Gluten Free Frenzy!

"Sweets For Your Sweet!" Danell's Signature Blend GIVEAWAY and feature!

2012-02-13T13:00:00.000-08:00

If you haven't heard of Danell's Signature Blend then you are in for a real treat! This brand new company will provide you with the most amazing gluten free mixes. Danell has perfected the art of making really good gluten free mixes. The first time I tasted her brownies with chocolate frosting, I had to double check that they were gluten free, they were that good! Chewy and rich with just the right amount of sinfully sweet. I was in love at first bite. Danell featured her brownies as well as her bread at a HUGE holiday expo, Urban Spice here in Gilbert, AZ this past November to thousands of individuals. I saw so many people leaving with her prepared brownies and mixes, most weren't even gluten free! That right there tells you how yummy they are. Not only are they great, but they are produced by the best gluten free standards. I love that assurance! Oh, did I mention they are also dairy free mixes?! Here is what they have to say about production:
At Danell’s Signature Blend we have sought the highest standards in making our products. When we say “Gluten/Wheat Free” we mean that we are gluten/wheat free starting with certified gluten free farmers. From there, all our products are transported and manufactured in a designated gluten/wheat free facility. We know that there are many concerns about the claims using the term “gluten/wheat free”. You want to make sure that those claims can be backed up… which we are proud to say we can! Also, we are certified with the Gluten Free Certification Organization which inspects the manufacturing facility and its procedures before giving it the proper certification.

Danell is one of the sweetest ladies I have had the opportunity to work with in the gluten free world. Many people now days have the mind set of "Me, me, me! How can this benefit ME?!" Not Danell. She really is out there with the pure heart of helping those with gluten intolerance and celiac disease live as normal a life as possible. Her sweet personality is something anyone who meets her continues to be drawn too. You can really sense her love and compassion for others, especially those living gluten free. Let's share this amazing NEW company with as many as possible!

We had some fun with Danell's mixes and here is what we came up with:

Blueberry Buttermilk Pancakes from her Pancake Mix. My talented hubby actually made these and they were SO good! I loved the delicious buttermilk flavor in the pancake next to the juicy, fresh blueberries. What a perfect combination! Served with real butter and pure maple syrup and this breakfast was Heavenly.

Pepperoni and extra cheese pizza from her Pizza Crust Mix: We made it a bit thicker than it says too so we ended up with a softer version of a thick french bread pizza. If you love a thick crust, go with this preparation, but if you prefer more toppings to crust ratio like I do, make the dough a bit thinner like it is shown here in her picture. The great thing about Danell's crust is that it is chewy and really bread like unlike many fall apart gluten free crusts can be. It seems more authentic with her crust for sure!

Of course, her brownies and chocolate frosting as well. I didn't get a picture of ours so I am including her picture. I served these at a family Christmas party and everyone really enjoyed them! I love how Danell herself prepares them. They were so chewy and delicious, I wish words could describe but they don't so just know that if people who don't eat gluten free are loving them, how much more will you?!

All-Purpose Flour, I am saving this for the yummy Valentines sugar cookies we are making tomorrow so I will add that picture, recipe and highlight in later this week.

So are you ready to win some delicious Danell's Signature Blends?!

**(1) Grand Prize Winner- will be receiving one bag of each of her mixes all for themselves!!! That's a bag of All-Purpose Flour, Pancake Mix, Brownie Mix, Chocolate Frosting and Pizza Crust...yum!

(Required) HERE'S HOW TO ENTER: (Make sure you are a follower of this blog AND please make sure to leave your e-mail with EVERY entry. If you don't leave your e-mail, you will not be chosen as we do need some way to contact you. Thanks! :)

(Required) Just leave a comment in the comments section at the bottom of this post, after visiting Danell's Signature Blend telling me which product sounds most delicious to you.

Extra Entry #1: Visit Danell's Signature Blend on Facebook and thank her for this giveaway with a link back to Gluten Free Frenzy's website, Twitter or Facebook page. Leave a comment here saying you did.
Extra Entry #2: Follow Gluten Free Frenzy and Danell's Signature Blend on Twitter. Leave a comment here saying you do.
Extra Entry #3: Retweet about this giveaway making sure to include our Twitter page in the tweet. Leave a comment here saying you did.

