Posts Tagged ‘Texas’

1 May

How I Shop For Groceries

Posted by Crunchy Hot Mama in Crunchy, Food, Grocery Stores, Organic, Paleo. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

In my ongoing attempt to help my family eat better and ward off an early period for dear Emma, I have drastically changed the way we eat, which entails shopping smarter.  I’ve had several friends ask how and where I buy my groceries, so I figured it warranted a detailed post for any others that might be interested.

No to Monsanto

You’re probably saying, ‘Duh, you go to the supermarket and get what you need.’  Au contraire.  I hardly ever go to an actual grocery store, unless I need a few toiletries that I can’t get at Natural Grocers.  This seems like a no-brainer, but when you try to eat better, you have to do your research.

Here’s how I shop:

  • Farmer’s Markets/CSAs

  • Food Co-ops

  • Natural Food Stores

Farmer’s Markets/CSAs

Remember this post about Farmer’s Markets and CSAs?  Well, that’s where I get the majority of my produce along with my meats.  And now that market season is in full swing, I try to go every weekend to stock up on what I need for the week.  My favorite place to go is called, Earthwise Gardens, in Denton, TX.  It’s a store started by Ryan Crocker who grows and sources exclusively Texas-grown organic fruits and vegetables. I am very lucky to have access to a place that has local produce, eggs, and meats, all in a one-stop shop.

Earthwise Gardens in Denton produce

What I get from there is pastured-raised eggs, fresh veggies, fruit, and meat from Local Yocal.  I don’t know if it’s a good or bad thing, but when I went by their tent at the Denton Farmer’s Market last Saturday, they recognized me and said we’ll see you in the store soon.  Should I leave a note?  Ha.

For the past few weeks it’s been somewhat of a routine: Emma and I go by the chiropractor to both get adjusted, head to Earthwise Gardens to pick up eggs (and give back our empty egg cartons), then swing by Natural Grocers for anything else we might have missed.  I actually like the routine and think Emma does, too.  It couldn’t be that when I buy a carton of fresh strawberries (from Earthwise) we sit in the parking lot and eat the whole thing, could it?

eating strawberries from Earthwise Gardens in Denton

I will also go down to the Dallas Farmer’s Market to pick up grass-fed beef and pasture-raised pork from Northstar Ranch.  Apparently I like to drive as far as possible to get what I need.

Food Co-ops/CSAs

I used to be a member a few years ago of a CSA, but that was before I went Paleo, so I wasted a lot of good produce not knowing what or how to cook a lot of it.  CSAs are a great way to support local and organic in your community.  Plus, they’re an easy way to get all your produce for the week without having to go to the store.

csa

Another idea is a food co-op.  This is kind of the same as a CSA, but they have different items besides food.  Through my holistic group on facebook, I have taken part in a coconut oil co-op along with a colloidal silver co-op.  This is basically where several people go in on an order to bring the cost down.  You could buy it yourself from certain sites or stores, but this saves you some money especially if you use it often.  The lady who organizes it has an ongoing co-op every month for both, so it’s a matter of picking it up when it comes in.

I’m lucky in that my chiropractor is part of the group, so I can just pick my goods up from her when we get adjusted. Check around online to find a local CSA or co-op in your area…I guarantee they are out there.

Natural Food Stores (Natural Grocers/The Cupboard/Etc.)

One of my favorite natural food stores was featured in this post.  You may recall that I professed my undying love for the new Natural Grocers in Denton, TX.  I can’t begin to tell you how much I love that store.  All the produce is organic and they only sell naturally raised meats.  I even buy recycled paper towels and toilet paper (don’t judge) from there, and recently bought some compostable straws that I can toss in my compost bin.  It makes me feel like I’m doing a little bit of good-trying to buy recycled, non-bleached items for our home when I can.  I know not everyone will switch to this, but I want to teach Emma to try and buy reusable items that get tossed so easily.

Natural Grocers in Denton Texas

*Yesterday I just discovered The Cupboard in Denton, which is just like Natural Grocers, so I was super excited to find yet another local store to help support.

The Cupboard in Denton

So, that’s pretty much how I shop: Farmer’s Markets/local produce markets, Food Co-ops, and Natural Food Stores.  I’m not trying to endorse these places, I just happen to have access to them and love what they stand for.  I will try my darndest to get the best foods I possibly can, even if that means spending a little more.

No excuses people…find local sources close to you here!

Eat Local

What about you?  How do you shop?  Have you discovered the beauty of Farmer’s Markets or ventured out to pick your own foods with the family?  Do some searching and support local-I promise you won’t be sorry and the farmers will love you.

Note: Photos from here, here, and here.

19 Apr

Sausage And (Sweet) Potato Soup With Collard Greens

Posted by Crunchy Hot Mama in Gluten-Free, Grain-Free, Paleo, Recipes. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , .

I know I can’t complain too much about Texas weather right now, but it just so happened that a cold front came through, so this recipe was perfect.  It originally called for sweet potatoes, but as we have been eating both sweet and regular, I went with regular since they were on hand.  I also added some collard greens that I just picked up from the local market in Denton, called Earthwise Gardens.  This was my first time to use them and I was pleasantly surprised-not what I thought they would be.  Don’t be afraid to get out there and try some exotic greens, they’re so good for you and your body will thank you.  I give credit to Emma for giving me the idea to grill the sausage first; then I sliced it up and added it to the onions.  Brilliant!

