My Favorite Chop Chop Salad

I love love love Chop Chop Salad! 

It is so easy and fun to chop, I make it all the time!

Chop Chop Salad with Columbus Italian Dry Salame

serves 2-4 people 

All of the pieces of this salad are approximately the same size, 1/2 inch. 

2 heads Romaine lettuce, chopped

1 can Organic chickpeas, drained and rinsed with water

1 large cucumber, chopped

1 cup celery, chopped

1 cup radishes, chopped

1/2 cup red onion, chopped

2 garlic cloves, chopped

1/4 cup pepperoncinis. chopped 

1 tsp Italian Seasoning

1/2 - 1 tsp of Red Pepper flakes

pinch Sea Salt

Black Pepper freshly grated, season to taste

1 cup cheese - White Cheddar, Pepper Jack, Mozzarella  optional

Columbus Italian Dry Salame or Peppered, chopped into cubes

approximately 1/4 cup Olive Oil

2 Tbs. Balsamic Vinegar

Add all of the chopped ingredients into a large mixing bowl.

Add the seasonings.

Add some Olive Oil enough to cover all of the ingredients. Mix well using two big spoons or salad fork and spoon.  Add more Olive Oil making sure the ingredients are well coated. 

Add the Balsamic Vinegar.

Mix well, cover and place into the refrigerate to chill and meld for 30-60 minutes.

Serve as a side dish or a main course for lunch.

Great to take to picnics or potluck events as well.

I usually add a little more Red Pepper flakes and vary the type of cheese and 

which ever variety of the Columbus Salame that I have in my refrigerator.

I love love love Columbus Salame!

I buy it all the time. 

The people at Columbus Salame contacted me recently and 

sent me some samples.  It was great to connect with them and learn a little more about their products.

Please go to their site for some more fun info on pairing their meats with your favorite beverages.

I love their low sodium, all natural, no artificial ingredients, no preservatives products.

I also love that their products say on the label

GLUTEN FREE 

NO MSG

NO FILLERS

Columbus is with me at every occasion - 

and always on my shopping list.

I hope you love my Chop Chop Columbus Style Salad as much as I do!  

Enjoy!

Lisa 

HALFPOPS Snacking Gluten Free

This is corn snacking all grown up ... modern ... healthy and flavorful

in a good way! 

HALFPOPS are just what the name says ...

 half popped or partially air popped kernels of corn.

2 flavors 

Sea Salt

and 

Natural Aged White Cheddar

Gluten Free

Nut Free

No Trans Fat

No Artificial Colors

No Hydrongenated Oil

No Corn Syrup

No Negativity ...

just what the 2 oz bag says!

Made in the USA in Seattle, WA! 

WOOT! 

They have a great store locator to find this fun crunchy ... addictive treat.

I like to eat them by hand or 

add them to my salads for a little crunch in place of a bread crouton.

Both flavors are great.  

I was really happy when HALFPOPS contacted me to see if I had 

"experienced their brand new snacking HALFPOPS heart of popcorn."

I didn't know about the fun new treat so the sent me some samples. 

When I opened the box I couldn't wait to try them!

I love them!

I am not saying this because they were complimentary ... 

but I am forewarning you ...

their other name should be

HALFPOPS ADDICTION

  ... addiction because of the simple flavors, 

little balls of crunchiness and 

natural corn flavors are everything you love about popcorn ...

only better!  

Great for movies at home and I love the little bags to take with you for snacking on the go! 

Enjoy!

Lisa

Marcona Kañiwa Quince Bites - Gluten Free and Vegan

I have to admit sometimes I get a sweet tooth for something different.  

My sweet tooth isn't for sugar it's for something a little sweet like fruit but with a savory bite.

I really don't like to add sugar to my recipes and
lucky for all of us this one doesn't need it because I used Quince Paste.

The Quince is a relative of Apples and Pears and is a great source for Vitamin A, fiber and iron.

The thing I love most about Quince is that it is naturally high in pectin so it is great to use to stick or bind ingredients together in jams, jellies and paste recipes.  

