Thursday, September 27, 2012

Creamy Cilantro Avocado Salsa


This morning I received an email with a new recipe from Herbivoracious.com. I love most everything on the site but this one really caught my eye. Michael's recipe for Avocado and Tomatillo Salsa reminds me of going up to Olvera Street in Los Angeles as a kid. There were the most amazing taquitos in little paper bowls that were drizzled with an avocado salsa that sounds really similar. I can practically taste it if I think about it all these years later. I cannot wait to make a batch soon.

At lunch time today it was still on my mind as I was pulling things out of the fridge. I was heating up some taquitos, black beans and making a salad and wanted to make some fresh salsa or guacamole to serve with lunch. That's when I realized that I had a lot of ingredients for both but not all for either without running to the store.

What I did have was a perfectly ripe avocado, a really large bunch of cilantro and lots of fresh Habanero Peppers in the garden.

So I pulled out the trusty Vitamix and made a combination of guacamole and Gabby's Green Sauce in about three minutes from start to finish. It's nothing like Michael's but his recipe certainly inspired it and brightened up lunch.

Creamy Cilantro Avocado Salsa

1 Large Bunch Cilantro, washed, stems included
1 Ripe Haas Avocado
1 Habanero Pepper, seeds and white membrane removed
1 Tablespoon Lime Juice
Pinch of Sea Salt

While I used my Vitamix I think a food processor would work just as well. Put all ingredients in and blend (using tamper to push cilantro down and mix) at a medium speed until smooth - just a minute or two.

Enjoy











Tuesday, September 18, 2012

A Surprise at Spize Cafe!


Saturday Chris and I ran over to the venue for Marc and Marie's wedding so Chris could see it finally and so he could check out the "techie" side of things.  We wanted to check the WIFI to see if we'd be able to Skype his mom in to the festivities since she isn't able to fly out for the wedding. WIFI testing went great and we decided to walk through the gardens a bit when Marc joined us there and wandered a bit with us. The gardens are so beautiful and it will be the perfect spot for their wedding.

Marc left his car there and went with us for lunch and an errand. Ever since going to Spize with the lovely Laura I've wanted to get Chris there to try one of their baguette sandwiches.  Definitely NOT gluten free but their artisan/local baguettes looked like the real deal and something Chris would love.

Chris chose the pork sandwich with lemongrass and a honey mayo. The pickeled veggies and chips rounded out his plate. I had to take this picture quickly or I would have missed it all together but since this is a gluten free blog it really shouldn't be here in the first place! =D

There's an eggplant and mushroom sandwich with basil and chili paste that I want to recreate in a gluten free version - it sounds amazing!

Spize Cafe has the most flavorful sauces and dressings and they take really simple fresh ingredients and make the most delicious combinations.

Marc had the Chicken Thai Red Curry Rice Plate - the chicken version of the veggie meal Laura and I enjoyed.

Marc really enjoyed the fresh veggies - especially the bamboo shoots.

The pickled veggies are more than a pretty plate garnish - each veggie seems to have a different heat to them - all fresh and crispy and yummy.

The red curry is super hot but so flavorful.

This time I chose the White Peppered Shrimp Asian Noodle Salad.

Our cashier asked if I would like it hot or hotter.  He used the terms medium and burning. Burning seemed like a good choice but in retrospect why it seemed like a good choice is beyond me! The red peppers you see on top of those rice noodles were really and truly burning hot! But once the sweet and tangy vinaigrette mixed with everything it was the most delicious salad I've had in a long time. I'd order it again but I might order a medium next time.

The only thing I'd love to see at Spize Cafe are more gluten free veggie options without tofu. This salad would have been just as good without the shrimp and even better with more veggies. Their gluten free menu is really varied and better than most but that one small thing would thrill me.

Oh, and the surprise?  We bumped into our sweet neighbors!


Justin, Kyle, Andrea and Gabrielle, from left to right. They were in Raleigh for the NC Museum of Natural Science Bug Fest and stopped in for lunch. Empty plates and happy faces are always a good sign.





Thursday, September 13, 2012

This week called for soothing hot cocoa. . .


This week has been a blessed respite from the oppressive heat and humidity we've had this summer but still not really cocoa weather. However, Joe has been feeling crummy this week and whenever he has a sore throat he loves to soothe it with hot cocoa.

Of course traditional hot cocoa isn't going to work for us. We gave up milk years ago when we realized that it caused chronic congestion for Joe and me and really that's the last thing you want when you're already stuffy. Sugar is about the worst thing you can consume with a struggling immune system so we skipped that, too. By subbing healthy coconut milk and stevia we had a delicious, soothing cup of cocoa that was just perfect for us.