Note: do yourself a favor and start making your own broth, it tastes 10x better and is more nutritional for you.

Sausage and Sweet Potato Soup

From Paleo Intensified

sausage and sweet potato soup

  • 1 ½ Tbsp ghee, butter, or bacon grease
  • 1 pound Organic Sausage
  • 1 sweet potato or 3 medium-sized regular potatoes
  • 2-3 carrot sticks
  • 2-3 celery stalks
  • 1-2 yellow onions
  • 3 green onions
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • ½ of a bunch of collard greens, Swiss chard, or kale, washed and torn into small pieces
  • 1 ½ tsp curry powder (optional-I left it out since I don’t care for it)
  • 7-8 cups homemade chicken broth
  • Sea salt and pepper to taste

1. Start by peeling the sweet potato (I leave the skins on regular ones), roughly chopping all the veggies, and mincing the garlic.

2. Heat ghee in a large skillet on medium-high.

3. Sauté the onion and garlic for a minute or two, then add the sausage. Use a big spoon or spatula to break up the sausage into chunks. Don’t make the chunks too small. You’ll want some bigger chunks that turn into delicious little meatballs when it’s finished. Cook the sausage until it’s just starting to brown.

4. Add all the veggies and sweet potato. Add the curry powder, using as much as you want.

5. Sauté everything together, stirring occasionally, until the sweet potato and carrots start to soften. While that’s cooking, add the broth to a large pot and bring it to a boil.

6. Once the potatoes and carrots are soft, throw everything in the pot, add collard greens, and let it simmer for 10 minutes.

7. Once it’s ready, you can eat it as is or put it in a blender or food processor and puree it. I left it chunky.

8. Enjoy!

9 Apr

I Left My Heart In Austin (Day 3): Olivia

Posted by Crunchy Hot Mama in Celiac Disease, Dairy-Free, Food, Gluten-Free, Grain-Free, Organic, Paleo, Restaurants, Travel. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

Dude!  I feel like this recap is taking forever, so let’s get on with it shall we?  There are so many more posts that need to be written, that it’s time to let Austin go…but not without this stop first.  See day 1 and day 2 if you have no idea what I’m talking about.

Olivia

We woke up Sunday morning, after a good night’s rest, and quickly packed our bags to leave our AirBnb house for good.  Knowing I’m at slow at getting ready for everything in the morning, I made sure to get as much done the night before.  We happened to come across Olivia after our first trip to Lick on Friday.  I drove across the street to see if they were open, but no dice. Casey heard about this place from her awesome contact, so we agreed to make it a Sunday morning brunch.  Can I just say we were both ecstatic when we were checking out the parking lot and came across this:

chickens outside Olivia

I’m pretty sure those eggs and veggies were meant for my future breakfast, and we both couldn’t wait to return when they were actually open.

When we arrived on Sunday, we were 30 minutes ahead of our reservation (that never happens with me) but they had no problem seating us.  We kindly notified our waiter about our gluten allergy, he said he was familiar with it, and that they could substitute items if need be.  Once again, we dove right into the menu and did our best to narrow down our choices.

After much drooling debate, Casey went with the Catalan lamb hash and I went with the South Austin Omelette.  They were both divine and totally had us licking our plates!

Catalan lamb hash

omlette from Olivia in Austin

Wait, but we can’t forget the starters.  I ordered Chicken Liver Mousse, a first for me, and they subbed grilled apples for the toast, while Casey ordered a pound side of bacon.  I totally joked that she couldn’t eat that whole thing…um she totally did AND polished off her entire entrée!  I think I’ve met match in the eating world as well.  Can you tell we’re meant to be crunchy friends?

chicken liver pate from Olivia

bacon

That pretty much wrapped up our morning, though I think Casey might have asked if we could stop by Lick for the 3rd time, but I can’t be sure.  She had the brilliant idea to stop at Whole Foods to grab lunch before we went to my parents to pick up Emma.  As Celiacs, you can never be too prepared for your next meal, especially when trying to stay away from crap eat Paleo.

If you couldn’t tell, I am in love with Austin and was a little depressed to come home to Dallas.  Not that I don’t think my city is awesome, but since going crunchy, I want more that just sub-par food choices and resources.  I want a city that embraces this lifestyle, where it’s just that, a lifestyle, not a fad.  So, until I can get my butt to Austin, I’ll just have to settle with weekend getaways.  If you live in Austin, give me a shout-I’d love to meet up at a Farmer’s Market and explore more of your beautiful city.

pit stop outside of Austin

What about you?  Have you ever been to any of these places or have I inspired you to go?  If you live in Austin, do you realize all this is around you or is it your norm?  Give me the good, the bad, and the ugly.

8 Apr

I Left My Heart In Austin (Day 2): Dai Due, Frank, La Condesa, And Lick

Posted by Crunchy Hot Mama in Dairy-Free, Food, Gluten-Free, Grain-Free, Paleo, Restaurants, Travel. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

To continue with my whirlwind trip to Austin, let’s move on to day 2 (see day 1 here).  Warning: it’s lengthy!