The savory side of this little bite comes from the Marcona Almonds and the Kañiwa grain. Kañiwa, the smaller, red cousin of the famous Quinoa adds protein and structure to this treat.
My love for this combination of ingredients is the inspiration for my little wrapped bites.
I wanted something convenient  to make that I could take in the car in my lunch bag,
when I run errands, or for a picnic. 

They also make a really cute gift! 

These Quince and Marcona Almond Bites  are so easy to make!

I wanted something small as a snack that would satisfy hunger but also give a little boost of energy.    The best part is that these little bites are 

packed full of flavor, Gluten Free, Vegan, No refined sugar and No Bake!

 Quince Marcona Almond Bites

makes approximately 12 - 14 wrapped pieces with a little extra to enjoy while wrapping.

1/4 cup Zócalo Gourmet Kañiwa grain, cooked

1 Tbs Zócalo Gourmet Amaranth flour

1/4 cup Matiz España Quince Paste, chopped

2 Tbs Organic coconut oil

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp Matiz Flor de Sal, sea salt

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1/8 tsp clove

1/8 tsp ginger

4 oz Matiz Marcona Almonds - 2 oz finely chopped, 2 coarse chopped

1/4 cup +1 Tbs **Bob's Red Mill Certified Gluten Free Quick Oats

1 1/2 cups unsweeted coconut flakes

IF YOU CARE Eco-friendly parchment paper cut into 12- 14, 3 x5 pieces

In a mini food processor, add the Kañiwa grain, Amaranth, Quince Paste, coconut oil, cinnamon, sea salt, nutmeg, clove, ginger, 2 oz Marcona Almonds and 1/4 cup of GF Oats. **If you can not tolerate Gluten Free Oats, please substitute equal amounts of unsalted sunflower seeds in place of GF oats.
Pulse the ingredients for 1-2 minutes, on the chop setting.  Be careful not to over process it longer or it will become too smooth. Remove the mixture from the processor and place into a small mixing bowl.  Add the coarsely chopped Marcona Almonds and 1 Tbs of **GF oats.  Mix well with a spoon by hand. This will add a little more texture or ... bite!

Lay out the pieces of parchment paper and place approximately 1 tsp of coconut on the paper.  Use a small spring scoop #100 to measure the paste and place on top of the coconut.  Roll part of the paper over the paste and begin to gently press and roll out.  Pick up the roll and begin to twist the ends in opposite directions as if it were a ... please forgive me ... a tootsie roll.  Continue until the mixture is all wrapped.  Place into a sealed container in the refrigerator over night to meld the flavors and hold their shape.  Keep these wrapped bites in a container and in the refrigerator until you are ready to snack or share.

I think I love wrapping these little bites as much as unwrapping them! 

Pure goodness in every ... bite! 
Enjoy!
xoxo
Lisa

Best Gluten Free Meal at Haystack

What defines a perfect experience for you?

I recently took advantage of a good deal, good weather and went on an unexpected road trip to run down to one of my favorite places in the world ...

 Cannon Beach, Oregon.

I just needed to get away from it all to recharge and unplug.

Little did I know that it was going to be the perfect combination of quite peaceful beauty ...

and just a tad of sweet unexpected moments 

that made this the perfect getaway.

I love love love dark chocolate ...

when was the last time that someone turned your bed down 

and left you some 

dark chocolate on your bed?

I stayed at the perfect location right at Haystack Rock called Surfsand Resort.

I have always wanted to stay there but many years ago when I found the resort, it was under construction.  I knew one day that I would have a chance to go back ...

and this was the perfect time, 

in the middle of winter! 

I have been on their email list for years.  I happened to read one of the emails one evening while the evening news was on. My favorite weather guy was saying how gorgeous the weather was going to be for the next few days.  Dry, warm, 

OK relatively warm ... 

upper 40's low 50's and sunny!

This is not typical winter weather in the Pacific Northwest!

