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Bone Broth--How to Make it and Why You Should be Drinking it!

Bone Broth--How to Make it and Why You Should be Drinking it!

It seems everyone is talking about bone broth and its magical powers.  Bone broth supports gut health and reduces inflammation--two awesome side effects of eating Paleo in general--but its benefits don't end there.

While bone broth is becoming more readily available in stores--The Joyful Food Co. even makes our own with grass-fed beef bones--it is more economical to make your own.  There are many recipes for bone broth and tutorials available online, but the truth is, you don't have to follow a recipe to the letter or own fancy kitchen equipment (I use a crock pot!) to get delicious and healthy bone broth.

While the recipes are great starting points, there are really only a few things you need to know before you get started.  When choosing bones to use, get the highest quality possible (organic/pastured/free-range).  Also, you don't have to use whole vegetables.  I have used the ends of celery, carrots, and onions in my stock, and even kale stems!  It all depends on what you have on hand!  Lastly, you will need to use about a TBSP of apple cider vinegar as it helps to break down the bones.

Whether you drink a mug of bone broth daily, use it in recipes, or simply freeze it to drink when you feel a cold coming on, this nutrient-rich "liquid gold" is the perfect addition to any diet!

Elizabeth Wood
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My Favorite App For Dining Out Gluten-Free

My Favorite App For Dining Out Gluten-Free

Going out to eat when you are gluten-free can be a little like playing roulette. You're always hoping for the best, but sometimes you lose--big time. Gluten can be hidden in all kinds of ingredients and many times, staff simply isn’t well educated about food allergies. Eventually, after a lot of trial and error, you learn what restaurants work for you….but what about when you travel?  There are a number of apps available that are designed specifically for locating restaurants in your vicinity.  Some apps, like Trip Advisor or Yelp, allow you to place a gluten-free search filter on nearby restaurants, which is definitely helpful. But just because a restaurant has a gluten-free item on their menu, it doesn’t always mean it is a place that monitors cross contamination or that the servers are knowledgeable in how the gluten-free items are prepared. If only there was a way to get feedback from other gluten-free people who have eaten there!  Well thank heavens, there is now an app for that!

 

 

 

 

The free app Find Me Gluten Free is helping people find delicious and SAFE gluten-free offerings near them and I love it!  Find Me Gluten Free allows you to filter restaurants by location, tells you which are dedicated gluten-free facilities and which are the most celiac friendly (the most celiac friendly filter requires app upgrade)! 

 

 

 

 

Read reviews from other patrons and view the menu to get a better idea of what you'll encounter when you get there. 

 

 

 

 

 

I use this app every time I travel, and sometimes in my own hometown when I feel like I’m in a rut.  I recently used the app on a trip to Florida and I found a number of restaurants that I otherwise would have missed out on--I had my first gluten-free Panini, and it was awesome!

Download this app today, plug in your location and you might be surprised to find some amazing options around you!  Happy (and safe!) dining to you!

Elizabeth Wood
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Our Top Picks for Gluten-Free Dining in Birmingham

Our Top Picks for Gluten-Free Dining in Birmingham

Birmingham’s food scene is exploding with awesomeness lately!  New restaurants are popping up everywhere and many of them are emphasizing fresh ingredients and catering to gluten-free (and even Paleo) clientele.  While a lot of growth is taking place in Avondale and downtown, there are delicious places to eat in every part of the city.  Here are mine and Rebecca’s 10 favorite places in Birmingham to enjoy a gluten-free meal!

Tropicaleo began as a food truck and then occupied the Reveal Kitchen space at Pizitz Food Hall.  They opened their own brick and mortar space in November 2017.  This fast casual restaurant in Avondale serves traditional Puerto Rican cuisine.  Their kitchen is free of wheat flour (bread is made offsite at Continental Bakery).  All sandwiches can be served on plantains instead of bread.  I recommend the Cubano on plantains—YUM! 

 

 

 

 

 Baha burger offers gluten-free buns and a gluten-free fryer for your side items.  You can also have your burger wrapped in lettuce.  My favorite here is the classic or the lamb burger. My family loves the outdoor seating, music, casual atmosphere and friendly service! 

Foodbar—heading out on a special date night?  I highly recommend Foodbar in Cahaba Heights!  With a menu that changes seasonally, you could find anything from traditional fare like a burger (which I’ve heard is the best in Birmingham!) to more adventurous items like pork belly and octopus (which I had when I went!).

Kome Japanese Cuisine—if you eat rice, you may already enjoy sushi.  There are a variety of sushi restaurants in the Birmingham area, and if you keep your sushi simple, you shouldn't have any problems staying gluten-free (you might want to bring your own GF tamari or coconut aminos to sub for soy sauce though). We used to only go out for sushi on date nights, because it was always too expensive for a family of four.  But we have found the build your own poké bowls at Kome to be affordable and perfect for those of us with dietary limitations!   