This day was exhausting yet filled with lots of walking, driving, and of course, stuffing our faces.  The plan was to hit up the farmer’s market, grab some breakfast, and plan out the rest of our day.

Sustainable Food Center (SFC) Farmer’s Market and Dai Due

Our first stop of the morning was to the gorgeous SFC farmer’s market in downtown Austin.  This market ‘boasts over 110 farmers and vendors and is the largest certified* growers-only farmers’ market in the state!’  Jackpot, baby!

SFC farmer's market

We did a quick walk through of all the amazing vendors then headed to Dai Due for some much needed breakfast.  Dai Due Butcher Shop is an old-style sausage and charcuterie source, available at local farmers markets.  Our weekly menu of meats and condiments changes with the season.  All of our meats, vegetables and herbs come from local ranchers and farmers, and are treated with simplicity and minimal processing.

Dai Due Butcher Shop in Austin

After much hemming and hawing, Casey opted for the Pan Haus and I decided on the Shrimp and Grits.  I told Casey I better not send a picture to Josh…he would for sure hate knowing I’m eating one of his favorite dishes while he busts his butt at work.  I did my best not to brag what a wonderful time we were having while he was stuck in the nasty weather at home.  What a good wife I am.  Not!

shrimp and grit from Dai Due

With our bellies full of local goodness, we walked around and stopped at several vendors to check out their fare.  We grabbed a tamale (Casey’s first) along with a gluten-free cinnamon roll, which was too sweet for both of us, then grabbed a seat to enjoy some live music.  As we sat there, I was telling Casey, this is what a Saturday should be about: picking up some local produce/meats, listening to live music, and letting Emma run around in the fresh sun…no Saturday morning cartoons for this mama!

When we finally finished drooling browsing and decided we had lamented seen enough, it was time to go.  We headed back to the house to put everything in the fridge and get ready for the second half of the day.

duck and goose eggs

Oh, we did grab a few eggs that we’ve never tried before and thought why the heck not!  Casey and I split a dozen duck eggs and she bought a single goose egg.  We both agree that the duck eggs are out of this world, and Casey seems to think the goose egg was a bit much to handle (it’s equivalent to 2 regular eggs).

Frank and The Sipping Room

Next on our agenda was lunch (I told you the trip was all about food).  It happened to be my best friend of 29 year’s birthday, so I invited her to come up from San Antonio for lunch.  I kept raving about this sausage/hot dog place called Frank, so Casey agreed to go there and save La Condesa for later.  My friend, Cat, was running late (as usual), so we swung by The Sipping Room for some hot tea and coconut tomato soup.  It happened to be in a nice shopping center, so we did a little walking, girl chatting, and shopping while sipping on our tasty beverages.

me and Cat at Frank

When our stomachs couldn’t take it any longer, we hoped in the car and headed to Frank.  They are the ‘Purveyors of Artisan Sausage’ and you can bet they ain’t messing around!  All Frank Sausages are made IN-HOUSE or locally for Frank by Hudson Sausage Co.  Aww yeah.

I was torn on which frank to choose, even though I’d been there before, so this time I went with the Jackalope, which was custom-made smoked antelope, rabbit, and pork sausage, cranberry compote, sriracha aioli, cheddar.  I held the cheese like a good girl, but splurged on getting it on the gluten-free bun, while Casey went sans bun.  I’m pretty sure I could have eaten two, as hungry as I was, but decided to hold out for dinner and what was to come afterwards.  Yes, the fries are gluten-free!

gluten free sausage from Frank

La Condesa

After lunch, we decided to walk down 6th street to see if it was worth hitting up again later that night.  The night was still early, but it was pretty busy with people already getting their drink on, as well as gearing up for a night of bachelorette parties and techie debauchery.  We agreed to see how dinner went and go from there.

It couldn’t have been but an hour or so that Casey and I both expressed our hunger.  We have both met our match in the eating department, so after a few stops to some fresh, local stores (and a new hat!), we decided to walk our lunch off the four blocks to La Condesa on West 2nd street.

Once the server came back with our marked up menu, it was that time again to decide what the hell to eat.  I tell you what; it’s tough making that many food decisions in one day…but sure is nice not cooking and cleaning it all up!

guacamole tasting from La Condesa

We both decided to split the Guacamole Tasting and I’m darn glad we did.  You got a sample of each of their four guacamoles along with their four salsas.  I already knew which one I would love, and wasn’t steered wrong when I brought the bite of jump lump crab to my mouth.  Out.of.this.world.  We both couldn’t stop until all the bowls were licked clean!  Who knew you could make guacamole so many different ways…I told myself to tuck those ideas away for getting crazy at home.

crab tostadas

For our entrées, I ordered the Cangrejo Tostadas (to keep with the lump crab theme) and a side of Coles de Bruselas (Brussels sprouts), and Casey went with the Cochinita Pibil (pork) Taquitos.  I tell you what, when those Brussels sprouts came out, both tables on either side were asking what in the world I had ordered.  This was where the meal got fun and very Austin-like.  I told the girl it was the sprouts and she said no way, so I told her to stick her nose in my bowl and decide for herself.  I think Casey was a little embarrassed by me, but I feel like that’s totally Austin-to get to know your neighbors while you eat.  Once the girl decided it was the sprouts, she made sure to order them, and I made sure to try to recreate them when I got home.

