My Punch Pizza Experience

I hadn't been out for pizza since my lactose intolerance diagnosis last November '08 so as you can imagine, I was really excited to give Punch Pizza a try! I had already confirmed with their online customer service that a cheeseless pizza was doable and that their dough contained no dairy whatsoever.

Last night, my husband and I visited the location on Hennepin in NE Minneapolis. I ordered a bambini (kid sized pizza), told them to exclude the mozzarrella and add crushed tomatoes, mushrooms, roasted eggplant and oregano. After 90 seconds in their wood-burning oven, my pizza was ready.

Well, the dough was amazing - soft yet crispy. The San Marzano tomatoes were juicy. My only complaint was that the eggplant was overly salty. The pizza slices I ate with lots of eggplant were so salty, I called it a "salt pizza". Once I picked the eggplant off of the pizza, my dinner was lovely. For me, the bambini size was just perfect. I felt full yet not stuffed.

I would definitely do Punch Pizza again, but next time I will opt for the Margarita Pizza option!

Wildwood Soyogurts

I am a big smoothie lover and in all of my smoothies there MUST be 2 specific ingredients: a banana and some plain yogurt. I then add my fruit of choice for the day...sometimes two. I usually use the Silk brand's plain yogurt to blend in my smoothies and I truly recommend it because of its healthy nutrition fats and smooth consistency.

Today I ran out of my Silk yogurt and only had time to run down the street to the Coop off of Central Avenue. I was disappointed to find out that they did not carry the plain Silk yogurt that I always use. The only soy yogurt they had in a large container was WildWood. I had tried WildWood yogurt once - a small container of vanilla. To sum it up bluntly, I hated it. It was really really sweet and the consistency was grainy. I never bought it again. I was sort of desperate as I needed my daily smoothie so I bought it, thinking "Plain yogurt is plain yogurt, right? How can you screw that one up?" There really wasn't anything added to the yogurt as well - it is actually the only soyogurt that has no added sweetener.

Well, let me tell you - that sweetener is there for a reason! I used my spoon to pour the desired amount of yogurt into the blender and I always lick the spoon afterward. The horrifying taste that followed stopped me in my tracks. Oh my...they weren't kidding when they said it wasn't sweetened. It tastes like...well, what I would expect playdough to taste like and yes, that same grainy texture was there. And the icing on the cake - the yogurt had a light tan hue. Now I'm all about being natural and healthy, but I also have to be able to swallow the stuff!

I decided to just LOAD the smoothie with very sweet fruits (pineapple, mango and dark, sweet cherries) in hopes that it would cover that god-awful flavor. In the end, I was able to SWALLOW the smoothie, but nothing will mask that grainy texture or the play-dough flavor entirely.

My one word summary: ICK!!!

Cherrybrook Kitchen Sugar Cookie Mix

Cherrybrook Kitchen touts itself as a "sweet solution for food allergies". Their baking mixes are dairy free, nut free, egg free and peanut free and they do have a line of products that are wheat free/gluten free as well. I figured I may as well give one of these baking mixes a shot. Cherrybrook Kitchen has baking mixes for cakes, cookies and brownies.

This easter, my sister decided to endulge those from my family who cannot handle dairy and made a batch of Cherrybrook Kitchen's sugar cookie mix. What a disappointment!! The cookie's consistency and texture was like cardboard and there was really no flavor whatsoever. I had two little bites and decided that the calories were not worth it - even for a measly little sugar cookie. My mom commented on how I could probably add a little soy cream to the cookie to make it taste better, but my response was, "Why should I have to do that? I may as well just have a bowl of soy cream then."

For those who tried the sugar cookies at Easter, we all agreed...not a good mix. Tasteless and dry. Do not waste your money.

Allergy-friendly Pizza Joints

It's the weekend and your friends or family are craving nothing but pizza. You know you could stay at home and savor the delicious cheese-less pizza by Amy's I wrote about in an earlier post, but they're dying to get out of the house.

Have no fear - I have been hearing about a few pizza joints around the Twin Cities that are very flexible when it comes to making their pizzas. Here are a few places you can suggest that will offer things on the menu that your stomach may be able to tolerate:

1. Pizza Luce
Pizza Luce not only offers cheese-less pizzas, but they also have 2 kinds of soy cheese they keep on hand that melts to the consistency we all love. They also offer several vegan hoagie options, salads, desserts and even brunch items. Pizza Luce has locations in Downtown Minneapolis, Uptown Minneapolis, Seward/University, St. Paul and Duluth. They also deliver until 3 a.m.

