looked pretty decent with lots of mushrooms and veggies present but upon tasting it I was immediately aware of no spice taste.  It tasted like they opened a can of tomato sauce and poured it on the pizza.

Between the pizza and the Iced Tea and them not letting us know that they closed in half an hour, I'd have to say that I would never go back or recommend the place.  When we didn't have a large enough order to even make using the groupon worth while, Joan asked for a dessert to go...and was told that there was nobody present to even prepare it, sorry!  Yeah.  I'll never go back!  That's ridiculous!

*These are guidelines only.  This restaurant does not maintain a gluten free kitchen and cross contamination can occur.  Use due diligence with this or any dining experience!

Pugzie's Phoenix

At least I live in Phoenix instead of some rinky dink small town with no choice!  I see gluten free options popping up and Pugzie's is a front runner in this journey due to the owner having a child with Celiac's (or so I heard)...whatever the cause I am sure glad that they offer choices for me.  I love the sandwiches!  The meat is very good tasting and generous!  The fruit salad was large and fresh.  They also offer gluten free soups and cookies.  When doing a pick up order the gluten free sandwich is wrapped up well so as not to touch anything from the rest of your order, which I thought was awesome!

The place is kind of lack luster in looks but the gluten free options make it a winner in my book! Go see for yourself!  Pugzies .

Picazzo's Organic Italian Eatery: il cielo sulla terra

I love Pizza.  I love Pasta.  I love these two foods more than any other food on earth.  Seriously.  You can imagine the first thoughts going through my head finding out that my two favorite foods I LOVE would be off limits.  Ugh............the travesty!  Oh, the injustice!

Then I began searching for places which carried GF pizza crust.  I knew it was out there.  It didn't sound very appetizing, but it's all I can have, so I searched for all the reviews.  I read and researched every one I could find.  I was pretty sure that out of all of the competition one stood head and shoulders above the rest.

Was I right?  Well, I won't know for a while due to the fact that it's the first GF Pizza I've tried.  I seriously doubt that any other GF Pizza will ever top it though.  Oh, yeah it is THAT GOOD!  Quite honestly, it's one of the better Pizza's I've ever had!  GF or NOT.

Where is this place?  Picazzo's Organic Italian Kitchen: Tempe, AZ.  They have six Arizona locations but this one was inviting, clean (bathrooms spotless), service spectacular and food was delectable.  This place understands GF issues and you feel perfectly fine ordering from them.  They have separate ovens and preparation areas for all GF foods, and so many eating options for the entire family, GF or not.

We started with the GF Organic Garlic Cheese Bread.  Such a great start!  It is served with Olive Oil with a few very tasty olives in it.  It could have been a little more "garlicky" for me but it was still extremely good.  Light and airy with a terrific amount of Cheese on it.  It didn't last long on anyone's plate.

I had the Diavalo Specialty Gourmet Pizza.  The GF comes only in Medium size.  The crust is quit thin but very tasty.  It consists of an Organic tomato sauce, with mozzarella, pepperoni, red and yellow bell peppers, caramelized onions, andouille sausage and red pepper flakes (I did LESS Diavolo and omitted the red pepper flakes!)  The sausage still had a little kick to it but not overpowering.  Divine; pure and simple.

The Hubs had the Pepperoni, Sausage and Ricotta on Picazzo's Original Crust (not GF) and was extremely happy with his choice.  The Mother in Law ordered a Half order Natural Chopped Italian Salad Which had so much meat in it she was shocked!  Pepperoni, smoked ham, and salami.  It also lettuce,  garbanzo beans, organic tomatoes, a significant amount of fresh mozarella, black olives, pepperoncini, Parmesan, GF croutons and Italian Dressing.  Completely GF, huge for a half order and looked amazingly fresh! The child was quite happy with a small cheese pizza!

We then finished the meal with a few desserts.  Yes, GF too! I brought most of mine home.  A skillet Brownie.  It's about 6 inches around with non dairy organic ice cream and organic chocolate sauce!  Joy and Bliss rolled into one! 

This will be a "Go To" place for sure.  Probably only for The Hubs and me, due to the pricing, but what a date night!  I can have Pizza!  It's a little "Pizza Heaven on Earth!"

Gluten Free Creations Bakery is worth the trip!

I went to Sprouts and picked up the GF bread.  It was like a brick.........tough, hard and very unappealing.  I have heard from other friends how horrible the bread selection in their area is.....I was so bummed.  I love bread.  Love it, love it, love it.  Only further up on the list is my love of Pizza and Pasta (more on that in the next post!)