Brussels sprouts

We finally wrapped up our meal, with no dessert, and headed back to the car.  We were torn on what to do for the night, since the previous was a bust, and finally settled on heading back to Bufalo Bob’s Chalupa Wagon for the *ahem live music.

Lick

When we got to Bufalo Bob’s, and discovered he was closed AND the live music was non-existent, we headed across the street for some hot tea and a gluten-free mocha cookie from Fair Bean Coffee.  Being in Austin surrounded by live music, we found yet another performer, named Court Hoang, and settled in to hear him play.  It was a chilly night but nice to relax outside, surrounded by food trucks, and listen to a guy with only a microphone and an amp.  Sometimes it’s the simple and free things in life.

mocha cookie and tea

After he finished his set, Casey looked at me and asked if we could head over to Lick (again) for a late night cap of yummy, local ice cream.  I of course said yes, and we were promptly cruising the one street over to fill up our frequent buyer card.

flavors at Lick

This place is pretty cool.  Their slogan is, Honest Ice Creams, and that it is.  The milk comes from a ’herd consisting of handpicked Jersey, Brown Swiss and Holstein cows that are never given hormones or antibiotics and are primarily grass-fed.’  Ya’ll know I’m all about grass-fed AND no hormones or antibiotics…so if you MUST have your ice cream, check this place out.  They even have compostable cups and spoons; I’m in love!

Lick dairy free ice cream in Austin

What really drew us were the non-dairy varieties.  They have four dairy-free/vegan choices, made from primarily coconut, so I didn’t have to break my no dairy eating and was able to indulge.  I’m pretty sure Casey would have liked me to leave her there, so she could curl up with one of the dairy-free pints, but alas, we still had more eating to do on Sunday.

After Lick, we decided to go back to the house and watch Eat Pray Love on her iPad…and man am I glad we did.  At about 10pm we heard some terrible storms blowing through (which most of the state got), and I had to laugh a little thinking about all those dolled up girls running for shelter in their 4″ heels, while we were nestled up just chillaxing.  I was convinced that we made the right choice, while visions of dairy-free coconut ice cream danced in Casey’s head.

hanging out on 6th street in Austin

All in all, it was an exciting day, and fun to see what a city that prides themselves on supporting local is like.  I promise Sunday’s recap won’t be this long (good grief!).  I told ya we covered a lot of ground and I was not about to let all the yumminess go unnoticed.

22 Mar

I Left My Heart In Austin (Day 1): Bufalo Bob’s, Salty Sow, & Magnolia Cafe

Posted by Crunchy Hot Mama in Dairy-Free, Food, Gluten-Free, Grain-Free, Organic, Paleo, Restaurants. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

First, let me apologize for being MIA last week, we were in Missouri for a funeral, so I didn’t have the time to do any posting.

Second, if you caught any of the pictures I posted on my Facebook page, you can remotely guess what an AMAZING time I had in Austin.  You will probably get tired of hearing me rave about Austin, so just deal with it.  When you go crunchy, it’s a blessing to have a crunchy Mecca close to you!

We did so much that weekend, that I decided I’ll break up our trip by days, that way you can see where we went and more importantly what we ate.  I was overwhelmed at how many places had garden beds out front and supported local farmers.  My hope is that there is a shift in restaurants reaching out to surrounding farms, so we know exactly where our food comes from and what’s in it.  I know it’s a pipe dream but it will keep my hope alive.

Austin sunset

So, without further ado, here’s what day one of our crunchy trip to Austin looked like:

Bufalo Bob’s Chalupa Wagon (Food Truck)

As soon as we got in town, we dropped our bags off at the Airbnb that Casey had chosen for us (a first for both), and headed for the door.  It was a drizzly day, well weekend for that matter, but we were determined to NOT let that slow us down!  When your world revolves around gluten-free, grain-free food, you will brave the elements no matter what.

Buffalo Bob's Food Truck

The first place we stuffed our face at was Bufalo Bob’s Chalupa Wagon (that’s not a typo) on 1st Street.  It was tough to find in the rain, but man I’m glad we did!  Bob and I talked for about 20 minutes about pesticides, GMOs, and the state of our food system, meanwhile Casey was trying to stay dry while drooling over all the food.  He was very particular about no cross-contamination with our gluten-free food, which made us very appreciative.

The menu consists of vegetarian offerings, along with natural chicken, and natural bison chalupas.  After mulling over the menu for some time, Casey and I both decided on the Cordoba chalupa, which has hummus, flax seeds, bison, spinach, tomato, and parmesan cheese.  They were delicious and loaded with shredded spinach, which made this mama happy!  Who would have thought to substitute shredded spinach for lettuce…genius?

Bison chalupa from Buffalo Bob's Chalupa Wagon

After bidding them goodbye, with the promise to return, we hurried to my car and scarfed down our provisions in the rain.  Those chalupas definitely hit the spot and were a great way to start the trip.

