{2Good2B Bakery & Cafe}

Delicious food for all? For those of us in the gluten-free community options are growing, but for those with more than just gluten-free needs it's difficult to find food that is (what I like to call) everything-free.  How often have you wished for a bakery, deli or even coffee shop where you could completely relax, perhaps even eat and drink everything on the menu? Not possible, right?  Well, I am excited to announce that such a place has emerged.

2Good2B is the name and everything-free food is the game. Located in the heart of San Diego's own seaside town of Encinitas, 2Good2B is an appropriate name for the quality and variety provided by this lovely cafe and bakery.  All items listed on their menu are gluten-free, soy-free, corn-free, peanut-free and occasionally dairy-free and egg-free.  Started by self proclaimed foodies Mike Barbanti and Diana Mourato Benedek, this place brings deliciousness to another level.  Their standard is not limited to the gluten-free or allergy-friendly crowd, but to all.  Their breads and desserts rival and I would say even trump those filled with gluten, soy, corn and many other typical ingredients.  See their website for more about their personal health journeys and the creation of 2Good2B.

Options are wide and favorites have already been established.  With freshly baked choices like chocolate pecan cranberry oatmeal cookies and vanilla bean passion fruit muffins, how could anyone resist? Everything goes quickly, so early orders and pick-ups are recommended.  

I heard about 2Good2B last week and headed straight over! As my husband and I drove up I immediately noticed the beautiful "gluten-free" writing in the window and practically bounded out of the car with excitement.  Entering the cafe we were immediately engulfed by the mouth-watering aroma of freshly baked bread.  In cases near the door, rows and rows of beautiful cupcakes and brownies quickly drew my eye.  I glanced at the menu and my excitement heightened.  Quiches, pizzas, sandwiches, paninis, and salads?  All GF? Really? Then I saw it, the origin of the lovely smell: a case full of fresh breads and gorgeous baguettes.  As I stood staring at the case, a kind voice greeted me and asked if I needed anything.  I introduced myself and met the assistant manager, Jack, who turned out to be one of the most gracious individuals I have ever met.  He sent us home with many tasty treats to photograph and try.  His passion for helping others find safe food is obvious.  The atmosphere he provided clearly stemmed from the heart of 2Good2B's creators, Mike and Diana.

2Good2B focuses on high quality foods, drinks and desserts, using many local and organic ingredients.  You can enjoy a tasty, moist muffin with a steaming loose leaf tea with the knowledge that you're eating well while sustaining your local community! When picking their vendor for coffee and tea 2Good2B chose Virtuoso: a local, certified organic company that carries products known for being easier on the stomach.  Once again, a clear sign that Mike and Diana have thought carefully about every detail, creating the perfect environment for people with sensitive stomachs!

Our lunch that afternoon consisted of many personal recommendations from Jack.  We decided on a delicious panini with the artisan rosemary bread made fresh that morning (which he paired perfectly with vegetable chips) and two refreshing and invigorating drinks, the Moroccan Mint tea with honey over ice and the spicy Virtuoso Chai tea.  We followed the panini with Mike's famous baguette and lemon cupcake.  My favorites were the baguette and rosemary bread.  I felt transported to Paris with each moist and buttery slice.  Heaven on earth.  Needless to say, we savored each bite and devoured every last morsel!

My only hesitation with the breads lies in the teff and millet flours.  I have a sensitivity to these flours.  Even though I can't eat too much, the flavor of the breads is still amazing.  If I may, I would like to put in a request.  I would love to try artisan breads from Mike that incorporate other gluten-free flours. He may even be up for creating the treat I miss the most: the croissant!  He is quite an artist in the kitchen, so perhaps such options will come in the near future!

There are so many varieties and specialties available that I could expand on!  You will just have to discover them for yourself! The menu alone should get you out of your seat, but honestly the atmosphere was what made the entire experience golden.  I hope you all jaunt over to 2Good2B as soon as you can.  It's everything you dreamed it would be.
Enjoy!

