Gluten Free at Panera

 For my gluten free readers out there, I wanted to let you all know that I got an updated Gluten Free list from Panera that I had to share. Now, I know many of you think, "how can you do gluten free at a place called Panera BREAD??" But, you can. 

Tell them about your allergy, order gluten free things, and frankly, I've never had an issue there.

I was mainly wondering about their cream cheeses, as I recently bought some gluten free bagels that need some good shmear, and I got more than enough of an answer. Below is what Panera wrote back to me:

Dear Alexa,

Thank you for contacting Panera Bread. I have included below a list (including cream cheese) of our menu items that do not contain gluten-containing ingredients. However, because we bake fresh bread daily in our bakery-cafes and bread is core to our menu, we simply cannot ensure that there has been no contact between these items, or any other menu items, and gluten.

Not all of the items listed are currently on our menu and some new menu items have not yet been evaluated for the purposes of inclusion on this list. However, you can find complete ingredients listings for current menu items on our website. (When you choose a menu item in our online Nutrition Calculator, click on the "ingredients" link for ingredients information for that item.)

Please note that nutritional information on our website is updated periodically. New products may be available in our bakery-cafes before a periodic update of this site. In addition, some menu items may be available only on a regional, test or seasonal basis. Nutritional information about these menu items is available at the participating bakery-cafes. Tests of new recipes of existing products may be conducted from time to time in certain markets. These new recipes may contain different/additional ingredients, including allergens, as compared to the original version. For the most update-to-date information, please call or visit your nearest bakery-cafe to speak with a manager.

Thank you again for contacting us. We appreciate your business and value your comments.

Sincerely,
Casey
Customer Comment Coordinator

PRODUCTS WITHOUT GLUTEN CONTAINING INGREDIENTS- Panera Bread **
**Although we try to meet your special requirements, we cannot ensure that these items have not come into contact with gluten in our bakery-café.
** Gorgonzola and bleu cheeses are commonly made with mold incubated on wheat. Some may choose to avoid these cheeses for this reason and you may substitute another cheese if you prefer. Items containing these ingredients are indicated below with (G) or (BC).
Salads: (including the salad dressing) (source of modified food starch is corn)
• Greek Salad
• Caesar Salad (without croutons)
• Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad (without croutons)
• Asian Sesame Chicken Salad (without Won Ton noodles)
• Classic Cafe Salad
• Fuji Apple Chicken Salad & Roasted Turkey Fuji Apple Salad (G)
• Chopped Chicken Cobb Salad & Chopped Chicken Cobb with Avocado Salad (G)
• BBQ Chopped Chicken Salad
• Seasonal Fruit Cups
• Chopped Steak & Blue Cheese (without crispy onions) (BC)
• Thai Chopped Chicken Salad (without wontons, vinaigrette, and peanut sauce)
• Strawberry Poppyseed & Chicken Salad

Salad Dressings:
• Balsamic Vinaigrette
• Caesar
• Greek/Herb Vinaigrette
• Asian Sesame Vinaigrette
• White Balsamic Fuji Apple Vinaigrette
• BBQ Ranch
• BBQ Sauce
• Cabernet Sauce
• Blue Cheese Vinaigrette
• Light Buttermilk Ranch
• Fat Free Poppyseed Dressing

Soups:
• Low Fat Vegetarian Black Bean
• Creamy Tomato (without croutons)
• Low Fat Chicken Tortilla with or without the tortilla strips
• Vegetarian Summer Corn Chowder

Beverages:
• Coffee- all varieties
• Juice, both apple and orange
• Lemonade
• Milk
• Soda, fountain and bottled
• Brewed Tea, tea bags, Chai Tea (hot & iced) and green tea
• All lattes, espresso drinks & Frozen beverages
• Low-Fat Smoothies
• Hot Chocolate

Spreads:
• All Cream Cheese Spread flavors

MISC:
• Panera Bread Potato Chips
• All meats (including roast beef, ham, turkey, roasted turkey, salami, bacon, ABF citrus pepper chicken, smoked chicken, Salmon [seasonal], Lobster [select areas only], all natural sausage patty).
• All cheeses (see gorgonzola and blue cheese reference above)


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Back with a little extra baggage

Hello loyal readers. I've taken a hiatus that wasn't planned, it just happened. I've enjoyed a breath of fresh air, and am ready to connect with you all again on the interwebs.

