A Minnesota hockey family living our best gluten free life
Author:Brynn Kimel
I am a student at the University of St.Thomas aspiring to practice law in the future. I am Brooke's older sister and have grown up within her journey of living with celiac. I have been gluten free at home since her diagnosis, but have recently gone gluten free due to my own medical reasons.
This past spring my family and I vacationed on Disney’s Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser. It was incredible! I am not here to write about the Hotel and experience itself, but I am more than happy to fill you all in on the food.
Of course the food was out of this world… on the Galactic Starcruiser I would expect nothing less. I will say the chefs and mixologists alike use excellent techniques and modern advancements in food science to make fantastical and delicous refreashments. The attention to detail was supurb and made everything we ate or drank that much more special. Regardless if you are an OG star wars fan or falling in love with the series for the first time, this is a one of a kind dining experience that can be enjoyed by everyone. I will say that upon booking our stay, we made note that we are a gluten free family and never once were we concerned about food choices. The staff was knowledgable, charismtic, and professional. They ensured our dining experince was just like the gluten-eating guests and never once did we feel left out. Below I will let the photos speak for themselves. If you ever find yourself in a galaxy far far away, a stay at Disney’s Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser immersive resort is a once in a lifetime experience.
Good morning and God Jul (‘Merry Christmas’ in Norwegian). If you celebrate, I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season. This year my mom’s parents came to visit us and they are very Norwegian. To celebrate we decided to embrace our ancestral heritage even further and make a few classic Scandinavian treats. We made gluten free Krumkake, Ebelskivers, and Scandinavian Sticky Cake… don’t worry we left the lutefisk out of this holiday menu. There are various “dialects” for each of these Scandinavian specialties and we tend to focus on the, you guessed it, Norwegian version.
Let’s start with the Krumkake. We have a Krumkake iron which makes baking them easier, and it gives them a delicate and lacey design. Krumkake is a crisp waffle cookie made of eggs, butter, flour, sugar, and cream. To make them you simply scoop out two tablespoons of the batter into the iron and bake for about a minute or until your iron says they are ready. After it’s ready to be taken out you have to move quickly while they are warm and pliable to roll them into their cone shape before they cool and solidify. The cookies are fragile and a perfect canvas to add your favorite ‘fixings’ weather that be whipped cream and peppermint, chocolate, or just enjoying them plain.
…”must be Italian!” -A Christmas Story 1983
Our Scandinavian cuisine tour continues onto our next stop which is Ebelskivers a Danish-style filled pancake that can be made sweet or savory. This time we made jelly filled Ebelskivers, but you can doctor them up with chocolate, lemon, herbs, cured meats, or cheeses and cover them in whatever sauce you like. I also like to eat them plain! Ebelskivers are light, airy, and offer cloud like bite. If filling them, I recommend a non-traditional method of using a piping tip to fill them once they are out of the pan. This will save your pan from any potential burnt sugar and save you when the time comes to clean up!
Our tour today concludes with Scandinavian sticky cake. Chocolate cake that perfectly integrates lava cake and brownies. You all know that we could not have gotten through the holidays without a chocolate dessert. This melt in your mouth dessert is a sure fire bet to convert even the most skeptical dessert conosiours (My anti-chocolate sister) into world class chocoholics. It was so easy to make and was ready within an hour, perfect to whip up at any get together, it serves roughly six to eight.
As our tour comes to a close I had to give a shout out to the Uffda Shop in Red Wing Minnesota for providing us a window into our heritage, as well as the different pans for the Ebelskivers and Scandinavian Sticky Cake. I sent my friend pictures of our treats and he asked, “What makes them Scandinavian?” I was thinking about this question for a while before responding. The easy answer would the geographical origin of the recipes, but that seemed too shallow. I think what really makes these treats Scandinavian, or any family recipe distinct to a region, is the people that embrace them and the loving connectivity that the recipes bring to a family table. Thank you for joining me for our Scandinavian family Christmas and I hope this New Year brings you all peace, love, joy, and good food!