{Heads Up}
The bakery and cafe will be undergoing a renovation from Jan 22nd to February 4th.  Menu options will be increasing to include such delights as pot pies, soups, mac and cheese dishes, meatball subs, calzones, cinnamon rolls and cinnamon breads.  Make sure to stop by before they close and then head over after Feb 4th for all the new treats! I'll be there! 

{All photos taken and provided by Sweet and Salty Life}

{The Everyday - Kelp Noodles}

Welcome to November! I cannot believe how fast this past month has gone and how quickly my life has changed.  We enjoyed our lovely trip to the Hawaiian Islands at the beginning of the month and spent the rest of it getting back into real life.  We were able to go to the beautiful and lush island of Kauai for our honeymoon and  I cannot wait to share all about the food culture and variety there. For now, just know that anyone with a common allergy could not only survive, but actually thrive.  There are wonderful options all over this beautiful island.  Honestly, it was so amazing, a move was and still is tempting....

As for today, I am back home in my lovely seaside home of Carlsbad and I am excited to share with you one of the most nutritious and unique foods in my refrigerator.  Kelp Noodles! Have you tried them? They are, at first glance, very odd looking and truly not that appealing, but believe me they are surprisingly fun. 

Full of fabulous fiber and rich in iodine, Kelp Noodles assist with digestion and boost your thyroid. Oh and did I mention they are practically calorieless... They can be found in most health food stores like Mother's, Jimbo's or even Sprouts on occasion. Kelp Noodles can be used to spice up a salad, add texture to stir fries or even to replace spaghetti if you're craving a hot dish with tasty marinara sauce.

To get started, I suggest washing and rinsing your noodles.  Then, using kitchen scissors, cut little 1-2 inches long pieces into a salad and see how you like the extra crunch.  Kelp Noodles can soak up flavor well, especially if they are allowed to marinate in a dressing or sauce. If you'd prefer a softer noodle I suggest you take this approach.  Next, try using longer cuts of the noodles in a stir fry with Coconut Secret's Coconut Aminos Seasoning Sauce. Add veggies and nuts and spices to your heart's delight! You really can't go wrong.  In the end it may remind you of a warm Thai noodle dish soaked in soy sauce, minus the calories and estrogen-filled soy.

If you really start to enjoy the flavor of this sea vegetable you should try other textures and flavors! Check out my recipe for Seaweed Rice Salad to get you started. 
Add this fun exotic food for some variety in your daily diet and let me know how it goes!Enjoy!

{The Everyday - Two Essential Spreads}

Whether for slathering on toast, apple slices, celery or carrots, these two spreads are full of omegas and protein.  I like to start my day out with food that will fill me up and provide energy for the day and raw Almonds and Sunflower Seeds are an easy go to for me.  

Almond Butter and Sunflower Butter are my two favorite spreads out of all the nut/seed options out there.  Raw Almond Butter, in my opinion, is the best whole and nutritional nut spread you take eat and Sunflower Butter just plain tastes delicious and is very similar to Peanut Butter.  I have a subtle allergy to peanuts, so this is my treat instead.  These spreads can be quite pricey at most health food stores, so if you are going to buy pre-made spreads I have to recommend buying from Trader Joe's.  They offer a much less expensive raw (that's the key), not roasted, Almond Butter with the options of crunchy or smooth and salted or unsalted.  As for the Sunflower Butter it's a similar story when it comes to price, so TJ's is still the way to go.  My only pause with the Sunflower Butter is the sugar content.  It, like Peanut Butter, has more sugar than I would like to advocate for others or just put in my own body on a regular basis, so I recently looked into creating my own. 

 If you are interested and own a food processor or VitaMix I would definitely recommend making your own butters.  It's actually quite simple.  Pour 1/2 to 1 cup of seeds/nuts in with a tablespoon of your preferential oil (I like to use Coconut or Grapeseed) and any other additions flavors for taste.  If you want a smoother more spreadable butter, just keep adding oil until it reaches the consistency you desire. 

In the batch I recently made I added 1 to 2 tbsp of Agave a dash of Cinnamon and a 1/2 tsp of delicious Vanilla.  After processing my spread I scooped it into a glass jar I recycled from another spread and put it in my fridge.  It's lasted me 2 weeks so far and seems like it will keep for a few more.  