2. Galactic Pizza
This place offers a vegan and vegetarian option for at least half of the specialty pizzas on their menu. What makes this place even MORE cool is that they deliver in 100% electric cars!

3. Punch Pizza
You order this pizza almost the same way you order a sub sandwich at Subway...tell them which fixings you want on top, including whether or not you want any fresh mozzarella and then they throw it in the wood-burning oven. I have emailed the business to ask if there is any dairy in the dough and they wrote back, confirming that without cheese, the pizzas are dairy-free. Punch Pizza has 6 locations around the twin cities area.

4. Black Sheep Coal Fired Pizza
On this menu, you will find "Tomato & Oregano [without cheese]" as one of their signature pizzas. They also have a variety of salads and appetizers you could fork into as well. They are located in the warehouse district in Downtown Minneapolis.

Have you been to other pizza places where they were flexible with your dietary needs? If so, let me know!

Marie Callender's Fruit Pies

When you think of a great tasting pie, you probably assume that the crust is going to have to contain some butter in order to get that crispy, flaky consistency that makes it so irresistible. Last night, I found out that this assumption is incorrect! Marie Callender offers a variety of fruit pies that contain no dairy whatsoever but yet still have the same delicious flavor and desired texture.

Dairy-free flavors include:
Apple, Dutch Apple, Cherry, Cherry Crunch, Peach, Raspberry, Razzleberry, Very Berry Blackberry and Wild Blueberry.

Beware, not ALL of her pies are dairy-free so do watch the ingredients to make sure you're not choosing one that includes "Whey". As a side note, some of these pies do contain partially hydrogenated soybean oil and high fructose corn syrup. I try to avoid these things as much as possible. Of course, its give and take though!

I tried the razzleberry flavor with my family and every one of us thought it was great. The only recommendation we have is to let the pie sit for a little time after coming out of the oven otherwise the fruit juices run like liquid. After cooling, the liquids will turn into a gooey consistency and the crust will crisp up. I recommend serving with a little dollop of vanilla soy cream!

Recipe: Lemon Asparagus Pasta

This recipe is something that I make when I'm craving comfort foods but don't want anything too heavy, too unhealthy or tomato-based.

Recipe: Lemon Asparagus Pasta

Makes 4 servings

1 lb. fresh asparagus, ends trimmed

zest of 1 fresh lemon (or lemon pepper seasoning)

1/4 tsp garlic

a dash of cinnamon (optional)

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 lb. pasta of choice (I use angel hair pasta)

1/4 cup soy Parmesan cheese (optional)

Cut asparagus into 1 inch pieces, setting aside tips. In a large stockpot cook asparagus stems in 5-6 quarts boiling water with 1 tablespoon salt until tender. Transfer asparagus with a slotted spoon to a blender (do not drain pot). Cook asparagus tips in same boiling water until just tender. Transfer tips with slotted spoon to colander (do not drain pot). Puree asparagus stems (not the tips) with lemon zest, olive oil, and 3/4 cup asparagus cooking water until smooth.

Cook pasta in boiling asparagus cooking water until it's still very al dente (firm to the tooth). Reserve 2 cups cooking water and drain pasta. In drained stockpot, add pasta, asparagus tips, asparagus sauce, and 1/2 cup reserved water. Cook over high heat, stirring, about 4-5 minutes until pasta is done to taste and coated with sauce, adding a little more cooking water (1/4 cup at a time) if necessary. Stir in soy Parmesan and salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately.

Is an Excess of Soy Linked to Cancer?

This morning, I received an email warning me about the negative effects too much soy can have on one's body. The message mentioned that there is a large amount of literature on soy boasting its wonderful health benefits (i.e. protection against heart disease and breast cancer, cholesterol lowering properties, etc). "It is the magical isoflavones, the estrogen-like hormones that work to help you stay young and healthy". Anyone reading this that is health-conscious would definitely consider adding soy to their diet, but what isn't mentioned is that soy's estrogen-like qualities are exactly why too much MAY be bad.

One woman tells her story of how she wanted to be healthier so she began fortifying her body with the foods she had read would make her healthy and strong. Tofu was her main protein in every meal, she drank ample amounts of soy milk and snacked on soy muffins, miso soup with tofu, soybeans, soybean sprouts, etc.