I called, booked my discounted stay, packed my bags and went the next morning.

I always bring some of my favorite Gluten Free snacks and treats so I had plenty for the road trip.  Because it was so last minute I didn't get much of a chance 

to sleuth out the best places to eat Gluten Free.  

Luckily for me when I checked in that evening I remembered that there was a wonderful restaurant right there within the resort along the waterfront. 

The restaurant is called the Wayfarer Restaurant and Lounge.  

I went for a walk on the beach to stretch my legs and then went to dinner.  

My timing was perfect to catch the sunset from my table! 

I had the 

BEST GLUTEN FREE DINNER! 

I love love love Dungeness Crab ...

so I had to have the 

Dungenes Crab Cakes 

perfectly seasoned with herbs, 

lots of Dungeness Crab that is bound with Shrimp Mousse, 

not flour or bread crumbs! 

Seared slightly crispy and golden, served with citrus aioli.

They were absolutely delicious! A must get when you go to the Wayfarer.

 I love seafood, especially when I am so close to the beach.

I decided to have the 

Potato Crusted Halibut 

a thick fillet of Alaskan Halibut, flaky snow white with crispy slightly salted shoestring potatoes

seared golden and a brown butter sauce - sans cranberries for me.  

Served with broccoli raab slaw, roasted tomatoes, sweet potatoes and strawberries.

Another winner! 

Awesome! 

The best thing about the meal was the server.

David made me feel like I was special and not a high maintenance woman.  

When I sat down, I told him that I was Gluten Free and that I had a few extra food allergies. 

He was happy to serve me, he made suggestions with a genuine smile and assured me that the kitchen knew how to prevent cross-contamination.  

It made me feel really, really special! 

Bravo Bravo Bravo David!

This was the sunset that I gazed at while I was relaxing and waiting for my dinner.

I ran out to get a quick picture to capture the moment.

I wanted to make sure when I woke up the next day that it was all real.

It was such a perfect day! 

As a side note, I want to say

Bravo! Bravo! Bravo!

 to all of the staff - 

 front desk, housekeeping and the Wayfarer Restaurant were all amazing! 

So professional and sweet, I highly recommend that you go and enjoy the experience too! 

I love love love the swimming pool and the location of everything to the beach. 

They are even wonderful to your pets.  My little guy was very spoiled! 

He got a treat bag and special amenities too! 

I didn't get to do too much because it was a very short trip.  I know that I want to go back and enjoy another wonderful meal at Wayfarer and at the Stephanie Inn, both owned by Martin Hospitality.  

Many, many moons ago I had a wonderful memorable Christmas Dinner 

at the Stephanie Inn Dining Room, 

prior to being Gluten Free.  

I have heard great things about their Gluten Free meals and it will make it a top priority next trip!  

I can't wait to go back! 

Go and please let them know that you saw this posting.  

Maybe I will see you there ...

Safe travels, rest, relax and rejuvenate ...

Haystack Rock and the beach are calling you!

Lisa

P.S. I wanted to share this special place with everyone because I love Cannon Beach! Everyone loves it once they go! I like that it is quiet during the winter and a special place to take a walk and reflect.  I got a good "Winter Special Discount" because of the time of the year. I was not compensated for this review, I just thought it was a shame not to share such a wonderful experience with you.

Happy Not So ... Fat Tuesday!

My King Cake!

I know this is an overused phrase but 

I can't believe how fast this year is flying! 

The month of February is almost over and I must admit I've had the hardest time trying to keep to any sort of routine this year.  It just seems like one thing after another - 

holiday ... feast ... food ... clean up ... holiday .... feast ... you get the idea.  

About a month ago when I started to think about Mardi Gras and the recipes that I would post 

all I could think of was ... yuck! 

Honestly, the idea that it is so soon after another holiday filled with overindulgence in sweets, I pushed it aside to the back burner.  I just couldn't think about making food for another day of overindulgence.  I am all for being festive and I do love Mardi Gras.  

