I'm An Addict

I have an addiction.  A salty snacking addiction.  My vice:  Xochitl Chips

WARNING, do not read any further or you too will become an addict.

I've always been a chips and salty snacks connoisseur, but when I realized I could no longer eat my beloved Cheetos by the handful, I fell into a deep, dark salty snacks depression.

My head hung low as I passed by the chips aisle and headed down the dreaded gluten free aisle.  A row full of foods that looked dull and flavorless and quite frankly, just weird.  I taste tested snacks with odd textures, peculiar flavors and mysterious scents until I came across my beloved drug of choice, Xochitl Chips.

Hand-made with Stone Ground Corn, these thin, crispy bites of heaven are all natural and gluten free.  I would even go so far as to say they rival the chips dished up at the finest hole in the wall Mexican restaurants adorning the city streets.

They compliment all salsas, but I recommend pairing them with one of the following:
-Xochitl Chipotle Medium Salsa (found at Whole Foods)
-Garden Fresh Gourmet Jack's Special Medium Salsa (found at Jewel Osco)
-Salsa Caliente (freshly prepared at the Lakeview Whole Foods and located in the coolers adjacent to the freshly made pizza slices)

Happy snacking!
http://www.salsaxochitl.com/index.html

Better than a Lean Cuisine? You be the Judge!

Gone are the days of popping a gluten-ridden Lean Cuisine into the microwave at work and getting a pipping hot, decently tasty lunch 3 minutes later.

So what's a gluten free guy or gal to do?

Follow these quick and easy steps:
1.  Visit your local Jewel-Osco, Dominick's or Whole Foods
2.  Locate the frozen foods section
3.  Feast your eyes on Cedarlane's Three Layer Enchilada Pie
4.  Make a beeline for the checkout
5.  Head back to the office
6.  Pop that puppy in the microwave
7.  ENJOY (Oh, and I hate to be the bearer of bad news...the Pie is actually 2 servings.  But, I'm not gonna lie, I usually eat both servings.)

Better than a Lean Cuisine, GUARANTEED!

Cassava Coupon

Looking to check out gluten-free all-natural Cassava in Lakeview?  You're in luck!  Purchase this weeks BuyWithMe coupon to get $10 in delicious eats for only $5!

http://www.buywithme.com/chicago/deals/7964-cassava?utm_source=the+BuyWithMe+Mailing+List&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2011_06_22_CHI_Gadzuk_Cassava_8079

Sensational Salmon

Looking for a quick 'n easy salmon recipe that's gluten free and mighty tasty?

Here's the skinny...

Hit up the grocery and grab the following:
-1-2 fillets of fresh salmon
-Lemon juice or a lemon
-Gluten free soy sauce
-Gluten free italian dressing (I suggest whipping up a packet of Good Seasons Zesty Italian dressing)
-Honey
-Ground cayenne red pepper

Mix up the marinade:
-1 tbsp soy sauce
-1 tbsp honey
-1 tbsp italian dressing
-A couple dashes of ground cayenne red pepper

Dressing the salmon:

-Place 1-2 salmon fillets on plate
-Poke small holes with fork on top of fillet
-Pour 1 tsp lemon juice over top of salmon, waiting 5 minutes for lemon juice to settle
-Poke additional holes in salmon and pour marinade over entire fillet allowing any extra marinade to pool at the bottom of plate
-Refrigerate salmon for 5+ hours

Fire up the oven:
-Place salmon on an oven safe pan or dish 
-Cook on low broil for approximately 15 minutes, or until tender and flaking

Enjoy!

Cassava

A hop, skip and jump away from Wrigley Field you'll find a "gem" by the name of Cassava.

With the help of my trusty sidekick Google, I learned that Cassava is a South American plant and the third largest source of carbohydrates in the word.  It also just happens to be gluten free and contains calcium, phosphorus and vitamin C (score!)

Anyways, I digress...so I stopped in for lunch over Memorial Day weekend and perused the all-natural gluten free menu of smoothies, empanadas, muffins, soups and rolls galore, finally stepping up to the counter and placing my order:

Mango Pineapple Smoothie, Beef and Cheddar Empanada and Grass-Fed Beef Chili please (topped with cheese ofcourse.)

My food arrived a few minutes later...and the verdict:
-The Mango Pineapple Smoothie was deliciously fresh, not too sweet and leagues above the likings of Jamba Juice.
-The pipin' hot Grass-Fed Beef Chili was A-MA-ZING!Seriously. Fresh veggies, high quality meat and a hint of Cincinnati Chili flavor (if you're from Ohio, you know this is a good thing!)
-Though the dough was slightly dry on the outside, the interior of the Beef and Cheddar Empanada was heaping with plentiful ingredients, tomato sauce and a hint of italian seasoning...and paired quite nicely with my Chili.

And on a side note...I went back earlier this week and picked up a bowl of the soup du jour BBQ Chicken Chili with Cilantro and it was also A-MA-ZING!

Check it out next time your in the 'hood!

Location:  3338 N. Clark in Lakeview
Website:  http://www.cassavachicago.com/
Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cassava/139903779365190

Goin' Gluten Free

My mission:
To keep all you gluten free guys and gals out there in the know of "gems" I come across in my quest to keep my taste buds (and stomach and wallet) happy.

Stay tuned for tips, tricks and suggestions, and happy eating until then.

-The Gluten Free Girl's Guide to the Windy City