So last Saturday, I got the Hubs to take me around on errands.   Before our lunch at Indulge Burger, we journeyed into Gluten Free Creations Bakery and Cafe.  It's located at 76th Street and McDowell and it's well worth the journey.  Upon entering the Cafe we were greeted and asked if we needed help finding anything.  I was pretty sure we could find what I was looking for so I declined help.  We were able to check out the frozen items and I picked out a loaf of Herb bread and a loaf of Cheddar Cheese bread.  I then saw chocolate chip cookies and pounced on them.  There are no prices listed for these items and you honestly don't want to know them!

Okay, I'll tell you.  $12.99 for a dozen cookies and $7.99 for each loaf of bread.  My total came to almost $32 with tax, etc.  Pricey, oh, yeah.  worth it.  You betcha!

So we make it to the counter, fully intending to pay and leave, and the cashier asks if we want to try some samples.  Um, yeah!  We tried the snickerdoodles (which I should have turned the chocolate chip cookies back in for they were so good!)  I'll get them next time......

Oh, then we tried the "Insane Chocolate Donuts4U".........6 donuts for $9.99 and they are SOOOOOOOOO worth it. My husband was ready to kill for a whole one and he can eat regular donuts!  I would say that's a score for GFC!  Now, we also tried the Cinnamon Coffee Cake which I didn't care for (due to an aftertaste) but The Hubs enjoyed it........again!

I have to give 5 out of 5 stars to this discovery!  I will be back again and again!  Oh, and you should be happy to frequent many of the fine restaurants (like Pugsy's) who serve their bread....it's good!  Oh, so good!

Yes, I will Indulge!

Okay....Den, my husband and I, went to Indulge Burger today.  I got to have a real hamburger ON A BUN!!  And they not only have gluten free buns, they have an entire gluten free menu!!!!  I am in love!  The server was very attentive and understands the gf diet, he helped me with ordering and overall I have to say that I am very impressed.

We were greeted immediately and seated.  The waiter brought handmade potato chips to the table and I asked for a GF menu.  He immediately told me that the chips weren't GF which I appreciated.  He then asked if I wanted the baked french fries, as they take quite a while to cook.  I decided that I did, indeed, want them!  Then I got to view the entire GF menu!  If you've never seen it before I think you should!

Indulge Burger

I was ecstatic with all the choices!  You pick your meat, cheese, toppings and then you sit back and relax!  No worrying if it's prepared right.  JOY!  Then when it arrived, exactly as ordered, I was impressed with the quality of the ingredients and the taste.  I can't wait to go back to try the chicken sandwich!

Oh, yes, I can Indulge!

My first recipe! Try it!

Trying to eat gluten free is a journey in itself.  Here's my first recipe that I put together for myself.  I took a bunch of recipes and put them together to make it gluten free and yummy!  Everyone was very happy with the results!

Baked Stuffed Bell Peppers

Ingredients:
4 Multi colored bell peppers( I used red and orange and they were excellent!)
cut them in half the long way.

4 c. basmati or other rice, cooked

1/2 c. onion or green onion

half pound ground turkey, cooked with garlic, cumin and or a little taco seasoning.

1 can Rotel tomatoes with green chili's

1c. shredded cheddar cheese

salt and pepper to taste

Put the bell peppers in a greased baking pan.  Saute the rest of the ingredients in olive or grape seed oil until mixed.  Stuff the mixture into the peppers.  There will be leftover mixture.    Put foil over the peppers and cook at 400 degrees for about 40 minutes.  Take the foil off, add cheese to the top and cook for 15 more minutes.

If there are leftover peppers add to the mixture for leftovers or add some peppers to the saute.  Enjoy!

Beginning My Journey.....

I have always had problems with my "gut."  Whether it is an upset stomach, diarrhea,  or severe constipation, I have been through it all.  A close relative was once told she had IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) so I just assumed that I, too, had the issue.

As of a few years ago I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's Disease, a form of Hypothyroidism.  I then assumed that my severe constipation had a direct correlation to it.  The constipation was getting so bad that I tried everything in the book to get relief.  First, all I had to do was eat spinach or salad and within an hour I was able to go.  Then that stopped working and Prune juice took it's place.  Until that stopped working and I tried stool softeners, all forms of fiber (which made me so sick!) and finally I went to the doctor.

I had a friend with Celiac Disease and did some research.  My husband laughed and said that he read an article about all the people going gluten free and said that only 5% of all people actually have the disease while everyone else is just making money off of all the people thinking they have it.  I decided to have the doc run a Celiac blood test and waited around.  While I was waiting I cut all gluten from my diet.  This took awhile to get perfected as I learned the places that gluten can hide.

I finally received the news that my gluten test came back as positive.  I most probably have Celiac Disease.  The good news is that I am getting my body back to normal.  The bad news is I now have to figure out this new life of mine.  Come along on my journey....it may prove quite interesting!