Healthy Times Ahead

[As you know, the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness staff members are big Phillies fans. So when one of our volunteers, Nadina Fraimow, told us she shared the same passion for sports, wellness and all things Phillies, we had to get her on board. Nadina will be sharing her gluten-free experiences as she follows the Phillies year-round.]

Healthy Times Ahead

A Phightin’ to Be Gluten-Free Blog

There are many reasons to love February, but Phillies Spring Training definitely tops the list.  While the excitement of team changes, athlete updates and ticket sales resonate for fans, the Phillies pitchers, catchers and position players are preparing for Clearwater, Florida in one week.  If healthy teammates translate into prospective wins, it is imperative the lineup stay off the injured list this season.  Be-Lee-ve it, healthy times are ahead for Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee and the rest of the Phightin’ Phils.

For those of us Phightin’ to be gluten-free, the food we eat determines how healthy our season will be.  When it came to our wedding menu, my husband and I made no exception.

Jennifer Childress Photography

Criteria:  Kosher, gluten-free and lactose-free menu that incorporates our favorite foods and fresh ingredients.

Vision:  Beautiful presentation, delicious flavor and variety that is reflective of us and our enjoyment of healthy, delectable dishes.

Experience: Romantic, festive, memorable and a gourmet gluten-free culinary experience for our friends and family.

Our lineup for the big day included Jannette Axlerod of Food Designs and her chefs.  They had prior experience safely cooking gluten-free for affairs and were a great addition to our Fraimow-Bronstein all-star team.  Practices were rigorous with menu tastings, ingredient changes and creative food pairings.

Tuna rumaki with wasabi on pineapple and lox on gluten-free rice cracker. (We paired the tuna with a gluten-free rice cracker for our wedding day.)

Outcome:   Grand slam!  With the support of our strong, loving management team, we pulled-off a perfect win.  Our playbook now includes new dishes that we can replicate for healthy, fun times ahead.  Read below for a taste of our wedding bliss and ideas for your next party.

A sampling of Butlered Hors D’oeuvres:

• Tuna rumaki with wasabi on a gluten-free cracker
• Lox on a gluten-free cracker
• Cherry tomatoes stuffed with quinoa
• Sushi rolls

A sampling of Stations:

• Portabella bar
• Carving station, including oven roasted turkey and prime rib

 First Course:

• Spring vegetable soup with rice noodles

Intermezzo:

• Alternating strawberry kiwi and lemon sorbet

Entrees:

• Herb crusted baby lamp chops
• Grilled sea bass with mango salsa
• Vegetarian Napoleon

Accompaniments:

• Baby carrots and green asparagus
• Roasted russet potatoes

Herb crusted baby lamp chops, accompanied with baby carrots, green asparagus and roasted russet potatoes – Jennifer Childress Photography

Grilled sea bass with mango salsa, accompanied by baby carrots, green asparagus and roasted russet potatoes – Jennifer Childress Photography

About Nadina:

Nadina Fraimow began volunteering with the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA) in April 2011.  In January 2013, Nadina was conclusively diagnosed with celiac disease by one of the nation’s leading gastroenterologists.  Prior to her diagnosis, Nadina was living gluten-free for over three years due to what was originally thought to be non-celiac gluten sensitivity.  Nadina enjoys having fun in the kitchen and creating recipes that are both tasty and healthy with her husband.  She is a Communications and Marketing professional living and working in Philadelphia.  Nadina is also a proud Penn State alumna and an avid fan of the Phillies.  She will be happy to answer messages sent to her attention at info@celiaccentral.org.

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Take Me Out to the Gluten-Free Ballgame: Celiac Awareness Night with the Philadelphia Phillies

Citizens Bank Park (home of my beloved Philadelphia Phillies) is my happy place; there is nothing better than hanging out at the ballpark, rooting for my team and trying to catch hot dogs from the Phillie Phanatic’s surprisingly powerful hot dog launcher.  So you can imagine my excitement when I joined the NFCA team and was told to grab a ticket for Celiac Awareness Night at the Phillies game.  Raising celiac awareness and watching the Phils? Count me in!

