Week 8: Cider > Beer

        “Do you drink?"

                                                                  "Of course,I just said I was a writer.” 

― Stephen King

People go out to the bars and order beer, its refreshing its simple and the greatest thing almost every bar every night has some type of deal of beer... which is awesome if you can drink beer...  if you can't the cheapest you can buy a well drink or glass of wine is $5, which is not that much but it adds up after awhile! For me though I have never experienced going out to bars and not been gluten free so I do not know the other side of going to be able to go out. It does not bother me expect when someone is being really nice and orders a round of beers for everyone that can get a little uncomfortable, because I am not trying to be rude... but I can't drink it. Another drinking situation that I get into and I wish that I could drink beer and not be difficult is tailgating. My first years in college I would go and was able to drink beers with my friends, but now my body cannot even handle a few sips of beer. It is incredible how your body adjusts to not be exposed to certain things. 

Actually we could start a list of all the times I wish I could drink beer and life would have been/ would be easier:..

1. high school

2. beer bong
3. flip cup
4. actually drink games in general

5. concerts

6. River tubing

7. kegs

8. Can't chip in and buy a case with my friends when broke
9. People think, I think, I am better than beer... I am not if I could drink it I would.
10. When literally there is nothing but beer
 11. People wanna but you a drink and you feel bad ordering a drink that is more expensive than theirs... In general this happens a lot, my 21st birthday early in the night I was feeling bad that all people could buy me was liquor drinks but they were fantastic friends and didn't care! They just wanted me to have a good time, and they understood beer would make me sick. That really is the biggest thing is having people that support you and understand that you are                                                 not choosing or trying to be difficult you really just can't have it!   

CIDER

Something that really has been a saving grace is CIDER! Sometime you do not want liquor or wine and cider hits the spot every time! 

Without a doubt my favorite cider is....

 The 2 standard flavors that will never go away are...

Crisp Apple is without a doubt my favorite!!

They even for awhile made Crisp Apple along with their other popular flavors in cans, and that was the amazing!! Unfortunately I have recently learned that they have been discounted... and even before that new when they were being sold they were impossible to find, which I don't understand why it was so hard to find, it is a brilliant idea!

When a bar has it on tap it is THE BEST DAY EVER!! 

I went on there website and found these awesome flavor profiles on all their flavors! I love the food pairing section.

* All of Angry Orchard are gluten-free and taste delicious!*

Their newest seasonal flavor is....

And it is PERFECT for this time of the year!!!!! If you have ever tasted Fireball Whisky, than imagine exactly that but in a Hard Cider form... 

Pic from this summer 

 
Then this spring/ summer they had Elderflower, and if you guys recall from my NYC post I LOVE LOVE LOVE Elderflower so this summer it was bound to be my jam! I wish that I had tried it with the food pairing that the Flavor Profile suggested, but sadly it is too late it is no longer sold.

Dear Angry Orchard, Please make this available all year long....

                                                                                                                                                                                                

    Angry Orchard is most commonly sold in either a 6-pack of a single flavor or a variety pack which includes:         

                                 Traditional Day, Crisp Apple, Apple Ginger, and then a seasonal flavor... 

When you want still have Angry Orchard but want  it with a twist YOU CAN HAVE IT! 

Sometimes I like to pour mine over ice, twist haha no here are some fun recipes to try...

I am going to share all the gluten-free recipes I saw that I will be trying this week, if you want to venture onto the website  there are more recipes and beware not all are gluten-free some mix beer!

This one I am going to make into a punch when  people come over! 

Making this one tonight, I can't wait! It's  going to be really good or awful.. I'll let you know 

 This is what I think inspired the Cinnfulapple!

Week 7: OMG fast food is the best...said no gluten-free person ever!

Well, I was actually surprised to find out how many fast food chains actually offer a gluten-free menu... I am not sure if maybe for almost all of the time I have know I am gluten-free, I also was a vegetarian so I have never cared much about fast food. But even when I use to go to places such as Subway, and ask if I could get a six inch sub but on a bed a lettuce with the look they would give me you would have thought that I was speaking Greek! So I would repeat, can I get one of your bowls put lettuce on the bottom and then add some vegetables... "I mean I guess, but we will have to charge you more"which I thought was always BS, but whatever. I would like you all to know what I was ordering ten years ago and people thought I was alien is now a staple part of Subway's menu.