Bob and his wife

Salty Sow

Our next stop was to the Salty Sow for dinner.  Their tagline is Swine + Wine + Beer.  It was a really cool atmosphere and Casey was super excited to try their French fries fried in duck lard.  I admit I was excited, too, because I’d never heard of duck lard, and couldn’t wait to actually have some fries.  Sadly, it turned out they were not gluten-free.  Boo.

marrow bones from Salty Sow in Austin

Once the waiter came around and finally brought our menu back marked up with gluten-free safe items, we got down to decision-making.  We started off with the Roasted Bone Marrow (Casey’s first time) and Truffled Deviled Eggs.  For the entrée, we split the Duck Breast with roasted turnips and added a side of mashed potatoes.  Oh my word…I’m not sure if I was that hungry, but everything was divine!  I just about licked the bowl of potatoes and nearly fainted at how tasty the turnips were.  I think we both branched out that night and were pleasantly surprised.

duck breast from Salty Sow

Magnolia Cafe

Magnolia Cafe was our late night trip after a failed attempt to get our groove on on 6th street.  We were both shocked that with it being South by Southwest (SXSW) at how dead the party scene was.  I guess we hit the college kids being gone on spring break, and apparently since it was the techie part of the festival, no one wanted to shake their booty.  Sad times for sure.

Magnolia Cafe in Austin

So, after bar hopping to probably 10 different places, we finally gave up.  I convinced her to try Magnolias (in the hopes of getting the famous Mag mud, which is loaded queso) since it was one of those local dives that you just have to experience while visiting.  After her talking me out of the queso, due to my NO DAIRY eating, we both ordered omelettes.  I noticed that you could add some ground beef or bison to your omelette, so I had the waitress add some bison.  Um, little did I know that that meant adding an ENTIRE BISON BURGER INSIDE MY OMELETTE!  Holy cannoli!  I couldn’t believe that they shoved that whole thing in there…or the fact that I cleaned my plate.  The burger was too juicy and delicious and I was not about to let it go to waste.  It’s hard to tell in this pic, but it’s in there!

bison stuffed omelette from Magnolia

After gorging ourselves on breakfast food, we wrapped up our late night meal and headed back to our house.  I knew that was only a small taste of the amount of food we were about to consume the next day, and was excited to make an entire trip about food, knowing the weather would keep us mostly inside.

Next up is day 2 of our Austin adventure, so get ready for some more good eats from some delicious restaurants and local fare.  We covered a lot of ground and food that day, so be prepared to feast your eyes and taste buds.

Note: Photo from here.

25 Jan

Natural Grocers In Denton, Texas

Posted by Crunchy Hot Mama in Dairy-Free, Food, Gluten-Free, Grain-Free, Grocery Stores, Kombucha, Organic, Paleo. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

Sorry I’ve been M.I.A. this week, my hubby and I got some stomach bug, so I’ve been wiped out.

I did want to let you know about the grand opening of Natural Grocers in Denton, TX.  If you have never been nor heard of them, check out their site to find the one closest to you.  I love this place and will drive the extra miles, past Sprout’s & Whole Foods, to get the best bang for my buck.

Natural Grocers in Denton Texas

Natural Grocers only sells certified organic produce, naturally raised meats, and in my opinion, have the best prices when it comes to their packaged goods.

organic produce from Natural Grocers

I’ve been hooked from the moment their first store opened up and it’s not hard to see why.  Here’s a note from their Director of Marketing:

“We have been around since 1955 and are cornerstoned in Customer Service as well as Nutritional Education. We strive to offer a very large inventory of all natural and organic groceries, dairy items, bulk items, prepacked items, frozen, all natural raised and fed meats and poultry, all natural and GF supplements and a large body care section for the shoppers that are looking for all natural and environmental products at the some of the lowest industry prices.”

I love this store for so many reasons: 1) it’s small so it feels like a neighborhood market, 2) everyone is super friendly there, and 3) they are anti-GMO!  Yeah buddy!

non-gmo at Natural Grocers

My crunchy friend, Casey, went with Emma and me and we were like kids in candy stores!  We went up and down every aisle, checked and rechecked the fresh, beautiful produce, and were finally able to select our purchases.  I got two Against the Grain pizzas for dinner that night, along with fresh toppings, and Casey ended up with a case of Kombucha for $1.65/bottle!  That is a freakin’ steal…that stuff is normally $3.49 a pop, so she totally loaded up.  We were both loving the Grand Opening specials, that’s for sure.

case of GTs Kombucha from Natural Grocers

Also, this new store has a gathering area and shiny, lime green Demo kitchen.  I can definitely foresee some gluten-free/paleo cooking demos coming, and can’t wait to be #1 in line!  Their first event was entitled ‘Bacon Brigade’ and was slated for last night, but sadly I had to miss.  You know I love me some bacon and was bummed I missed the sampling.  Oh well, there’s always next time.

Demo kitchen in Natural Grocers

There you have it, my quick recap of a health food store (that’s finally close to me) that I’m in lurve with!

Have you ever been to a Vitamin Cottage or Natural Grocers, or is this our first time hearing about them?  Check them out when you get a chance or request one in your area, you won’t be disappointed!

I hope everyone has a fabulous weekend, and feels better if you’ve been sick like me.

15 Jan

Young House Love Times Three

Posted by Crunchy Hot Mama in DIY, Food, Gluten-Free, Restaurants, Travel. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , .

First, let me say thanks for letting me vent last week.  I got some nice feedback from my last post and am glad to know I’m not alone.