I lived in New Orleans as a child for a few years and 

have very fond memories of the city, celebration and Cajun food.  

For some reason this year I feel like I just need to celebrate this holiday in a different way.  

Last night I decided to clean out my pantry and refrigerator.  

I just wanted to clear away anything that was taking up space that wasn't good for me. 

It felt good! 

Almost enlightening and I got the best sleep last night!

Today I woke up craving something that I haven't done in awhile ... 

something so decadent and scrumptious and that I love.  

I was craving my yoga! I find it absolutely delicious when I get back to my mat.  

Yoga and I have this relationship.  We can spend everyday together at our usual time and place.  

Our quite moments are so relaxing and energizing no wonder it can be so addictive, 

in a good way. 

Well, as in any great relationship it just takes a missed appointment, the next day it is later in the day and before you know it you are off your routine.  

Suddenly the time and distance seems to be greater yet never intentional.  Other people, places and commitments just seem to pull you away.  

Well for me it was an injury too my foot that actually made me realize that there was a problem and caused me to forsake my routine and my quality time on my mat.  

One day I just couldn't do it any more, it was painful 

because I had hurt my foot and didn't want to face it.  

I couldn't even sit in the first pose on my mat.

The long and short of it is that it forced me to go to my doctor and take care of it.  

So now, months later after numerous days of self care and many holidays, 

I flirted with the idea of going back to my mat.  

Oh my mat has tried to catch my eye on many occasions just to tease me.  

One day it got too intense when I was wearing my not so fashionable or comfortable boot.  

 I ended up using my rolled up mat to prop my leg up under my knee.

As I glanced at it with a crooked smile it was almost as if it was saying...

well this is better than nothing ... 

At least we had some sort of connection even if it was just to support me.  

After that day my mat and yoga went to the back of my mind.  

I have been getting so frustrated with just trying to get back to walking that yoga seemed like a lost romance from a far away land.

This morning I just about sprung out of bed after getting such great sleep. 

 I made some Café Du Monde coffee, a new little special breakfast ... 

cultured almond milk by ... Amande.  

It is really good and the perfect treat to eat that is non-dairy, no gmo, vegan, soy free, fruit juice sweetened and most importantly ... Gluten Free!  It comes in 8 flavors - plain, coconut, blueberry, raspberry, peach, vanilla, strawberry and cherry!  

I happened to find it at Town and Country Market the other day and thought I would try it.  

I am trying to do everything I can these days to 

keep my inflammation down to heal my body and my foot!  

Dairy, soy and sugar are not good for me in large quantities 

so I am trying to avoid it where and when I can.  

The point of this story is this, living a healthy Gluten Free life to me is about knowing my body.  

Finding the joys in foods that are good for me and 

listening to signals in my body to know if something is good or bad.

Yoga nourishes me, rejuvenates me and gets my appetite going for healthy foods.  

Yoga clears my mind and makes me stop to see the rich colors in things and makes me take deeper breaths to clear away the cobwebs that build up inside.  

Yoga is about living a balanced life.

If you have never tried it I recommend getting the A-Ok from your doctor and finding a gentle yoga class to start your experience.  I think you will really love it! 

Bring on the happy faces! 

This party girl is whooping it up today! 

I have decided to celebrate this

 "Not so Fat Tuesday"

 with the things that I find decadent ...

yoga

Mate Chocolatte hot tea

a hot bowl of Pussac Punay bean soup and brown rice with Kale

dark chocolate

a foot massage

music ... always music ... Buckwheat Zydeco on your Pandora station ...

Oh!

 I am feeling a little festive and can still indulge in the holiday colors ...

my purple yoga mat

my Forest green scented candles 

my yellow gold happy face spatula 

Silly I know but I just didn't want all the yeasty sugar topped bread, 

beads, brawls, parades, flashings or the ticket price to go down there ... 

one of these years I will go back for Mardi Gras ...

I'm perfectly happy with my

Not So Fat Tuesday Tradition!

Laissez les bon temps rouler
Let the good times roll ...


Lisa