The biggest reason the hiatus started was because, I found out I was pregnant! I didn't know how to write about running, when running has become impossible for me while pregnant, or healthy eating, both of which I normally write about on here, when I could barely keep down anything for eight weeks and was living on crackers, ice cream and ginger ale.

But now that I'm at 21 weeks (due Nov. 1) and the morning sickness has subsided, I'm ready to blog again.

I also wasn't sure how I would handle parenthood on the interwebs because so many people are judgmental of other moms online, and frankly, I could give a crap what anyone else thinks of how I'm going to parent. If I want someone's advice, I'll ask for it.

That said, I also had to think about my baby's exposure on the internet. I chose to have a presence on the web, not them, therefore, I want to keep them somewhat anonymous, as it wasn't their choice to have an outspoken mother. Sure, there may be random pictures, or a mention of their name (still trying to decide if I will tell their real name on here once they are born, or give a little nick name to maintain anonymity like some people do, like Liz and her "baby goat."

Anyway, I'm still trying to be healthy now. Taking walks, doing  yoga, eating healthy (ish), but still enjoying what my body is craving. So, although a big focus of this blog will become my pregnancy and prepping for baby, as that's the biggest part of my life right now, it will also still be me, being me, as I've never wanted to be a person who loses their entire identity in their child.

Also, I won't be posting "bump" pics. There may be pictures of me on here that relate to posts where I happen to be pregnant, but unless you're putting pictures up of the progress of your bloated vs. unbloated abdomen, you don't need to see mine. Plus, besides parents, grandparents, close friends, etc, who really freaking cares how my stomach area looks? When women put pictures like that up, I want to say, "oh, you got wide in the middle while you were pregnant?! What a concept!"

Anyway, glad to be back!

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Leap Year

Leap Year comes but once every four years, and every time it does, I can't help but feel bad for the people born on this day. I think it would suck to only have a proper birthday to celebrate once every four years.

This year, companies are diving into leap year sales apparently. Random deals like Buy one get one free drinks at Caribou Coffee, and my husband's personal favorite, a free Spicy Chicken Sandwich from Chick Fil A.

Source

I was sad to watch the season finale of my favorite show on TV last night, "Parenthood." I love this show and am so sad that NBC made it's season so short, especially after it already took the whole month of December off.

Source

I'll use the extra TV time to catch up on the "The Good Wife," as my DVR kept messing it up due to football in the fall, so I need to start the season over from scratch, now to find those early episodes... any suggestions?

Also, the random winner (thanks to Random.org) of the Chobani give away is...

#16 Meredith M

Send me an e-mail at AlexaTaleof2Cities@gmail.com with your contact information by March 7 and we'll have a case of Chobani sent your way.

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Foodie Pen Pals

This month I decided to participate in Foodie Pen Pals after hearing about it on Mellissa's blog. It sounded like a fun idea. Send a package full of surprise treats to someone you're randomly matched with, and receive one in return from another random match!

I felt bad signing up at first because I knew my gluten allergy would limit things, but my Foodie Pen Pan Jacqueline did great!

The goods

She sent me a full package full of gluten free goodies, most of which I've never tried before, and have been really enjoying. She also went over the $15 limit and included a bottle of her personal favorite bourbon. She had asked me in our initial e-mails if I liked bourbon (yes!) and said being that she's from Kentucky she had to integrate it in the package.

She also included some treats for Cooper, Chicken Jerky sticks that are made in the USA (we only feed Cooper American made dog treats) from Trader Joes. Cooper is very picky about treats, but he loves them! He doesn't get a whole stick, but we break off a couple pieces for him, and he goes nuts when he smells them.

Enjoy getting mail that's not bills? Want a Foodie Pen Pal? Email theleangreenbean@gmail.com and get on the list for next month.

Also, today is the last day to enter the Chobani give away and have a free case delivered to your door step!

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New Chobani Flavors Give Away

As I've stated before, I'm a huge fan of Greek yogurt. I love it's creamy thickness, I love it with cereal, and I love it's versatility to be used with cooking.