An easy inexpensive and nutritious treat if you ask me! Give it a try and share what flavor you used to spice up and flavor your butter.  I'd love to hear about your experiments.

Enjoy!

Gluten-Free Veggie Sandwich

It's been a bit since I've posted, I apologize! With a new job and my recent engagement....well, it's been a wonderful whirlwind!  Thank you all so much for your sweet notes of support and congrats! I just loved sharing my exciting news with you.

Today I have a delicious, yet simple, creation for you, the veggie sandwich.  Instead of using sandwich bread I used toasted GF english muffins and mmmm it was perfect! Before my transition to my new diet I LOVED sandwiches, so naturally I quickly found ways to recreate my lunchtime favorite.  As you know, I love the fresh produce so there are some ripe, juicy veggies in it.  They keep the sandwich moist and flavorful.  I hope you enjoy this fresh take on an everyday lunch treat!


{GF Veggie Sandwich}

1/2 Food For Life GF English Muffin
Ripe Organic Heirloom Tomato
Mustard or Broccoli Sprouts
Ripe Hass Avocado
Organic English Cucumber (The English really is better; I promise!)
Organic Rainbow Chard
Your Favorite Mustard Dressing

First toast your English Muffin.  While it's toasting slice your Heirloom Tomato, English Cucumber and Avocado.  Wash and pat dry 2-3 leaves of Rainbow Chard, chopping off the stems.  Pull the English Muffin out and spread your choice of Mustard Dressing.  Layer the Tomato, Avocado and Cucumber.  Follow it with a bunch of Sprouts and then top it with the Rainbow Chard.  The Chard works as the "other slice" of Muffin or Bread, keeping  the sandwich light and refreshing!

Apple Muffins

October is a birthday month! Both of the men in my life celebrate their special days in the first week of this wonderful month. Don't worry, one of them is my Dad.  Haha and he is the one that inspired this recipe!  A lover of the apple and all things that incorporate this tasty fruit, I wanted to find a recipe that used it in a simply delicious way.  My family was having a birthday breakfast for him, so I thought muffins might be a light but filling treat.  Since it's the closest thing to a cupcake, it fit the birthday atmosphere quite well.

The muffins turned out fantastic! I am not just saying that...they really did! Even as I am writing this my Dad is asking me when I am going to make more.

Again, my little backyard apple tree is producing up a storm, so the Michel family has more apples than they know what to do with! Solution?  My Dad says... more apple muffins!

The original recipe is from a wonderful blog called MAID in Alaska. As is typical, I changed a few things here and there, but check out her original recipe here to create your own version.

{Apple Muffins}

6 TBSP boiling Water
2 TBSP Chia Seeds
3 Cups Gluten-free Oats
1 1/2 tsp Baking Soda
1 tsp Xanthan Gum
1/2 tsp Sea Salt
1 1/2 Cinnamon
2 TBSP Grapeseed Oil
2 tsp Vanilla
1/4 Cup Agave
1/4 Cup unsweetened Applesauce
1 Apple shredded/grated
1 Apple chopped with skin on

To begin heat oven to 350 degrees and heat the water.  Grind the Chia seeds in your blender until they become more like meal.  Once your water is boiling, pour it in with the Chai seeds and set aside. Use the blender again to grind the Oats.  Neither the Oats nor the Chai has to be completely ground, just enough to keep texture while still creating some finer meal/flour.  Combine the Oat flour with the rest of the dry ingredients.

Next shred your first Apple with a cheese grater.  Place the shredded Apple in a large bowl with all the wet ingredients. Gradually add your dry mixture to this wet mixture.  Finally chop your second Apple, leaving the skin on, and fold into your batter.  Pour into greased muffin tins and bake for 20-30 minutes, depending on your oven!

Once they are golden brown, pull them out, let them cool and enjoy! They are delicious right out of the oven. They don't even need butter or honey, although these are always delightful compliments.

Enjoy!

{Other Wonderful Recipe Collections}

Slightly Indulgent Tuesday

MMMondays

Just Another Meatless Monday

My Meatless Mondays

Mouthwatering Mondays

Tuesday Night Supper Club

Tasty Tuesdays