Second, let’s talk about stalking Young House Love (YHL)!  I mentioned here that I’m an avid follower of theirs, and was super stoked to learn they were coming to three different cities in my home state of Texas, for their BIG book tour.  When I found out that my good friend got me their book for my birthday, you can bet your bottom dollar I was excited to get them to sign it in person.  I’m not a big DIYer, but I aspire to at least be motivated to eventually do something crafty around the house, eventually.  Ha!

Young House Love book

Why follow them around you ask?  Well, I live in one of their stops (Dallas), my sis lives in another (Houston), and my parents live in the third (Austin).  So honestly, it was an excuse to see my family for a few days and hang out.  I don’t think any of my family members complained too much.  Plus, Sherry and John Petersik are really cool people!  I admire their relationship with one another and their daughter; it’s very refreshing to see in this day and age.  Their blog is where I learned about Oil Rubbed Bronze, blogging, and cloth diapering.  Thanks guys!

So without further ado, allow me to do a quick recap of the their tour.  Random note: Sherry wore her black blazer with a different shirt each time, and I wore a ruffle shirt each time.  Gotta keep it fresh. 

Houston

Young House Love book tour in Houston

Their first stop was in Houston.  I had no idea what to expect at their signings, so I planned to arrive two hours early just in case.  Also, since I was watching my nephew, Dillon, at the time, I knew I had to get in early to get out early.  Yup, you read that right, I took TWO TODDLERS to the book signing and waited 3 ½ hours to get my booked signed.  Crazy?  Yes.  Worth the wait?  Definitely.

Emma & Dillon

The girl in line said I should get some award for taking two toddlers.  Ha! I don’t know about that, but my secret weapon was FOOD!  Don’t judge.  My life revolves around food, especially growing up in an all Italian household, so I packed lots of fresh fruit, veggies, and nuts.  Desperate times call for desperate measures people.  Hey it worked, that’s all the matters.

When it was my time to go up to see them, I was a nervous wreck.  I have no idea why, but I was shaking and getting all splotchy.  What the??  I guess since it feels like a lot of us readers know them, it was like meeting a way famous friend.  Weird I know, but John and Sherry were totally awesome!  My favorite moment was when Sherry flipped to the title page and saw my name: ‘Jess,’ to which I added ‘Crunchy Hot Mama’ underneath, and then reacted like this:

Sherry surprised to recognize me

Crazytown!!  It meant a lot because when you get 5 million hits a month, it’s totally surreal that someone would recognize a lil ole blog name like mine.  Thanks $herdog!

Dallas

Young House Love book tour in Houston

This signing was a bit chillier compared to Houston, though it was only two days later (in yet another West Elm).  For this one, I left Emma at home with Josh, and went with my friend/former co-worker, who originally got me hooked.  We had planned to take the train down there, but after being unable to find the station, we decided to drive.  We arrived later than that two hour window I liked having, but the wait wasn’t too bad.  I think this one was only 2 ½ hours, and we picked up some Starbucks to keep us warm while we waited outside.

Katie and me at the YHL tour

Once we got to the front, I got nervous yet again.  C’mon now, this is getting silly, they are people just like you and me.  Oh well, whatcha gonna do?  So, once I got up there and they recognized me, I got hugs from both and then called out by Sherry.  She yelled ‘She has followed us all over!’  Um no, just in Texas…I’m not THAT creepy.  Riiiight.

Clara signs the YHL book for Emma

For this signing, I had Sherry sign a note to Emma, from their daughter Clara, since they are the same age.  I think Emma will appreciate it later, if she even remembers who Clara is by then.  Oh, and they also put me in one of their posts…Holy Schnikes!! #sohonored #mosthitsinaday

Austin

Young House Love book tour in Ausstin

The third and final stop of their Texas tour, was in the wonderful city of Austin.  If you saw this post, you’ll remember that I declared a love affair with the gorgeous city and surrounding Hill Country.  Honestly, though, this trip was three-fold, so it just so happened to work out that YHL was there, too.  What a coincidence.

I did get a bit nervous this time, but not as bad as the first.  I liked how it was in an actual book store, so we didn’t have to wait in the cold rain, and they also did a grouping system, so everyone didn’t make a mad dash for them.  I was bummed that we missed most of their presentation, since I didn’t even realize that was going on, but at least we made it.  Oops, my bad.  We passed most of the time in the kid’s section, with an added potty stop, until our group was called.  And once again, I got hugs from the both of them, and Sherry called me out for following them around.  Oh that girl!

Emma even had a blast running around while patiently waiting our turn:

Em having fun at the Young House Love book tour

All in all, I had a great time.  I got to see my family, my old high school friends (read: reunion), and explore a ton of gluten-free restaurants, all the while supporting a really awesome couple.  I don’t know how they do all that touring, while still whipping out two posts a day, AND completing projects, but they do.  They are definitely my heroes in the time management department…amongst other things.  Check them out or grab their book if you get a chance, especially if you have any interest in DIY (they DIYed their wedding for Petersik‘s sake!).  I think you’ll be pleasantly charmed by them, just like the rest of the world.

What about you?  Have you ever travelled far to see someone you really like?  Do you love YHL like I do?  Please tell me I’m not the only stalker devoted follower.  Sherry promised it wasn’t creepy, so I’m sticking with that.

