Gluten Free Popovers, Delicious Enough To Make You Smile :)

I came across an incredible recipe for GF popovers this weekend... just like they make 'em at the in the Neiman Marcus restaurants across the country. I will never forget the first time I had one of the Neiman Marcus popovers at Sunday brunch with my stylish Granny Irene. These popovers are the perrrrfect combination of fluffy and tasty thanks to all the eggs and milk the recipe calls for. 


The Recipe:
-4 large eggs
-3 tablespoons melted butter
-1 1/4 cups lukewarm milk
-1 cup multi-purpose flour (I like King Arthur's multi-purpose gluten free flour)
-1/4 teaspoon xanthan gum
-1/2 teaspoon salt


1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Grease a 12-cup popover pan or muffin pan.
2. Whisk together the eggs, butter, and milk in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk the flour with the xanthan gum and salt, then gradually sift and whist into the liquid ingredients until you have a smooth batter. 
3. Pour the batter into the greased cups, filling each about 2/3 full.
4. Bake for 25 minutes, then reduce the oven heat to 350 degrees and bake for an additional 15 minutes, until the popovers are deep brown. Remove from the oven, let firm for 5 minutes, then remove from the pan and serve immediately. 
Makes 12 popovers. 


Enjoy these delicious and low-cal gluten-free tasty treats!
xx, E

Moroccan Sensations: Never Have I Ever

Never have I ever been so engulfed in such a vast array of sensations. From the roasted nuts and delicious dried peaches and figs, to the snake charmers, the story tellers, the henna tattoos, the lonely monkeys, to the leather shops, the slipper palaces, and the colorful scarves, to the fresh squeezed orange juice, the horse drawn fruit shops, the noisy motor bikes, and the sound of tourists and shop owners bartering, Morocco is like unlike anywhere I have ever visited before. From the moment I set foot on North African soil, at the Marrakesh International Airport, I knew I was in a special place. Marrakesh is, without a doubt, the ultimate treat for the senses.

A Moroccan "pickup truck"

Horse-drawn fruit shop

My flight arrived in the Marrakesh airport just before midnight. I waited around for about twenty minutes before my friends' flight from Barcelona got in. After exchanging our Euros for Dirham, we headed out to the parking lot to find a cab. I had read on the internet that a cab from the airport to the Medina should cost no more than 100 Dirham, the equivalent of about 10 euro. (At the end of October 2010 1 Euro = 11.00 Dirham). If only we had been so lucky... We couldn't find a single cab driver willing to take us for less than 400 Dirham! Seeing as we had no choice, we begrudgingly packed into "un petit taxi".

Less than fifteen minutes later, we arrived in an alleyway of the Medina.  Our cab driver announced that we had arrived, while almost simultaneously snatching 4oo Dirham out of my hands. We had NO idea where we were or where we were supposed to go. Much to our delight, there were no less than five locals very eager and willing to help us find our Riad at the exact spot we had been dropped off. My two friends and I, unsure of where to go or what to do, decided that we had no choice but to take up one of the young boys' offers to help us find our Riad. Warning: the people who seem really friendly and offer directions expect money from you! Our new "friend" quickly led us to our Riad and there was 100% no way we would have ever found it on our own. 

Our front door on the left

We stayed at the Riad Chioua Chioua. It was a beautiful oasis amidst the chaos of the Medina and the heart of the desert. Riads are a traditional Moroccan thing, comparable to our version of a bed and breakfast but with a bit of a twist. The Riad is a comfortable, cozy, relaxing place that serves you breakfast in the morning before you venture out into the Medina, where you come back to crash for a nap or freshen up, and the location of low-key, late night hangouts. The Riad is headed by a very friendly, well-educated, and very curious Moroccan man who is fluent in several languages, most likely Arabic, French, English, and Spanish. Our's was named Aziz and he was awesome.

Inside the riad

Each morning began with a complimentary breakfast of freshly made pancake/crepe type things and a selection of freshly made jams, they brought me the most delicious, fresh yogurt each morning since I couldn't eat the pancakes, and a glass of energizing green-mint tea. At first it seemed quite strange to be drinking scalding hot tea in the middle of the desert, however it seems that it is best to consume hot beverages and food in hot climates and consume cold food and drinks in colder climates. Apparently it is much easier for your body to digest food that is the same temperature as its surroundings. Not long after our first serving of tea at breakfast Monday morning, my friends and I discovered how central drinking tea was to Moroccan culture. 

The view from the riad

My description of the Medina, in pictures: 

Hope you enjoyed. I am already planning my next trip back to the magical country!
xx, E

Farm Fresh

I bought these before my High Renaissance class met onsite in Campo de Fiore all the way back in September for about one euro. They were easily the most delicious strawberries I've ever had in my entire life!

xx, E

The Taste of Chianti

Munchenland: German for a Weekend

I headed up to Munich on my first overnight train in Europe Thursday night with a couple of friends. We thought we booked a private 3 person sleeper car, but when we got on the train we discovered we were actually booked in a 6 person sleeper car. Luckily for us, only one of the three strangers we'd be sleeping with got on the train in Rome and he spent the entire train ride in another compartment. We were already passed out by the time the other two cabin mates boarded the train in Bologna around 11 PM. This allowed us to host our own private party in our cozy compartment. A few other friends were also on the train to Munich for Oktoberfest, however they weren't lucky enough to be seated together, so we rocked out to some jams and feasted on Italian cheese, crackers, fruit, and a few bottles of wine before parting ways and hitting the hay. Despite my full belly and quenched thirst, getting a goodnight's sleep in preparation for weekend of too many one-liter brews was no easy task. 