Fun Fact! The Phillie Phanatic was voted #1 mascot in the country by Forbes Magazine in 2008 and 2011. 

On the day of the game, Cheryl, Suzanne, Nancy and I made our way to the ballpark to set up our display tables.  We were fully equipped with brochures, flyers, and giveaways and ready to talk to people about celiac disease and the gluten-free diet.  We set up near the gluten-free concession stand and were joined by two enthusiastic NFCA volunteers, Cecilia Bonaduce and Rebecca Urbano.  Despite gusty winds and the strong possibility of rain, we managed to stay dry and keep our flyers on the table…well, mostly.  It was an unseasonably cold night (everyone was wearing jackets in July!), but over 600 NFCA supporters still came out to celebrate Celiac Awareness Night.

Fun Fact!  A portion of ticket sales for the game benefitted NFCA and will be used to help continue our programs and services. 

Rebecca, Suzanne, Nancy, and Cecilia getting ready before the gates opened.

While the tables were getting set up and the gluten-free hot dogs were cooking on the grill, Cheryl had the chance to take a tour of Citizens Bank Park with Michael Savett of Gluten Free Philly and his family.  With “Celiac Awareness Night” lighting up the scoreboards and NFCA Board Member Joe Jacovini gearing up to throw out the first pitch, Cheryl and the Savetts hung out on the field and watched the Phillies’ batting practice.  Michael’s son even got to meet the Phillies’ center fielder, Shane Victorino!

Fun Fact! While on the tour, Cheryl learned that the baseballs that line the walls of the Hall of Fame Club are screwed in the wrong way so they say “Rawlings,” not “Major League Baseball.”

Drew got to meet Shane Victorino!

The Savett Family on the field before the game

After Joe tossed a great first pitch to the Phillie Phanatic, the park played a public service announcement on the jumbo-tron featuring pro-golfer Sarah Jane Smith talking about celiac disease.  The PSA wasn’t the only gluten-free action on the jumbo-tron; check out these kids who hoped to get their fifteen minutes of fame on the big screen.

Fun Fact! Weighing in a 84,420 pounds and7,372 square feet , the jumbo-tron is so big you can see it from the highway!

Love this sign!

Not surprisingly, the gluten-free concession stand was a major hot spot throughout the game.  Unfortunately, some fan favorite foods were missing this year, so we are working with Aramark and Citizen’s Bank Park to improve gluten-free options for next year’s Celiac Awareness Night and throughout the season.

The line starting to form at the Gluten-Free Concession Stand

Although so many exciting things were going on at the ballpark, my favorite part was getting to meet the people who came out to show their support for NFCA.  Every day, I get the opportunity to talk to the celiac community through social media, but this was the first time I had the chance to physically meet the people on the other side of the computer.

I was particularly struck by a woman who came up to the table just as we were about to leave.  She started talking to me and Suzanne and told us her story of diagnosis.  It turns out she had only been diagnosed with celiac about a week before the game.  She was still unsure of what the gluten-free diet entailed and was barely eating for fear of becoming sick.  We talked to her for a little while and loaded her up with brochures, information and other free resources.  She was so grateful for the information.  Meeting her was such a strong reminder of why NFCA is here, doing what we’re doing.  To know that we were able to help her on the path to learning the gluten-free diet was an amazing feeling.  Ironically, she bought tickets to the game before she was diagnosed, not knowing that it was Celiac Awareness Night.  I guess sometimes, you’re just in the right place at the right time.

–          Alicia

Spring into Action

[As you know, the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness staff members are big Phillies fans. So when one of our volunteers, Nadina Fraimow, told us she shared the same passion for sports, wellness and all things Phillies, we had to get her on board. Nadina will be sharing her gluten-free experiences as she follows the Phillies year-round.]