11 Jan

Hangin’ Out In The Hill Country

Posted by Crunchy Hot Mama in Bakeries, Crunchy, Dairy-Free, Food, Gluten-Free, Restaurants, Travel. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

Man, I love Austin and the surrounding Hill Country!  It’s my favorite city in this awesome state, besides The Sparkling City by the Sea, Corpus Christi (my hometown).

Corpus Christi

We spent Christmas with my parents, then headed back a week later for a multi-event for a few days.  Emma made the trek with me, yet again, and this trip took us to so many gluten-free restaurants, that it made my head spin and yearn for more.  When I talked to my hubby on the drive back, I asked ‘can we pleeeeese move to Austin?’ to which he replied, ‘we’d be soooo broke!’  That’s okay; I don’t need much…just some land, a few chickens, and a garden.  I’m a simple girl-in my frizzy head anyway.

The point of this trip was a trifecta of reasons.  First, was a dear friend’s ‘reception’ at a country bar, second was my dad’s birthday, AND third was seeing Young House Love for the third time!  Yes, you read that right, I saw them at every stop in Texas.  You know it’s bad when John and Sherry see you and get excited and offer up hugs.  I’m not a stalker…just hopelessly devoted a big fan.

Young House Love book signing in Austin,TX

Besides dealing with the boatload of rain our ENTIRE state got, Emma and I had a nice trip hanging out with her Nonna and Granpy, so it wasn’t a total bust.  Plus, it didn’t help that I hit up my Find Me Gluten Free App and only stopped at four gluten-free places…though there were more than the stomach could bare:

#1)  Cool Mint Café in San Marcos, Texas.  *They offer garden fresh produce, herbs and fruit, organically or naturally grown by Hill Country farmers, naturally raised beef, pork and poultry, and fish approved by Monterey Bay Aquarium “Seafood Watch .” (pictured: bleu cheese burger with tomato soup)

Cool Mint Glutenn Free Cafe in New Braunfels, TX

#2) Wild Wood Bake House & Café in Austin, Texas.  *They offer vegetarian, vegan, soy free, dairy free, or lactose free options. Everything is gluten free! (pictured: battered and friend calamari & sweet potato chips)

Wild Wood Bake House & Cafe in Austin, TX

#3) Galaxy Café in Austin, Texas.  *They serve ALL NATURAL, free range, hormone and antibiotic free beef, chicken and eggs. (pictured: club wrap with side salad)

Galaxy Cafe in Austin, TX gluten free

#4) Mama Fu’s in Austin, Texas. (pictured: steamer bowl with chicken)

Mama Fu's Asian House in Austin, TX gluten free steamer bowl

#5) The non-existent Red Oak Bakery in New Braunfels, Texas.

Are you seeing a café theme here?  I sure am.

I found all of these places on my trusty Find Me Gluten Free App on my oh-so-smart-phone.  That thing sure does help in a pinch…especially when I went to Atlanta for a conference and didn’t preplan.  In other words, download that Free puppy stat!

If you have ever thought about visiting Austin or the surrounding area, do yourself a favor and GO!  I have lived in south, central, and north Texas, but my heart belongs in the Hill Country.  I can remember since I was very little, travelling to Schlitterbahn every summer and loving it!  Schlitterbahn is the world’s most amazing waterpark, nestled in the little German town of New Braunfels (say: brawn-fuls).

Schlitterbahn

Schlitterbahn New Braunfels Waterpark is the #1 Waterpark in the World for 14 Consecutive Years! Not only is Schlitterbahn New Braunfels Waterpark the most popular summertime waterpark in the United States, but it is also ranked as the #1 Kid-Friendly destination in the state of Texas. The park is located on the banks of the spring-fed Comal River in New Braunfels, between San Antonio and Austin, in south central Texas.

Need a family vacay for Spring Break or the summer?  Get thee to the Hill Country!  There’s so much to do, see, and eat, that it’s ridiculous.  They have museums, waterparks, good BBQ, the world’s oldest dance hall-in Gruene (say: green), and gorgeous views.  Oh yeah, don’t forget about the Bluebonnets!  This post wasn’t supposed to be an ad for VISIT TEXAS, but sure is sounding like it.  If you can’t tell, I’m not that found of the city I live in now, and yearn for a place that’s crunchy, has water to play in, and where people venture outdoors for fun.

As I mentioned in my Christmas post, I found some amazing local olive oil and balsamic vinegar, and can’t wait to share it with you.  The info, not the oil and vinegar…unless you want to come over for a few shots.  Ha!

Don't Mess with Texas

Alright, enough mumbling.  Have you ever been to Austin, the Hill Country, or Texas, period?  Have I piqued your interest in visiting this great state, where EVERYTHING IS BIGGER?  It’s kind of true; and yes, we are proud of being Texans.  If you need ideas on where to go or what to do, just ask.  I’ve lived in Texas 32 years and can definitely steer you in the right direction.

Note: Photos are from here, here, and here.

27 Aug

Gluten & Allergen Free Expo

Posted by Crunchy Hot Mama in Gluten-Free. Tagged: , , , , , , , .

For those of you in the Dallas area or in Texas period, let me tell you about a little gluten-free gem that’s happening next month.  It’s called the Gluten & Allergen Free Expo and this is the second year that our support group, GIG of Greater Dallas, is hosting it.  It was started by Jen Cafferty, a gluten-free chef out of Chicago, and Dallas was her first stop outside of the windy city.  We had over 2,000 people and over 70 vendors last and this year we are anticipating double the attendance and over 100 vendors this year!  Woohoo!