Recently, my favorite Greek yogurt brand Chobani put out some new flavors, and now you have a chance to try all of them!

First let me tell you, of the three new flavors: Blood Orange, Apple Cinnamon and Passion Fruit, and all three are delicious!

Apple Cinnamon has become my absolute favorite of all the Chobani flavors! It's like Apple Pie Ala Mode. I love to open it up, stir it around, then freeze it and eat it a few hours later, it makes me eat it slower and enjoy each bite. Sometimes I think Greek yogurt of any flavor is too bitter to eat solo, but the Apple Cinnamon is not in my opinion.


I'd be doing you a disservice if I didn't tell you about the new Chobani Champions flavors (the kid version of Chobani as well), including the new Chocolate Vanilla flavor. It is absolutely wonderful and feels like a treat more than a yogurt.

The good people at Chobani have said they'll give one reader a prize package will include a case of the new flavors 12 cups total with four of each of each flavor- 0% Blood Orange, 0% Apple Cinnamon & 2% Passion Fruit.

Here's how you can win:

1. Leave a comment telling me your favorite yogurt flavor
   
2. Tweet about the give away and leave a comment with your twitter name saying you did
   
3. Post the giveaway on your blog and leave a comment with the link

Leave a separate comment for each for increased chances to win.

All comments must be received by Tuesday, February 28, 2012 at 11:00 p.m. Eastern time in order to be eligible to win. The winner must contact me via e-mail to claim their prize by Wednesday March 7, 2012 at 12:00 p.m. Eastern or a new winner will be chosen.

*Chobani provided me with a case of the new flavors to try, but did not compensate me in any other way for this post.

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Chicken Enchiladas

As promised, here is my recipe for Chicken Enchiladas.

You'll need:

• Two Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts
• Packet of Taco Seasoning
• Can of Fat Free Refried Beans
• 8 Tortillas
• Regular Size Jar of Enchilada Sauce
• 1/2 Cup Sharp Cheddar

I usually bake up my chicken the night before, seasoning it with the taco seasoning pack, and baking at 400 degrees for 30 minutes to be a step ahead for dinner the next night.

Once chicken breast is done, I shred it with a fork (careful if you're doing it fresh from the oven and it's hot!) and then spread the refried beans on to each tortilla, then fill it with a portion of the shredded chicken. It should look something like this:


Then, fold up the filled tortillas and line them up in a baking dish, fold side down. Once in the dish, pour entire bottle of enchilada sauce evenly on top, then top with shredded sharp cheddar. For the sauce, I like the Ortega brand in Medium, it gives it a perfect kick. Yes, I know that sauce has corn syrup in it, no, I don't care.

Ready to bake!

Then, bake the dish at 350 degrees for 25 minutes and voila! Easy, and delicious! Each enchilada has five points if you're counting Weight Watchers Points when I use small, corn tortillas. Ben is always advocating for more cheese, but I think the half cup is the perfect amount for me.

I usually enjoy one enchilada in a sitting with two tablespoons of light sour cream (I do NOT do fat free dairy products besides milk, gross). This is a great six point, end of the day meal.

Thanks to these awesome baking dishes from Crate and Barrel we received from our friends Chris and Sarina as wedding gifts, I always freeze two of the enchiladas in the small dish and make them for a quick dinner for one if I need something in the future. They bake up just great after being frozen.

Tomorrow I'll be doing an awesome give away, that I'm really excited about, so be sure to check back then!

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Sunday Recipe Work Ahead

Sundays have become the days that I plan ahead meals, and make ahead what I can for the week to help Ben and I eat healthier during the week. I don't know why I haven't done this sooner, even if I can do part of a meal Sunday nights, it makes cooking during the week so much easier.

For instance, tonight I'll be making a lightened up version of The Pioneer Woman's Corn Chowder and baking seasoned chicken for my Chicken Enchiladas (I'll provide this recipe at a later date, it's easy and delicious!).

I'm also planning to make this Hawaiian Curried Chicken with Pineapple Salsa.

I mainly wrote this post to tell you all about an awesome give away I'll have coming up in the next week. I'll give you a clue, it's a great company for eating healthy, with great flavor, and I've done a give away with them previously, but now there are new flavors! Stay Tuned!

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