I hope this post finds you safe and healthy. I few weeks ago I went to Moorhead, MN to visit my grandparents. Ope, I hadn’t been up there since before the Covid-19 Pandemic. There are a few traditions we partake in every time we visit. Those traditions are oh for cute and include morning Starbucks runs with Grandpa, Grandma’s waffles, and Happy Joe’s Pizza. Happy Joe’s has incredible gluten free pizza and we cannot go up to Fargo-Moorhead without grabbing some taco pizza from Happy Joe’s. I wish we had one in the cities, but uff-da it’s definitely a treat when we head up to Grandma’s house. This time we went up for a visit, it was a slightly longer trip so we decided to try a new restaurant called Mezzaluna. Mezzaluna is located in the heart of downtown Fargo; the quaint shops, charming historical undertones, local cuisine, and artistic embellishments highlight the rich and ever evolving culture of Fargo-Moorhead. After an afternoon of shopping and admiring the Red River, Mezzaluna is the perfect place to escape North Dakota’s November wind and become immersed in an eclectic ambience. Mezzaluna is an upscale eatery featuring elevated American classics. Say whether you’re looking for a place to grab some drinks and appetizers, or sit down for a warm comforting meal, Mezzaluna has gluten free options for whatever is you’re looking for in your dining experience. The staff was very friendly and knowledgeable dontchaknow. I wouldn’t expect anything less from the kind people of Fargo-Moorhead. The six of us tried a wide array of menu items throughout our dinner and I must say their french fries were tied for our favorite item with their decadent Bruschetta appetizer. The following is a link to their website: https://www.dinemezzaluna.com/ and if you find yourself in Fargo-Moorhead I wouldn’t hesitate to make a reservation. If you asked me if I would go back to Mezzaluna, you would receive a resounding ‘you betcha’ from Grandma and Grandpa Dahl as well as their gluten free goaltending granddaughters. Thank you all for letting my Minnesoootan accent and sayings be a bit more incorporated into this post. Be kind to each other and yourselves, and enjoy the start of the holiday baking season.
“If the Ted Lasso way is wrong, it’s hard to imagine being right”- Trent Crim, The Independent. This post is dedicated to all of the Ted Lasso fans out there. As a character one of my all time favorite shows, Ted Lasso’s Trent Crim perfectly depicts my feelings about this Apple TV Plus series dedicated to radical kindness. I couldn’t think of something the world needs more at the moment, than a dose of radical kindness. I’m not a TV-show critic or reviewer, so I promise to stay in my lane of gluten free goodies. The inspiration for this post 100% comes from my new-found love of Coach Lasso and the UFC Richmond team. Early in season 1 Ted begins a tradition called ” Biscuits with the Boss” where he brings his boss fresh, homemade, biscuits every morning. Rebecca Welton, Ted’s boss, seemingly adores these biscuits and they look delicious. Naturally, I decided to make these iconic biscuits gluten free. I used the following recipe (with a gluten free flour substitution of course): https://www.today.com/food/here-s-official-ted-lasso-biscuit-recipe-t230627 . I’ve shared these tasty treats with many people that I hold dear and the reviews are in: “Pure buttery deliciousness,” “Melt in your mouth,” and “The perfect balance of traditional shortbread consistency without being too dry.” The overarching theme is that I will most definitely be making these again soon. They are a shortbread cookie, as we would say here in the States, that pair beautifully with tea, coffee, matcha, or hot chocolate. I made them Friday night in order to celebrate the new weekly episode being released. I munched on them while immersed in Coach Beard’s night on the town. To keep my Ted Lasso weekend rolling, I thought it appropriate to attend my first ever Soccer match. I went to an MN-UFC Loons game and had a blast! After this weekend I’m becoming more and more of a soccer fan. I can’t wait for next Friday’s episode to be released and to make more Ted Lasso biscuits soon. That’s all for me today, I challenge you to be radically kind to someone-even if that someone is yourself.
Hi Everyone, I hope this post finds you all well this fine Thursday morning. I’ve just finished sipping the last of my protein shake and I’m thinking about my Dad. He is in Chicago for work and is likely enjoying a fresh, warm, mouthwatering Do-Rite donut right about now with his team. Do-Rite Donuts is an incredible donut shop that offers delicious gluten free donuts, located in the heart of the Windy City. Most people don’t know this, but I was born in Chicago and adore the city. It has incredible nightlife, entertainment, shopping, and most importantly gluten free dining! Do-Rite Donuts is no exemption. Here in Minneapolis finding a good gluten free donut is the equivalent of finding Bigfoot, but just two states away we can find some of the best gluten free donuts in the Midwest! If you find yourself in Chicago head over to one of their many locations and grab yourself an immaculate gluten free donut by Do-Rite. Here is a link to their website that includes their location addresses: https://www.doritedonuts.com/ . I hope you all enjoy the last month of Summer and keep an eye out for more content coming soon.