Spring into Action

A Phightin’ to Be Gluten-Free Blog

Bright House Field in Clearwater, FL, is the Phillies home away from home for Spring Training games.  On Wednesday, February 29, the Phillies won 6-1 to the Florida State Seminoles in their First Exhibition game.  Next, the Phillies had a busy weekend with fellow Grapefruit Leaguer, the New York Yankees.

The Phillies lost 8-5 and 7-4 to the Yankees; however, our Phightin’ Phils are just getting warmed up. Cole Hamels, Roy Halladay, Jonathan Papelbon, Hunter Pence and John Mayberry sprung into action on the field this past weekend.

For the Phillies, these practice games keep the players fit on the field and channel team chemistry into wins.  Be-Lee-ve it – Cliff Lee did just that yesterday with a 7-0 win against the Toronto Blue Jays.

On the home front, my family team has sprung into action planning my 2012 wedding, so when the Phillies official season begins, we can sit back and enjoy the games. We have discovered there are a growing number of local caterers who are well-versed in gluten-free food preparation and catering. Stay tuned for more!

Below is a new restaurant dish and new product review on the following baseball-inspired scale:

Single– Fair
Double– Good
Triple– Very good
Home Run– Must try
Grand Slam– Sublime

Metropolitan Bakery- Gluten-free and dairy-free granola- Home Run

Metropolitan Bakery's Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free Granola
Photo courtesy: Kyle Born

Overview: Gluten-free and dairy-free granola from Metropolitan Bakery. The 12 oz. package can be purchased online or in Philly Metropolitan Bakery retail stores.

Safe Dining: Metropolitan Bakery uses certified gluten-free oats from GF Harvest, a family owned company in Wyoming committed to growing safe, uncontaminated oats.

Note: For those who are newly diagnosed with celiac disease, oats may be omitted from the diet until the condition is under control. Please consult with your doctor before adding oats back into your diet. Even when adding them back into the diet, the oats should be “pure, uncontaminated” or “certified gluten-free” oats. Read more in this Q&A.

Taste:  The MVP is the gluten-free oats, which come all the way to Philly from GF Harvest in Wyoming. The supporting players are honey, canola oil, maple syrup, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, dried cranberries, pecans, almonds, dried cherries, dried blueberries, unsweetened coconut, dried strawberries, cinnamon, pure vanilla and ground cloves.

One spoonful of the gluten-free and dairy-free oats is an explosion of seasonal flavors to enjoy all baseball season long. I also found the gluten-free oats quite easy to digest. The Fall flare from the honey and maple syrup coats the nuts and dried berries for a softer crunch.

Result:  Metropolitan Bakery’s gluten-free and dairy-free granola is a great source of energy and flavor to spring into action. (Tip: Be creative and incorporate into non-breakfast foods, such as salads and sorbet! ).   

www.metropolitanbakery.com/bakery/granola/gluten_free_dairy_free_granola

Veal Escallops with Black Bean Sauce at Yang Ming- Double

Veal Escallops with Gluten-Free Black Bean Sauce at Yang Ming

Overview: A generous portion of veal escallops with sautéed leeks, shallots and herbs completed an enjoyable meal.

The Scene: With my sister home for Spring Break, our family team ate at Yang Ming in Bryn Mawr, PA, a Philadelphia suburb on the stretch known as the Main Line. On any given Saturday night, the restaurant is packed with suburbanites and city residents who trek into the heart of Bryn Mawr for fresh Chinese cuisine.

Safe Dining: At Yang Ming, the manager and chefs in the kitchen are educated in gluten-free friendly dining.

Presentation: An abundance of veal escallops with leeks and shallots was woven throughout the dish.  Also, the dish is accompanied by two side dishes of brown rice and gluten-free version of black bean sauce. The picture above conveys rice mixed into the dish for a stir fry effect and a drop of black bean sauce for dipping. (Note: Remember to inquire about safely prepared gluten-free versions of sauces on the menu in addition to gluten-free meal options.  Additionally, I always order the sauces on the side, just in case they are not as tasty as the dish itself!).

Taste:  The veal escallops were tender and meshed well with the soft textures of the brown rice and vegetables. While each bite was tender, the platter could have used an element of playfulness or even color to the dish with a new ingredient or gluten-free sauce mixture.

Result:  The veal escallops with the gluten-free black bean sauce is a good meal and safe option if you are craving gluten-free Chinese cuisine. My sister ordered and thoroughly enjoyed the Sizzling Triple Delight, which she rated a Home Run . This dish is served on a hot platter and includes an assortment of seafood, chicken and beef with sautéed vegetables. Note: Order with gluten-free version of sauce.

www.yangmingrestaurant.com

Now it’s your turn to spring into action!

– Nadina

*Join NFCA on Friday, July 20, 2012 for Celiac Awareness Night at the Phillies. Tickets are now available.

About Nadina:
Nadina Fraimow began volunteering with the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA) in April 2011, and will be happy to answer messages sent to her attention at info@celiaccentral.org. Nadina learned that she has non-celiac gluten sensitivity in February 2011, and is grateful for having been diagnosed promptly and correctly by a knowledgeable gastroenterologist. She enjoys running, shopping for gluten-free sweets and creating recipes that are both tasty and healthy. Nadina is a Marketing and Communications professional living and working in Philadelphia. Nadina is also a proud Penn State alumna and an avid fan of the Phillies.

Dream Team

[As you know, the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness staff members are big Phillies fans. So when one of our volunteers, Nadina Fraimow, told us she shared the same passion for sports, wellness and all things Phillies, we had to get her on board. Nadina will be sharing her gluten-free experiences as she follows the Phillies year-round.]

Dream Team

A Phightin’ to Be Gluten-Free Blog

Off-season for the Phillies players means strictly business for the team’s management.  The spotlight is on Ruben Amaro Jr. and his colleagues, as they invest in talent and, consequently, the team’s future.  If the destination for a 2012 Phillies Dream Team is the World Series, then the journey begins now.

November is an exciting time of the year for my dream team, as we celebrate special milestones. Birthdays, anniversaries, an engagement and Thanksgiving festivities call for delicious gluten-free sweets. One memorable dessert is chocolate-covered pumpkin donuts from Sweet Freedom Bakery located in Philadelphia, just minutes from Citizens Bank Park.

Below is a new restaurant dish review on the following baseball-inspired scale:

Single– Fair
Double– Good
Triple– Very good
Home Run– Must try
Grand Slam– Sublime

Grilled Lamb Chops with Seasonal Fruit Chutney at Steve and Cookie’s- Grand Slam

Grilled Lamb Chops with Seasonal Fruit Chutney at Steve and Cookie's

Overview: A sublime foodpairing of grilled lamb chops and seasonal fruit chutney completed the perfect meal.

The Scene: It was a special occasion at Steve and Cookie’s in Margate, NJ.  As the Phillies management continued negotiations, we enjoyed an off-season dinner at the shore.  The desirable, relaxed ambience included candles in the fireplace and live piano music.

Safe Dining:  At Steve and Cookie’s, the chefs in the kitchen are educated in gluten-free and allergy friendly dining. The Weekly Specials Menu on Monday and Wednesday evening feature a 3 course gluten-free meal. Also, Steve and Cookie’s website includes gluten-free recipes from an October Celiac Awareness dinner the restaurant hosted.

Presentation:  The three juicy, grilled lamb chops were plated in a stackable formation.  The shine and char conveyed freshness from the grill. In addition, seasonal fruit chutney and green garnish accompanied the lamb chops. The cranberry, raisin and apple chutney resembled comfort food and offered a holiday-style element to the dish (Note: Seasonal fruit chutney was the chef’s gluten-free alternative to the pomegranate demi-glace on the appetizer menu.  Also, I ordered with an additional potato side to replace the risotto and mushroom cake on the menu.)

Taste:  The lamb chops were crisp and succulent – cooked to precision! The cranberries, raisins and apples in the chutney added a delicious playfulness and texture to the dish. Ginger, lemon, cider and cinnamon accompanied each tender bite.

Result:  The Dream Team combination of grilled lamb chops and seasonal fruit chutney are “out of the ballpark” delicious. (Tip:  I ordered two memorable gluten-free appetizers from the dinner menu in place of an entrée.  Be creative when dining out and inquire about tasty, gluten-free recommendations from the chefs).   

www.steveandcookies.com

Everyone have a happy, healthy gluten-free Thanksgiving!  Stay tuned for new restaurant and product reviews to enjoy during the baseball off-season.  Be-Lee-ve it—spring training is just a few months away!

– Nadina

About Nadina:
Nadina Fraimow began volunteering with the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA) in April 2011, and will be happy to answer messages sent to the info@celiaccentral.org email account. Nadina learned that she has gluten sensitivity in February 2011, and is grateful for having been diagnosed promptly and correctly by a knowledgeable gastroenterologist. She enjoys running, shopping for gluten-free sweets and creating recipes that are both tasty and healthy. Nadina is a Marketing and Communications professional living and working in Philadelphia. Nadina is also a proud Penn State alumna and an avid fan of the Phillies.

Eagles Fly and Phillies Phight

[As you know, the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness staff members are big Phillies fans. So when one of our newest volunteers, Nadina Fraimow, told us she shared the same passion for sports, wellness and all things Phillies, we had to get her on board. Nadina will be sharing her gluten-free experience throughout the 2011 Phillies season.]

Eagles Fly and Phillies Phight

A Phightin’ to Be Gluten-Free Blog

Congratulations to the Phillies for clinching the National League East Division with an outstanding regular season record, including Cliff Lee’s nine straight victory starts.  The post clinched games for the Phillies have been quite challenging. With injuries, changes in the line-up and lack of offensive support, the Phillies have lost eight games in a row.

For Philadelphia sports fans, we Be-LEE-ve Eagles will never stop flying and Phillies will never stop Phighting.  With effervescent talent, heart and resilience, the Phightin’ Phillies will start fresh and land on top in the playoffs.  If Lee has taught us Phillies fans anything, it’s about throwing curveballs right back at the curveballs life throws at us.

Below is a new restaurant dish review on the following baseball-inspired scale:

Single– Fair
Double– Good
Triple– Very good
Home Run– Must try
Grand Slam– Sublime

Grilled Mediterranean Herb Sea Bass with roasted potatoes at Melograno- Grand Slam

Overview: A sublime dish of perfectly cooked fish in traditional Mediterranean flavors.

The Scene: Saturday date night at Melograno. As the Phillies were losing their eighth game in a row, we were enjoying the lively and cozy BYOB on 20^th and Samson Street in Philadelphia.

Safe Dining: Melograno has completed gluten-free training through NFCA’s Gluten Free Resource Education and Awareness Training (GREAT) Kitchen program. [See more GREAT Kitchens.]

Presentation: Simple, but refined, with roughly two ¼ pound fillets served skin side up with roasted potatoes.  The plated sea bass showcased technique with a clean, crisp skin with flavors from the grill and a glistening top fillet of Mediterranean herbs and oil. The lightly golden brown color of the grilled skin with specks of dark green herbs nicely complemented the golden yellow of the roasted potatoes.

Taste:  Cooked to perfection, a Grand Slam balance from both the initial crisp of the fish and potato to the soft, savory eruption of Mediterranean seasoning and oil.  The thin layers of the fillet peeled away from each other and slid off the skin with the soft touch of a fork.  For an extra burst of flavor, try grilled sea bass with the skin.

Result: Reminiscent of comfort food with a Melograno twist.  The grilled sea bass is the All-Star on the plate; however, the roasted potatoes are “out of the ballpark” delicious.

www.melogranorestaurant.com

A Grand Slam: Grilled Mediterranean Herb Sea Bass with roasted potatoes at Melograno

Tune in tonight and cheer for Cliff Lee and the Phillies at 7:10 p.m. as they play the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field.

– Nadina

About Nadina:
Nadina Fraimow began volunteering with the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA) in April 2011, and will be happy to answer messages sent to the info@celiaccentral.org email account. Nadina learned that she has gluten sensitivity in February 2011, and is grateful for having been diagnosed promptly and correctly by a knowledgeable gastroenterologist. She enjoys running, shopping for gluten-free sweets and creating recipes that are both tasty and healthy. Nadina is a Marketing and Communications professional living and working in Philadelphia. Nadina is also a proud Penn State alumna and an avid fan of the Phillies.

Commanding Greatness and Scoring Excellence

[As you know, the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness staff members are big Phillies fans. So when one of our newest volunteers, Nadina Fraimow, told us she shared the same passion for sports, wellness and all things Phillies, we had to get her on board. Nadina will be sharing her gluten-free experience throughout the 2011 Phillies season.]

Commanding Greatness and Scoring Excellence

A Phightin’ to Be Gluten-Free Blog

Cliff Lee led the Phillies to victory with five straight starts. Even Mets fans cannot deny our past Cy Young winner’s Un-Be-LEE-vable talent.  We cheer for Lee’s every move on the mound—and the bases, as he relentlessly commands greatness with his pitches and scores excellence with his runs.  Read below for details and other recent Lee highlights:

August 17:  Phillies 9-2 win against the Arizona Diamondbacks
Pitching Highlight: Lee’s un-Be-LEE-vable command of the ball leads him to pitch 7 strong innings with 2 runs, 3 hits and 7 strikeouts.

Run Highlight: Great run support from Hunter Pence, Ryan Howard, John Mayberry Jr., Shane Victorino, and Jimmy Rollins. Lee hit an almost safe grounder to second and Coach Charlie Manuel even challenged the call.

August 22: Phillies 10-0 win against the New York Mets
Pitching Highlight: In it to win it, Lee pitched 7 impressive innings with 3 hits and 7 strikeouts.

Run Highlight: With the Phillies in strong scoring position, Lee contributed to the scoreboard with a single to right, and Victorino’s triple sent him to home plate.

Cliff Lee’s amazing August run can inspire all of us to command greatness and score excellence on our mound.

This week, as the rain set in and the Hurricane Irene moved up the northeast, I was enjoying the gluten-free life with a stocked up kitchen!

First, to prepare for the storm, I made a trip to Whole Foods for non-perishable snacks including Lundberg Brown Organic Rice Cakes (gluten-free and vegan),  Enjoy Life Semi-Sweet Chocolate Mega Chunks (free of the 8 common allergens and a new addition to Whole Foods shelves), and 365 Organic Unsweetened Applesauce (to enjoy with ground cinnamon from my spice cabinet).

My next trip was to Trader Joes for a box of 50 raspberry dried fruit bars, water, Double Rainbow Chocolate Sorbet, Dark Chocolate Nibs, Frozen Organic Jasmine Rice, canned tuna, egg whites and an assortment of vegetables.  Saving the best for last, I connected with my family team for fish and meat.

My home run: scoring fun, enjoyable gluten-free foods before Hurricane Irene

For all of us Phightin’ to be gluten-free, dining anywhere, at any time, with or without power, requires Lee’s command.  When Lee is in command, the pitch he throws is the pitch he intended to throw.  With “in a pinch” snacks, a full kitchen and supportive teammates–it’s time to score!

Tune in tonight and cheer for Cliff Lee and the Phillies at 7:10 p.m. as they play the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park.

– Nadina

See additional gluten-free disaster preparedness tips.

About Nadina:
Nadina Fraimow began volunteering with the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA) in April 2011, and will be happy to answer messages sent to the info@celiaccentral.org email account. Nadina learned that she has gluten sensitivity in February 2011, and is grateful for having been diagnosed promptly and correctly by a knowledgeable gastroenterologist. She enjoys running, shopping for gluten-free sweets and creating recipes that are both tasty and healthy. Nadina is a Marketing and Communications professional living and working in Philadelphia. Nadina is also a proud Penn State alumna and an avid fan of the Phillies.

There is No Place Like Home (Plate)

[As you know, the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness staff members are big Phillies fans. So when one of our newest volunteers, Nadina Fraimow, told us she shared the same passion for sports, wellness and all things Phillies, we had to get her on board. Nadina will be sharing her gluten-free experience throughout the 2011 Phillies season.]

There is No Place Like Home (Plate)

A Phightin’ to Be Gluten-Free Blog

Cliff Lee homers to right field, runs through home plate and enters the dugout with a look of sheer excitement, also shared by his teammates.  There is no place like home (plate).  Just as Lee successfully commands his pitches, he’s also proven to successfully command his swing and make exceptional contact with the ball this season. Read below for details and other recent Lee highlights.
 
August 4: Phillies 3-0 win against the San Francisco Giants
Pitching Highlight: Lee’s un-Be-LEE-vable command of the ball leads him to a seven-hitter shutout with 8 strikeouts and 0 walks. Also Lee’s fifth shutout of the season.

Run Highlight:  Great run support with Hunter Pence and John Mayberry’s back-to-back home runs in the second inning.

August 9: Phillies 2-1 win against the LA Dodgers
Pitching Highlight: In it to win it, Lee pitched eight scoreless innings with 4 hits and 10 strikeouts.

Run Highlight: With the Phillies ahead by just one run at the top of the seventh, Lee increased the lead with a home run to right field.

This week, my sister begins her own journey.  There is no place like home (plate) resonates, as we get ready to move my sister into her freshman dorm at college. Similar to Lee’s teammates in the dugout, our family team is Phightin’ strong and cheerin’ loud, hoping she experiences Lee’s sheer excitement as she encounters her own successful endeavors.

Family Team at the beach!

Feeling inspired by home, I put on my chef’s hat and share one of my recipes cooked in the comfort of my kitchen.  Below is my recipe for an oven cooked Whole Branzino stuffed with Mediterranean herbs and flavors.

Oven Cooked Mediterranean Branzino

Ingredients:

• Whole branzino (request fish de-boned for stuffing)
• Lemon
• Thyme
• Rosemary
• Olive Oil
• Pepper
• Garlic cloves

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Score whole branzino, 3 times on each side.
3. Stuff inside of fish with 3 lemon slices, thyme, rosemary and 3 peeled garlic cloves.
4. Massage olive oil and pepper into fish skin.
5. Wrap aluminum foil loosely around fish. Place in oven.
6. Reduce oven to 350 degrees and cook for 30 minutes.
7. Remove stuffing from inside fish and serve.

Recommendation: Branzino pairs nicely with brown rice or white jasmine rice.

My Home Run: Oven Cooked Mediterranean Branzino

Tune in tonight and cheer for Cliff Lee and the Phillies at 7:05 p.m. as they play the Arizona Diamondbacks at Citizens Bank Park.  It’s time to Be-LEE-ve!

– Nadina

For more gluten-free recipes, see NFCA’s Gluten-Free Recipe of the Week.

About Nadina:
Nadina Fraimow began volunteering with the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA) in April 2011, and will be happy to answer messages sent to the info@celiaccentral.org email account. Nadina learned that she has gluten sensitivity in February 2011, and is grateful for having been diagnosed promptly and correctly by a knowledgeable gastroenterologist. She enjoys running, shopping for gluten-free sweets and creating recipes that are both tasty and healthy. Nadina is a Marketing and Communications professional living and working in Philadelphia. Nadina is also a proud Penn State alumna and an avid fan of the Phillies.