Seven years after these "healthy" changes, this woman was told that she had two tennis ball sized cysts in her uterus. A couple of years later, they discovered a lump in her breast. Two years after that, her glands swelled and her gums became inflamed. She was eventually diagnosed with Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma. What was going on with this woman?? After extensive research, this is what she found: Breast cancer is linked to estrogen. What mimics estrogen in the female body? SOY!

Immediately after reading this email, I visited the snopes website and apparently there is some truth to this story. According to snopes, research is still in the beginning stages of fully understanding if soy is something that people, especially women, should be avoiding. Is an excess of soy linked to cancer? At this time, it is inconclusive. Some initial studies have shown that soy could stimulate estrogen-dependent tumors yet others have shown that soy may help PREVENT breast cancer.

So, what do we do with this information? Personally, I will not be cutting soy from my diet COMPLETELY, but will instead begin alternating my milk choices between soy, rice, almond and hemp. It seems to me that moderation is key no matter WHAT you are eating.

Would you like to view the snopes article yourself? Click here.

Dr. Praeger's Spinach Pancakes

Spinach pancakes sound so healthy... Too healthy to taste good? That was the question. I bought the box of pancakes a couple weeks back and they've been sitting in my freezer since then, waiting for a day I felt like eating "healthy". Today when I got home for lunch I was STARVING and I needed something fast, and what was quicker than throwing one of these pancakes in the microwave for 30 seconds?

I ended up making a toasted sandwich out of it, thinking that if it wasn't that tasty, at least the bread would cover up much of the flavor. Well, this box may have sat there for weeks, but it won't be there much longer. OH MY THEY WERE GOOD!!! Its not that I don't like the flavor of spinach per se but the seasonings in this pancake were great! I could distinctly taste garlic, onion, potato and just a hint of spinach.

One thing that I should warn about these pancakes is that they are pretty mushy which may be a turn off for some people. The pancake oozed out a little of the side after being toasted. I personally like that sort of consistency as it avoids the need for fatty spreads like butter. I did add a tiny bit of my soy mayonnaise for the flavor of it and a leaf of lettuce for the crunch.

According to Dr. Praeger's website, they also offer broccoli, sweet potato and plain potato pancakes. I am definitely planning to try them all! I found my box at Whole Foods but I've seen Dr. Praeger products at other stores as well, including Trader Joes.

Thai Kitchen Offers Healthy Fast Food

Ever had one of those days where you need something warm and comforting but you don't have the time or energy to cook it? Have I got a recommendation for you! Thai Kitchen sells little packages of instant rice noodle soup with all sorts of different flavors. Pictured here is the "Garlic and Vegetable" which is incredibly flavorful. Thai Kitchen offers: Garlic & Vegetables, Spring Onion, Lemongrass & Chili all which are dairy-free. If you can handle dairy, there is also Bangkok Curry and Thai Ginger.

To make these instant soups more healthful and filling, I usually add my own vegetables and protein. In this picture, I added shrimp along with broccoli, corn, bok choy and mushrooms. If you want to make it REALLY easy, just use all frozen vegetables! These meals really aren't that bad for you except for being a bit high in sodium. They are low in fat and if you add vegetables the way I do, really quite healthy!

Restaurant Review: Pracna on Main

Pracna on Main, apparently the oldest restaurant in Minneapolis, is where I enjoyed dinner tonight. I have frequented this place during the summer months when the outdoor patio is open. Its a great place to order a drink and stare out at the river or people watch. Tonight is the first time I visited Pracna for dinner.

They had several things listed on their menu that caught my interest: Teriyaki Salmon, Strawberry Chicken Salad with Poppyseed dressing and the Grilled Chicken Breast Sandwich with Caper Mayo. When I pulled the waitress to the side to tell her about my intolerance for dairy, I asked if any of these dishes would pose a problem. She was very friendly and told me she'd check with the cook. She came back and told me that everything I had mentioned was dairy free, and the sides that came with the entrees also had dairy-free options.

I ended up ordering the teriyaki salmon with a side of baked potato and green beans in an asian marinade with sesame seeds sprinkled on top. Everything was delicious and I did not get any grief from the server about my requests. For the cheese-eating guests that may accompany you to such a restaurant, they've got fun sandwich options like "The 1890" which features turkey on rye with a cranberry cream cheese spread and swiss cheese.

Check out Pracna.