Because all the ingredients are pantry items, we almost always have everything on hand to make a quick batch which makes it convenient for weeks like this.


Soothing Coconut Cocoa

2 Cans Light Coconut Milk (I used Trader Joe's)
2 Rounded Tablespoons Cocoa
1 Rounded Tablespoon Coconut Cream (Optional but     so good!)
1 Tablespoon Vanilla
Pinch of Sea Salt
Liquid Stevia to taste (I use SweetLeaf)

In a medium saucepan whisk together all ingredients over medium heat. I used 10 drops of liquid stevia and it was perfect for us because we don't like things overly sweet.  Using less sweetener gives the cocoa a more dark chocolate flavor, too. Adjust drop by drop to your own preference but be aware that using too much stevia will leave a bitter taste so go slowly.

If you have a stick or immersion blender you can use that rather than a whisk for a quicker, foamier cocoa.  As soon as it's all blended smoothly and hot enough for sipping pour into old favorite (and sometimes chipped) mugs and enjoy!

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Lunch with Laura at Spize Cafe!


Today I was able to sneak out for a great lunch with my friend Laura at Spize Cafe in Raleigh. Spize Cafe was at the Gluten Free Expo last month and after sampling their curry and salad dressing we left the expo with a bottle of their yummy salad dressing and a menu. I stuck the menu on the fridge with a magnet so I wouldn't lose it and would remember to give it a try soon.

When Laura and I made plans for lunch downtown Raleigh was the perfect halfway spot but we needed to find a restaurant that would work for both of us. Laura is vegan and I, as you may have noticed by now, am gluten free =D so I checked the Spize menu and noticed their vegan options.

Because I drive like my grandma and took side streets into Raleigh past NCSU during lunch hour, Laura was already there and checking out the menu when I arrived. Spize is small, bright and modern with a tiny but busy kitchen on the right and seating on the left and the staff is friendly and helpful. We ordered our lunches at the counter and waited outside for our lunches. The weather was just perfect for sitting outside and catching up.

We both ordered a red curry rice plate with veggies - nice and hot and full of fresh veggies. I loved the strips of bamboo shoots and cabbage. It was thin and soup-like and had just the perfect amount of kick for me.

(I can't wait to get Chris here - he would love this curry but they also have French artisan baguette sandwiches that sound right up his alley. We never have gluten in our kitchen and he rarely eats anything with it in front of me so I may have to talk him into one of them.)

Laura ordered a vegan won ton appetizer special that looked so yummy. See them in the pretty picture of Laura above?

My appetizer was really enough to make a meal of and for that matter so was the curry - I left quite full and happy.

Isn't this a gorgeous basil shrimp rice paper roll and so much prettier than the rice paper rolls we make!

The anchovy lime vinaigrette was tart and had just the right amount of that fish sauce punch - I could have poured it over a bowl of greens and licked the bowl when I was done.

I loved my meal but I loved getting to sit and visit with Laura much more. We had never met when we went to the same church, or lived in the same town. Laura is our favorite checker at Trader Joe's but we didn't get to know each other there, either. Despite the fact I'm there at least twice a week you don't really have time for much conversation in a store that busy.

In fact, long before we met I remember running in one day to pick up a few things. I don't remember what had been going on but I was really stressed out. Joe was shorter than me so I know it was a long time ago!  Laura walked by and asked how I was. I smiled and said something like "fine, and you?" but she didn't say "fine". She asked me how I was *really* doing. It caught me off guard and I admitted it was an off day but you know the rest of the day was better. It made a world of difference that someone asked. Laura's that kind of person.

Since Marie introduced us we've emailed a lot, had some quick conversations at TJ's and we've prayed for each other. Today I had the opportunity to meet my friend. We caught up on faith and family and their farm. Well, more like we scratched the surface on all three, but we did fit a lot in. =D I hope we have the opportunity to share many a lunch or cup of tea in the future.

Laura gave me a mission for our first lunch - she wanted me to share a favorite verse, person or book of the Bible with her and said she would do the same. Don't you love that?

Laura also had a surprise for me. I knew she was sharing a bunch of fresh chives from her garden but she also gave me beautiful jar of her homemade body balm and I just love it. It lighter than the body butter I make and Laura gave it a light orange scent.

It feels so silky and smells heavenly.

You should check out the body balm post and read about harvesting honey, too. Things are busy at that farm!

I love that girlie purple bow and keep sliding it back on the jar when I use it but I also love what Laura did under the jar.  Check this out:



Such a sweet label - ysic - Your Sister in Christ. The heart and cross means so much. And notice those two little letters - GF! Love that, too.

Sweet friendship and a spicy lunch - not a bad day!

xoxo