The time has come Everybody! Travel is a huge part of my family’s life and Covid put a damper on our ability to do that. The stars aligned and my mom and I were able to take our first trip in 18 months. In a normal world my mom works a conference on Amelia Island annually and we were able to go back this year, thanks to the high vaccination rates of attendees. We stayed at our favorite hotel in the area: the Ritz-Carlton and went to our go-to favorite gluten free restaurants. I am going to list them out for you, with some of our must order menu items. Without further adieu, please be sure your seatbelt is fastened, tray table is secure, and aisle armrests are lowered…
Our journey began at the MSP airport at 4:00 am on Thursday. We arrived to Amelia Island by noon. Hungry for brunch mom and I made a pit stop at The Patio Place, a gluten free crepe restaurant in downtown Amelia Island. Mom and I both ordered the Gluten Free savory crepe with a side of grits. We finished our trip back at The Patio Place for breakfast where we ordered the Patio Plate complete with eggs, bacon, hash browns, and a sweet crepe. The Patio Place uses buckwheat flour for their gluten free crepes and they are a delicious treat.
At the hotel, mom and I adored spending cocktail hour and mocktail hour (for me) at the poolside bar, where we enjoyed fresh guacamole topped with queso fresco cheese and their house spice blend. There is nothing better than scooping up refreshing guacamole on a crisp salty chip, while mesmerized by the waves crashing onto the beach, cooled by a salty breeze, after long walks on the beach.
For dinner, mom and I returned to downtown Amelia Island to explore the local flavors and cuisine. On the second night we stopped into Ciao Italian Eatery, a delicious restaurant plating familiar italian favorites with island flair. Mom and I both ordered the Rigatoni Ciao which included fresh shrimp, scallops, and mushrooms served over a bed of fresh gluten free fettuccine pasta and smothered in pink sauce, just like nonna would make. It was a light dish that was somehow also rich, creamy, and hearty… my favorite ways to describe pasta dishes.
For our last night we ate at David’s Restaurant and Lounge. David’s is a premier Steak House & Seafood Restaurant that provides high-quality food for those that wish to combine an intimate ambiance with skillful cooking into one extraordinary dining experience. We visit David’s every time we travel to Amelia island and can count on an evening filled with great food and wonderful memories. This year I ordered the caesar salad, Truffle Scallops, and flourless chocolate cake. Mom enjoyed the shrimp cocktail, Chilean sea bass, and flourless chocolate cake. Every course was delicious and I will let the pictures from the evening speak for themselves.
As we were leaving the hotel, at the end of our stay, a local chef gave us his recommendations for more restaurants in the area. We already have a wish list started for new dining experiences to explore next year. Mom and I can’t wait to go back, and if you’re ever in Amelia Island we hope you enjoy these resturants as much as we do.
Yep. That’s it folks. That’s the article. Just kidding Everyone, but truly how much more need I say. These five ingredient S’mores bars take just 32 minutes in the oven and are always the first to go at any function- whether that be a banquet or a back yard bar-b-que (Covid safe of course). They are ooey-gooey in the middle with light accents of “crispity-crunch”, as my coworker described them, coming from the toasted marshmallows on top. These bars will immediately transport you to your favorite warm summer nights by the bonfire.
To make them start by preheating the oven to 350 degrees F. While that preheats mix together 1 can sweetened condensed milk, 2 cups crushed gluten free graham crackers (we love Kinnikinnick’s S’morables gluten free graham crackers), 1 1/2 cups milk chocolate chips, and one stick of butter. Line a 9” square baking dish with parchment paper and pour in the graham cracker mixture. Spread it evenly to cover the entire bottom of the pan and lightly push the mixture up the sides of the pan. Bake the mixture for 30 minutes. Remove the bars from the oven and evenly distribute 3 cups of mini marshmallows over the top of the bars. Turn the oven off and the broiler on, broil the bars until the marshmallows are your favorite level of toasted (for me that’s about 2 minutes). Remove the bars, sprinkle with semi-sweet chocolate chips, cool, and serve. Ta-da! An instant favorite! Give these bars a try and let us know if you love them as much as we do (I think you will ☺️). Wherever you are reading this from enjoy the sunshine, be kind to yourselves, and eat well.