Eli’s Jerusalem Grill—with two locations--one on Hwy 280 and one in the Pizitz Food Hall—Eli’s is a middle Eastern restaurant doing everything right!  With an emphasis on pastured meats, local vegetables and organic items, they are also well-versed in gluten-free and serve organic wine! They have many kid-friendly items on their menu including an all-beef kosher hot dog.

 

 

 

Wasabi Juans—with one location in The Battery and one Hwy 280, Wasabi Juan’s specifically designates the gluten-free items on their menu, and there are many!  They specialize in sushi burritos, but tacos, nachos, and delicious side items are also available.

Yo Mamas is a downtown spot open for lunch during the week, and brunch two times/month. Their menu is almost entirely GF and they offer some delicious soul food that you might not expect. Hint: try the chicken and waffles!

Babalu Tacos and Tapas is located in the Lakeview district and is great for a fun night out or even Sunday brunch!  Babalu also designates gluten-free offerings on their menu, and has a variety of signature drinks.  I’m hooked on their pork belly tacos with roasted peanut slaw, but everything I’ve tried has been delicious!

Delta Blues Hot Tamales doesn’t have to designate gluten-free items on their menu, because their entire facility is gluten-free!  They are located on historic Cobb Lane, and have a lovely patio to sit on in the nice weather.  I know it seems sacrilege to NOT order tamales at a tamale restaurant, but I was so intrigued by the chicken tenders, as that is something I haven’t been able to order at a restaurant since going gluten-free, so I went with that.  I was not disappointed, as they were so crunchy and delicious!  Bonus:  gluten-free desserts and family meals to-go!

 

 

 

 

Real and Rosemary—Real and Rosemary offers meals made purely with fresh and clean ingredients, and hallelujah—healthy kid’s options!  Focusing purely on simple recipes and real food--free from preservatives, food dyes, and MSG--Real and Rosemary is the real deal. 

The Joyful Food Co.--While it's always a treat to go out to a restaurant for a delicious meal, there is something sacred about enjoying a meal around your  family's table. The Joyful Food Co. offers prepared meals in single or family portions that are not only gluten-free, but Paleo and Whole30 approved! Even better, you can also pick up dessert, breakfast and after school snacks while you're there. Consider us your one-stop gluten-free/Paleo shop!

I hope this has given you some ideas for new places to visit with your family!  As restaurants continue to pay attention to what the public wants, I believe we’ll continue to have many new gluten-free options in the years to come!

Elizabeth Wood
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Top Ten Gluten-Free Finds at Costco

Top Ten Gluten-Free Finds at Costco

Changing your diet doesn't just involve finding new foods to eat--often it involves finding new places to shop! Customers ask me all the time where I like to shop and my resounding answer is: Costco! Rebecca and I have been eating grain-free for 5 and 7 years, respectively. Over the years, we have learned where to get the best prices on the highest quality food, and we both agree--Costco is one of our favorite places to shop! When I started a grain-free lifestyle, there weren't really any prepared foods that you could buy--it was all ingredients. While Costco is a great place for ingredients, they are also great at staying on top of what consumers want, which means, over the past few years, I have seen their organic, gluten-free, and paleo options explode! Costco is also a fantastic place to purchase quality kitchen equipment (think KitchenAid mixer, Cuisinart food processor, Vitamix, cookware) and a variety of cookbooks! 

You should remember that no matter where you shop, its so important to read ingredient labels! You should strive not only for gluten-free but chemical free. Avoid ingredients that you can't pronounce or that you wouldn't have in your pantry. So without further ado, here are the top 10 gluten-free finds that Rebecca and I recommend from Costco:

1. Organic Produce - Costco offers great prices on organic fruits and veggies--often priced better than conventional options at most stores. From apples to carrots, celery and a variety of greens, check the produce cold room for some amazing produce! Pro-tip--check out their frozen section for a wide variety of organic berries, perfect for smoothies!

2. High-Quality Meat - organic chicken, ground beef and breakfast sausages, clean roasted turkey breast (great for lunch boxes), wild caught salmon (canned and fresh when in season), and frozen wild caught shrimp. Don't forget no sugar added prosciutto and Aidell's chicken apple sausage!

3. Eggs - organic and free range--for everything from baking to omelet-making!

4. Single guacamole packs - Avocados are full of healthy fats, however, they are fickle little fruits. Nobody likes seeing their guacamole turn brown! Single serving cups are great to throw in a lunchbox or add to some raw veggies for a quick snack. Don't worry--if you're having a party, they also have larger containers!