Fresh off the train in Munich

We finally arrived around 9:00 AM Friday morning. The rest of our group didn't get in until later that afternoon so we decided to explore a few touristy spots around Munich and grab a quick bite to eat until everyone arrived.

This year, Oktoberfest was celebrating it's 200th anniversary. It was everything I ever could have imagined and more- a combination of a giant county fair with rides galore and 20+ beer tents. Besides the delicious authentic German food (think giant pretzels, bratwurst, frankfurters, schweinsbraten, and giant decorative cookies), there were carnival rides, roller coasters, and a giant ferris wheel. Important fact: the ONLY beverage served in the tents at Oktoberfest are giant liters of beer. At 8 euros a pop, beer was definitely not cheap, but a much better deal than you'll find at any fancy Western European night club and boy was it delicious!

at Hofbrau with friends Friday afternoon

Day 2, still at Hofbrau

Snacks with parents

The group I was with spent nearly all of our time in the Hofbrau tent, outside the Hofbrau tent, or trying to get in the Hofbrau tent. The Hofbrau tent is the official English speaking tent and a popular hangout for Americans, Australians, the Irish and the Brits. It was here that I ran into just about every single person I know who is abroad right now, it was definitely the place to be. Despite the apparent lack of Germans, tons of people were dressed in traditional Bavarian outfits: lederhosen for the men and dirndls for the ladies. I need a pair of lederhosen nowwww. They are absolutely adorable!
Facts about Oktoberfest:

• Largest public festival in the entire world
• Over 6 million visitors attend annually
• Isn't held in October! Oktoberfest traditionally begins the first Saturday after September 15
• 75% of attendees are Bavarian

Oktoberfest in Munich is something everyone should experience at least one time in their lives. Nothing can compare to Oktoberfest in Munich. It was definitely a trip I will never forget! Not only were the beers delicious, but so were the Germans. Makes me wish I studied abroad in Germany instead of Italy. Oktoberfest was filled with gorgeous, big, muscular German studs like I've never seen 'em before. Quite a nice change from the small and delicate, fashion-obsessed Italians I've been meeting the past month.

Happy singing Germans

xx, E

Two Years and Counting

This September will mark my two year anniversary being completely gluten-free! Since my nutritionist, Karen Raden, first suggested I go on a gluten-free diet, I have never felt better. Prior to going gluten-free, I spent about a year and a half getting sick to my stomach after nearly every meal. And if that wasn't the case, I sat (or more likely lay) in excruciating pain for several hours with my stomach churning, while it tried to break down the food I just ate. I had constant, never ending acid reflux that sometimes last as long as 4 days before subsiding. I remember begging my mom to take me to the hospital once because my acid reflux was so painful. I hadn't slept in days because it was too difficult to breathe if I wasn't sitting up straight. And, I was always tired. I would get home from school at 4 PM, do homework, and then shove some food down my throat before I passed out, usually around 9 PM.

My primary care doctor, along with several well-respected specialists, diagnosed me with IBS. They attributed my stomach problems to environmental and self-induced stress. I was an "A" student and a classic over-achiever, the oldest of divorced parents, and involved in many extra-curriculars. I took weekly singing lessons, saw an acting coach, and was involved with three Chicago-area theater companies, while also researching and applying to colleges in my spare time. The doctors said I fit the "classic" IBS diagnosis. I was advised to eliminate a long list of foods from my diet including: any heavy cream sauces, all spicy foods, red meat, anything with high-fructose corn syrup, all dairy including yogurt and butter, tuna, and red meat.

This left me with a very limited list of things that I could eat.  My meals consisted of plain bread, rice, chicken, bagels, oatmeal, Luna Bars, turkey sandwiches, salads, Lou Malnati's deep dish pizza with the cheese scraped off, and Chipotle burrito bowls. Karen was the first person to introduce the idea that a gluten intolerance or Celiac's Disease might be the cause of all my digestive troubles.

Now, two years later, I can say that I have never felt better! I rarely, if ever, get a stomach ache after a meal and I can finally enjoy food once again! During the past two years, there has been tons of increased awareness about Celiac's Disease and gluten intolerance throughout the United States, which has caused many food companies to pour lots of resources into the development of delicious gluten free foods! My favorite new discovery is Udi's Gluten Free White Sandwich Bread. I swear it tastes better than any bread I've ever had in my entire life (including the ones that use real wheat flour!!!). It doesn't need to be frozen, like most gluten-free breads, and it has about 70 calories per slice!!!! Even my mom loves it, and she is just about the pickiest person I know when it comes to her morning toast.

You can find Udi's at most Whole Foods and many regular grocery stores in New York City and the Chicago-land area :)

xx, E