Hello Everybody, I hope this post finds you well and enjoying your week thus far. Y’all I have an exciting post today and if you will be anywhere near Rochester, MN I 100/10 recommend heading over to Twigs for a bite to eat. Last week my roommate and I were driving to her hometown and on the way we stopped in Rochester for lunch. Relying on our handy dandy “Find Me GF” app we came across Twigs and thought we would give it a go. They had a full on GF menu y’all! I’m talking aps, soups, salads, mains, and desserts. Pages upon pages of gluten free goodies in all of their glory. I know at this point you have to be thinking wow this is too good to be true, what’s the catch? That’s just it, there isn’t one. In fact it gets better… they have a seperate gluten free kitchen! Complete with a serene outdoor patio that would make Martha Stewart swoon Twigs has made it to my top 5 favorite restaurants of all time. My roommate ordered gluten free/vegan onion rings and I ordered gluten free butternut squash ravioli. Both menu items were such a rare and delicious treat. We half joked about making regular trips down to Rochester to catch Thursdays on first and grab some more food from Twigs. Here is a link to their website: https://www.twigstavernandgrille.com/ . I’m telling you, Everyone go check this place out. You will be more than pleased. That’s all for me now so, my lovely people, eat well and enjoy the Summer weather. ☀️
Yes folks you read that right Brim, not Brynn. If you’re looking for a great Celiac friendly restaurant overlooking Lake Bde Maka Ska head over to Brim. Brim focuses on putting their best food forward and emphasizes the importance of nutritious and delicious organic food largely sourced from the Midwest. My roommates and I went here to grab some lunch this past weekend and it was delicious! Their menu was completely gluten free and completely amazing! I had a gluten free chicken pesto sandwich on gluten free focaccia with a slice of gluten free/dairy free lemon poppyseed bread. I had not had gluten free focaccia bread before and this was such a treat. The bread had good consistency, didn’t fall apart, and was flavorful in all the right ways. My friends had a smoothie bowl and a brunch bowl that looked incredible. The staff is all very knowledgeable about Celiac, as many of them have Celiac themselves. Here is a link to their super cute website: https://www.brimrestaurant.com/. I will definitely be heading back to Brim soon excited and hungry for more safe and delectable gluten free goodies. Eat well and smile lots.
Hello Everybody and happy Tuesday. Around the Country colleges and universities are wrapping up for the year and schools in the Twin Cities are no exception. I take my last final exam on Thursday and with more people fully vaccinated (myself included) it’s time to celebrate with a night on the town. If you are looking for a self-proclaimed urban diner serving up comfort food with a twist, check out Longfellow Grill. I have now been twice in the last two weeks with my co-workers and roommates, and will most definitely return with my family soon. They have a sizeable gluten free menu that includes everything from chicken tenders and mac n’ cheese to burgers and flourless chocolate tortes. Obviously this is the place to go if you’re craving some home style cooking. They also offer an all-day breakfast menu if you’re in the mood for some bacon and eggs. So far I have had the gluten free mac n’ cheese and the gluten free chicken tenders, and both were delicious! I will admit this was the first time in 16 years I ordered chicken tenders at a restaurant and I could not have been more thrilled. Here is a link to their website: https://www.longfellowgrill.com/. The staff is very knowledgeable of gluten allergies and the kitchen has a seperate gluten free fryer. They currently provide both indoor and outdoor seating, but it is worth mentioning that their patio is absolutely gorgeous. What’s better than enjoying the warm summer Minnesota nights than by dining under the ambience of twinkle lights, surround by crab apple trees blooming in all of their floral pink glory, while overlooking the skyline of Minneapolis, and taking a big bite of a gluten free bacon cheese burger😉. That said, if you’re in the area and looking for a reason to go out to dinner here ya go: it’s 5:30 on a Tuesday… There’s your reason now go checkout Longfellow Grill and enjoy your evening. Be kind to each other, enjoy the warm weather, and eat well.