5. Perfect bars and Larabars - the Perfect bars are refrigerated and come in a variety pack--once in a while, they even go on sale. They are great for a serious snack or meal replacement when you run out of time for a full meal. Larabars are on the shelf with other snacks in a variety pack.

6. Cooking oils - From organic coconut oil (best deal anywhere!) to organic olive oil and even mild avocado oil--Costco has a wide variety of oils to stock your pantry.

7. Almond Flour, almond butter, almond milk - Costco has cornered the almond market, basically.  Blanched almond flour is perfect for trying your hand at baking Paleo treats, almond butter is available in organic or conventional, almond milk is unsweetened and organic--perfect for adding to your smoothie or a bowl of grain-free granola!

8. Trail Mix Ingredients - Almonds, pecans, walnuts, organic raisins and other dried fruits. Get creative and make a custom trail mix!

9. Paleo-approved sweeteners - Costco has raw and organic honey and organic pure maple syrup....for a much better price than we've ever seen it elsewhere!

10. Snacks - grass-fed beef jerky, crunchy coconut rolls, organic applesauce pouches, gummy snacks, organic tortilla chips....must we go on?? Costco's gluten-free snack game is strong, and we are here for it!

This post wasn't sponsored by Costco--my love for them is big, and it's real! Happy shopping!

Love,
Elizabeth
 

Elizabeth Wood
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Three Years

Three Years

January 19 marked 3 years since I opened the doors of our little shop!  We opened in 2015 as Consider it Joy Baking and it was just little old me.  I had gotten the keys to the space on December 31st and spent 19 days cleaning, painting, worrying, and installing equipment in the kitchen.  And just when I thought I couldn't work any harder, I finished all of that.....and had to bake!! 

The first few months were an out of body experience as I learned to send newsletters, graduated from Avery labels printed at home (my marketing guy just had a coronary reading that, btw), learned what a grease trap was (it's the grossest thing ever), and survived my first health inspection. 

Avery labels.  Printed at home.  The struggle was real.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Avery labels.  Printed at home.  The struggle was real.)

 

 

 

 

 

(The fridge and freezer look like dollhouse miniatures!)

6 months in, I apparently wasn't frantic enough, so I decided to add in meals, and that's when Rebecca joined the team.  Her meals were a great complement to my baked goods and our work ethic and styles are similar.  We also share a passion for providing healthy and delicious foods to busy families. We became friends as well as co-workers and once we (barely) survived our first Thanksgiving, I knew she wasn't allowed to leave.  Rebecca became a partner the following April, and we've been going like gangbusters ever since. 

We've filled the kitchen and the lobby with new equipment,

 

 

 

 

 

 

added farmers markets to our schedule, and said "yes" to a lot of things that scared us.  We now have a store manager (holla, Tangie!), online ordering (thanks, Rebecca!), custom labels for our staple items (yay, marketing guy), an annual allergy-friendly Fall Festival, oh, and the small matter of completely rebranding!  So many customers have become like family to us. Our hearts are full!

 

 

 

 

 

The path that my wee Paleo bakery took is one that I never could have predicted.  It is also one I wouldn't change.  Thank you for shopping with us--for being part of the Joyful Food family.  Thank you for letting us have a place at your dinner table, for choosing us to bake your birthday cakes and for trusting us with your holiday meals.  

Here's to another amazing year!

Love,

Elizabeth

Elizabeth Wood
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Ribbon Cutting at The Joyful Food Co.

Ribbon Cutting at The Joyful Food Co.

On January 1st, we officially changed our name to The Joyful Food Co., and we wasted no time sharing our news with the world.  On January 4, we hosted the Hoover Chamber of Commerce and Mayor Frank Brocato at our store for the ribbon cutting. 

 

 

 

 

 

We held a giveaway for 4 weeks of Paleo food for one lucky person! 

 

 

 

 

On that cold day, we filled the store with more people than we thought possible!  Maurice Mercer, owner of KATS, Inc. (the company that handles our deliveries) was in attendance.  And our marketing team from Multiple made the trip over from Atlanta to help us celebrate!  We served hot Piper and Leaf tea and introduced the chamber members to the beauty of a Bento box lunch! 

 

 

 

 

 

The crowd eventually spilled into the kitchen and it felt like a big party.  Much thanks to the chamber and the Mayor's office for taking the time to help us celebrate our business and our special day!

 

 

 

 

 

 

The following day we announced the winner of our giveaway.  Erin was the winner and she is SO EXCITED!  She has a child with Celiac disease, so she chose a family bundle, which lets her have Paleo meals, while her child gets to enjoy the baked goods!  Congratulations, Erin!

Elizabeth Wood
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