The fast food place that GF people often gravitate towards  is Wendy's their baked potatoes, chili, and frosty's are all safe to eat. And depending on which restaurant you have to ask each time if they cook their onion rings in a separate frier as their french fries then those will be gluten-free!

* IN GENREAL FRENCH FRIES ARE GLUTEN-FREE, WHICH MAKES THEM NOT IN SOME RESTAURANT SITUATIONS IS THE FRYERS THAT IS SHARED WITH THE FRIES. IF IT IS STRICTLY JUST FOR FRIES YOU ARE GOLDEN. THE LAST THING THE BE AWARE OF IS THE SEASONING THAT IS SOMETIMES ADDED TO THE TOP OF FREIS.

Fries that are ALWAYS safe to eat at Chick-fil-A and when I do need something quick on the go to eat I choose Chick-fil-A if it is not not Sunday! They offer grilled nuggets or strips which are great also some fantastic salads! I am now realizing I want to list what I like on their gluten-free menu and it basically everything... so here is this instead: http://www.chick-fil-a.com/Food/Allergen-Gluten-Diabetic. They have a website that is wonderfully laid out and easy to use, a feature that they offer is a meal calculator so you can plan your meal in advance and know exactly what you are putting into your body.

          Side note: If you are an avid Chick-fil-A lover and worried about the two cow costumes that were missing from a Southern California Chick-fil-A storage facility... The crook has been caught! 

One of the places that my friends love going that I hate is Panera Bread... I normally just let them go because I like their smoothies and I feel like it is pretty much a game of Russian Roulette trying to eat their because of how much bread is used their, and all the crumbs. But recently I have been hearing buzz about this hidden menu that Panera has had for awhile that is GLUTEN FREE, who would have thunk it! It is really hard to find online and I think if it was not for all the blogs that there is about it I would have NEVER found it! Two of the salads that the menu offers is: The Power Mediterranean Roasted Turkey Salad: All natural, antibiotic-free roasted turkey, baby spinach, romaine, tomatoes, red onions, kalamata olives, fresh squeezed lemon juice, and extra virgin olive oil  Power Chicken Mediterranean Salad: All natural antibiotic-free chicken, baby spinach, romaine, tomatoes, apple-wood smoked bacon, diced eggs, fresh squeezed lemon juice, and extra virgin olive oil.  

Power Steak Lettuce Wrap

Those sound good but the one that I really want to try now is The Power Chicken Hummus Bowl: All natural, antibiotic-free chicken, with cilantro jalapeno hummus, baby spinach, cucumbers, diced tomatoes, and red onions finished with fresh squeezed lemon and fresh chopped cilantro! Now try to tell me that does not sound amazing... but I think I am going to try make it instead of buying it because I am kind of obsessed with the Cilantro and Jalapeno Hummus Trader Joe's offers! I am not a huge red meat fan so this does not sound as good to me but I think it is a terrific option. Power Steak Lettuce Wraps: Seared top-sirloin, leaf lettuce, cucumbers, diced tomatoes, and red onions, basil pesto and finished with fresh lemon juice. And from what I have read wrap is a very loose term for this meat... there is so much meat given that most people even up eating it like a salad.

BUT WAIT!! You might not be able to have Panera's delicious bagels in the morning but they do offer shhhh two secret dishes .... The Power Breakfast Egg Bowl with Steak: Two all-natural eggs, seared top sirloin, sliced avocado and tomatoes; and the Power Breakfast Egg White Bowl with Roasted Turkey: Roasted all-natural, antibiotic-free turkey, egg whites, warm baby spinach, roasted peppers, and basil Pesto.

FUN FACT: Panera Bread was featured on the TV show Will and Grace. 

If you have specific questions about where you can go out and eat in your neighborhood I would look you a Celiac club or group in your area they are a fantastic community to lean on and know everything!  Also I found this blog as a great resource. When eating out it is important to know what you are eating and the type of environment that it is prepared in, never hesitate to ask questions!