Gluten free shopping guide & A recipe for a "Beet-ting" Heart

Here’s a tip for Gluten free shopping. If you are really interested in gluten free products, sometimes it can feel like a maze! Then when you find it, which brand is best? Let’s face it, not all gluten free pasta is created equal. Luckily if your smart you’ve been reading my blog and as a reward I will tell you now some tips of the trade.

Whole foods, Trader Joe’s, Wildberries, Eureka Nautral foods, The Co-op, and many well run, organized natural food store have one thing in common, they are great! But their gluten free projects are scattered across the store. I wish I could just shop from the “Gluten free” aisle. They have the next best thing, if you go to the customer service desk; you can ask them to print you a list of products that are gf! No kidding! “You mean customer service has more uses then just filing complaints and ordering up more tp in the bathroom?” Yes ma’am the ones at TJ’s are really nice and helpful and the list will save you from having to scrutinize over the ingredient labels.

Going to the supermarket shouldn’t be stressful and overwhelming. It should be enjoyable and therapeutic. Cooking is the same way! Time in the kitchen is like going to the beach. I can never have a bad day if I’m at the beach. I might come out upset angry at something, but once my toes sink into the warm sand; I know all is right in the world again. So turn on some music, roll up your sleeves, take in a deep breath and give it a go!

Heres a whimsical recipe that’s simple, requires no heat and will definitely put a smile on any face

Heart Shaped Beets, Goat Cheese and Chive Mousse and Pistachio Dust : j

“Beet”ing Hearts Salad

with Goat Cheese & Chive Mousse and Pistachio Dust

Source: Jasmol Sardana

Ingredients:

Fresh or pickled beets (if using fresh beets they need to be boiled and peeled and then seasoned with salt and pepper – I used good quality picked beets)

Goat Cheese (or chèvre if you want a lighter flavor)

Chives (I have only discovered chives recently. And man these babies are amazing, they pack a beautiful flavor that’s delicate yet powerful to the pallet. It glams any dish up instantly! you can find them in the herb section next to basil)

Sea Salt

White Pepper

Pistachios (unsalted, california is one of the largest growers of pistachios in the world!)

Steps:

1.Beets – cut using a heart shaped cookie cutter and set aside.

2.In a separate bowl combine, goat cheese, chives salt and white pepper and chives.

3.Using a coffee grinder (after its been cleaned out very well) grind pistachios into a superfine dust

4.Place one slice of beet on place, spoon or pipe goat cheese mousse on top, layer with another beet slice .. so on until you have 4 – 5 layers

5.Scatter plate with microgreens if using and sprinkle with pistachio dust.

This makes a great appetizer or brunch item, eat it with toasted Ezekiel bread. Now if you are trying to lose weight, save this one for a Sunday morning brunch treat you share with friends and family. This way you’ll eat less while socializing during your meal. It’s all about community and less about volume of consumption.

Now if you’re on detox, Cheese is very fatty so instead substitute it with a white bean puree. It won’t have the same feeling but you gotta do what you ya gotta do! I know that making sacrifices suck but at the end of the day when I can run 3 miles with enthusiasm and fit into my skinny jeans, I know it’s all been worth it.

White bean puree:

Boil white beans, drain toss into blender to puree. Add in the ingredients as if it were the cheese. Splash in some olive oil. Or for a very classy touch, a splash truffle oil.