Mark your calendars for September 8 & 9, 2012 and get ready to sample gluten and allergen free products out the wazoo!  It will be crazy with all the free samples, authors, services, and raffle products that will be going on this year.  Tickets are $20 for the vendor fair and you can get them in advance by going here.  Jen is also offering early-admission tickets for those that want to meet and greet the vendors an hour earlier-before the mad rush ensues.

Here’s a little more info from the site about what will be going on-for those interested yet not sure if you want to go:

The Expo is the premier gluten and allergen free event in the US. Whether you are looking for specialty products that taste great or trying to learn how to cook and bake to meet your dietary needs, the Expo is the place to be! We have attendees fly in from around the country, South America and Canada to attend this amazing event. Come see what it is all about…

Do you want to learn how to cook and bake on a restricted diet?

Attend our demonstration cooking/baking classes. The classes are taught by top chefs, nutritionists and cookbook authors in a friendly environment. You will watch how to prepare all of the recipes and have time to ask questions of the presenters.   The cooking classes are free-of-charge with the purchase of your vendor fair ticket.  Each class has a maximum capacity of 100 people.  The classes are first-come first-served and seating is limited.   At the end of each class, we will ask that the room be vacated and a new set of attendees can enter to see the next presenter.

Are you looking for lifestyle tips and tricks while on a restricted diet?

Attend a class on our Lifestyle Stage.  The classes are taught by experts in their field. Classes range from how to save money, kids birthday parties, health issues, etc.. The lifestyle classes are free-of-charge with the purchase of your vendor fair ticket. Each class has a maximum capacity of 100 people. The classes are first-come first-served and seating is limited. At the end of each class, we will ask that the room be vacated and a new set of attendees can enter to see the next presenter.

Do you want to try new products but aren’t interested in cooking classes?

Come to the vendor fair! The vendor fair is open to the public with a special area dedicated to nut/tree nut allergens. The fair features over 100 vendors both sampling and selling their products.  There are also cooking and lifestyle stages with topics pertaining to gluten and allergen-free living throughout the day. The stages are included with your vendor fair ticket. Tickets are available at the door or online. Purchasing your ticket online will allow you to gain entry without waiting in the payment line.

The best gluten & allergen-free deal in town! What do you get for the price of admission to the vendor fair?

  • Sampling and purchasing from over 100 vendors
  • Free lectures about gluten & allergen-free living and cooking
  • The best cookbooks and the ability to meet the authors and get a signed copy of your book
  • A free gift bag to carry all of your loot
  • You have the ability to sample hundreds of products
  • All products are labeled by allergen
  • Get coupons for future purchases
  • Take home samples of all of your favorite and new products
  • Purchase hard-to-find products
  • Shop at the new Expo Store – featuring gift products that can only be found at the Expo
  • Kids area with crafts and activities

This Expo if off the chain with all the contacts you can make and yummy goodies to sample in your belly; so get here by bus, train, or plane if you can!  Also, a new event this year will be the Gluten Free 101 classes taught by our group’s own Betty Murray, C.N., H.C.C and Cheryl Gainer, MSN, RN, CNM on Saturday and Sunday.  These two ladies are a wealth of knowledge and I could listen to them both for hours!

So check it out if you get a chance and let me know if you are planning to go.  You know I’ll be there bright eyed and bushy rat tailed all weekend long, volunteering and trying to stay away from those darned non-paleo goodies!  Luckily my parents and sis will be in town so they can help wrangle Emma and keep her toddler paws off all those free samples.

Psst-Won’t be able to make it to the Dallas Expo? Don’t worry… The GFAF Expo will be heading to San Francisco on February 9-10, 2013 and Chicago on April 20-21, 2013. Stay tuned for more information!

Note: Photos from here.

20 Apr

Bluebonnets

Posted by Crunchy Hot Mama in Pictures. Tagged: , .

Howdy ya’ll!

If you live in Texas or have ever visited in the spring, you know how lovely it is to see our beautiful state flower scattered along the state highways.  It is such a gorgeous site and you will see people literally pulled over on the side of the interstate to take pictures of their little ones in a field of flowers.  I, too, got the bug after Emma was born but never got a chance to surround her with such beauty since they don’t last very long.  This year I was determined to get ‘er done and there was no stopping me this time!  So I headed up to the cemetery that is a half of a mile down the road and I finally took the initiative to go sans hubby.

I know it seems a bit morbid to be taking happy photos in the bluebonnets but it’s almost kind of peaceful to see them growing in such a sacred place.  Luckily, I found a photographer who was walking around trying to find the perfect spot and had her snap some photos of mama and baby girl!

Good thing she had a good eye for shots and getting Emma’s attention for even a millisecond.  Oh how I love that girl!

I was actually surprised to find this rare beauty…would it be called a white bluebonnet or a whitebonnet?  Who knows; I just thought they were pretty.

So if you’re ever visiting Texas in the early spring, be sure to pull over on the side of the road or find you a good ditch and get to snapping.  Make sure you don’t pick ‘em though, it’s illegal!

Ya’ll come back now, ya hear?

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 355 other followers

%d bloggers like this: