Graze Restaurant, Madison, WI

Phew! Just finished a quick 4.5 mile morning run and now I am here to tell you about a fantastic new restaurant I discovered in my last week in Madison.

My last week was super fun because Bri and I went to a million new places and did a bunch of the things that I've always wanted to do, but never got around to.  For example, we took a walk in the Arboretum together, went to the terrace to watch a hockey game and share a pitcher, and tried a ton of new restaurants.

Another little family out for a stroll
in the Arboretum

Graze, is known for being one of the best restaurants in Madison.  Their chef is constantly switching up the menu to incorporate fresh, local ingredients that they buy at the farmer's market just outside their front door on the weekends.  They are located on the square and have a wall of windows so that you can look out at the beautiful capitol as you enjoy some crazy good food.  You can go there for lunch, brunch, or dinner.  We went their for dinner.

Appetizer: Hot Pretzel with 3 Mustards and Cheese 

Drinks :)

We started out sitting at the bar while we waited for our table and we each enjoyed a drink and split a hot pretzel with mustard and cheese as our appetizer.  So far, we were pretty darn impressed.  The mustards were yummy and the cheese (of course from WI) was amazing.  The pretzel was one of the best I have ever had!  Then, we sat down and ordered our dinner.  I ordered the Tofu Bibimbap (tons of fresh veggies and rice with tofu in a spicy sauce and topped with a fried egg) and Bri ordered their Homemade Veggie Burger (a beet based burger).  Everything was delicious. I loved my meal and Bri thought it was one of the best veggie burgers he had ever had (and this is impressive considering how many he has tried).  For dessert, because we had to get dessert, we split their freshly baked Chocolate Chip Cookies with Milk.  It was an adorable and comforting end to the meal.  We will definitely be hitting up this restaurant in the future!  If you are ever in Madison, put Graze on your list of Must-Eat-Restaurants.  

Tofu Bibimbap 

Veggie Burger

Dessert!

Fresh Rhubarb Crisp

Have you ever just had one of those weeks where you know you are crazy anxious, but not sure what it is about?  I have been so weird this week! Camp started on Monday, I applied for an apartment with Bri on Tuesday, and I keep having weird dreams that combine camp with the first day of high school.  It's weird.  I think that I just have so much going on right now and it is making me act weird.

However, I am excited that summer is here! Camp has started, MNL is back on (Monday night frozen yogurt with my girl friends), and I am back on with my traditional work out routine that includes Pilates and Zumba as well as after-camp-work outs.  All of these exercises are things that I love and I am super excited because my friend, Alyson goes with me to Pilates and Zumba and Anna comes to work out with me after camp.  It's always better to have someone to work out with and Alyson and Anna are awesome.

I have taken to running 3 or 4 miles before camp.  I am a big fan of this since I feel much more motivated in the morning than I do after camp.  I like to use our treadmill at home since then I can make sure that I can get into the shower quickly and be ready for camp in time.  The problem with this, is now the treadmill needs to be repaired and I can't use it for a week! I am such a running addict and I am nervous about going outside and potentially being late.  I suppose I will just have to figure it out.  All this exercise is helping me to stay positive and not get too nervous about all the changes coming up in my life.

While I was back in Madison, Bri and I went to the Farmer's Market one Saturday and got some fresh rhubarb! It looked beautiful and we decided to make a Rhubarb Crisp with our beautiful rhubarb!

Fresh Rhubarb Crisp

Ingredients:
1 lb. rhubarb, chopped
1/4 cup old-fashioned oats
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp ginger
3/4 cup flour
1/2 cup brown sugar
4 tbsp unsalted butter
lemon juice

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Place chopped rhubarb in a 13 by 9 inch pan or 8 by 8 inch pan.
3. In a food processor, process the oats, cinnamon, ginger, flour, and brown sugar.  Add in the butter and process until combined.  Sprinkle topping over the rhubarb.
4. Drizzle lemon juice over the top and place in the oven to bake for 25 minutes or until topping begins to brown and dish is a little bubbly.  Serve warm or with ice cream.

Enjoy :)

Foodie Friends Friday: Father's Day

This week, Foodie Friends Friday is back!  This week is all about Father's Day!  Just follow the rules and link up some recipes that your Dad loves! Also, host favorites will be featured on Daily Dish!  This week I'm linking up the No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie that my dad and I made together while we were on vacation.

Top 3:

1. Grilled Peaches

2. Strawberry and Cream Mini Muffins

3. Lemon Brownies

Most Clicks:

1. Banana Cake

2. Strawberry and Cream Mini Muffins

3. Grilled Peaches

And Host Favorites!

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Gluten Free Treats

It's time for camp again and I love bringing in treats to share with my counselors.  We end up being like a little family by the end of camp since we spend so much time together and so it is nice to share treats with them once in a while.  Two of my counselors cannot eat gluten products and so I try to incorporate a gluten free treat whenever I can.  Today I am bringing in one of my favorites: Gluten Free Nutella Brownie Bites.  These brownies look just like the mini ones you get from the store, but they are homemade, gluten free, and even better!  I love Nutella and this is one awesome dessert.

I am pretty new to this Gluten Free thing and while I am decently good at cooking gluten free, I am still searching for those great Gluten Free baking ideas.  If you have any I would love if you would share them with me! 

Here are a few of the other things I've made that are Gluten Free:

Puppy Chow

Flourless Chocolate Cake

Gluten Free Peanut Butter Cookies

Apple Oatmeal Muffins

Gluten Free Cheesecake

Apple Crisp

Skinny Peanut Butter Brownies

What I really need is some gluten free cupcakes...I'll get right on it!