Extra Entry #4: Visit Gluten Free Frenzy on Facebook and tell us what you would use her gluten free all-purpose flour to make. Leave a comment here saying you did.

*Extra Entry #5: Post about this giveaway on your blog with a link back to us. Leave a comment WITH THE LINK TO YOUR POST here.

*Extra Entry #6: Subscribe to glutenfreefrenzy.com by e-mail. (On the right hand side under followers.)

*Giveaway ends Wednesday February 29, 2012 at 11:59 PM (MST). This giveaway is open to the US only.

**I was provided with sample product from this company for review purposes on this website. I was not paid or compensated in any other way for my reviews. They are my opinions and my opinions alone.

**At Danell’s Signature Blend we have sought the highest standards in making our products. When we say “Gluten/Wheat Free” we mean that we are gluten/wheat free starting with certified gluten free farmers. From there, all our products are transported and manufactured in a designated gluten/wheat free facility. We know that there are many concerns about the claims using the term “gluten/wheat free”. You want to make sure that those claims can be backed up… which we are proud to say we can! Also, we are certified with the Gluten Free Certification Organization which inspects the manufacturing facility and its procedures before giving it the proper certification.

Garlic Butter Green Beans

2012-02-11T22:00:00.000-08:00

1 lb. fresh green beans, trimmed
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 Tbls. real butter
Real Salt to taste

*In a saucepan, heat butter slightly then add washed green beans, garlic and Real Salt. Cook, turning often, until beans are tender but still crispy, between 8-10 minutes.

24 Carrots Restaurant Feature and Review

2012-02-11T07:00:00.000-08:00

24 Carrots is a lovely little restaurant that I just happened to stumble across in my meeting of Amy and Rose of The Green Asylum, and boy am I glad I did. I never knew how tasty vegan, gluten free could be! I am not a vegan but as you know, I am open to all eating lifestyles and think it is wise to explore the many culinary options available to us. 24 Carrots was recently recognizes as the WINNER of the Arizona pancake challenge in Scottsdale, AZ a few weeks ago with a vegan, gluten free pancake! Is that amazing or what?! We think it is so great and just goes to show you how yummy their stuff is that they could win with a vegan, gluten free pancake when competing against well-known chefs using wheat ingredients. I love it! :)

In addition to that great title, 24 Carrots is the home to one of the freshest kitchens in Arizona. All ingredients used are local and of the best quality. The owner Sasha, says she love to "Enjoy Arizona's Bounty!" The base or core of all meals are vegan and gluten free. While some meals do contain gluten, they can easily be adjusted to those avoiding gluten. The kitchen staff is very aware of issues that can arise with cross-contamination and therefore thoroughly clean any surface being used for gluten free preparations. They are diligent in their efforts to keep gluten free food just that, gluten free. Their tedious efforts do require more time for the final dish, but when you taste their delicious food and have the assurance that it is gluten free. The extra 10 minutes are well worth it. Owner Sasha tells us about the trust given to a chef when one comes in to dine and how she feels it their duty to provide her diners with the safest dining experience possible. For that reason gluten free baked goods are baked at a separate time entirely. One of the things I loved most about 24 Carrots approach to cooking is their passion and love. The entire staff ate gluten free for nearly 2 months just so they could understand what is meant in more depth as well as see what foods they craved that would make great additions to the menu. Now that is passion!

All meals pictured here are mini versions of the real dish as to allow us enough room to try them all. We began our meal with the 24 Carrots Hummus Plate. The fresh squeezed lemon juice was the highlight of this hand made, delicious hummus. The high quality extra virgin olive oil added a perfect fat that was smooth and flavorful as well. Crisp veggies rounded this dish out nicely. I loved the textural contrast of crunchy, raw vegetable dipped in creamy and cool hummus.

Our next dish was the Crispy Artichoke Burger. This hearty burger was not missing meat at all! I could hardly believe it was vegetarian. The burger was topped with fresh greens, capers, feta (you could choose a dairy free cheese as well) mayo and mahammara or walnut, red pepper pesto. The feta was a nice and creamy element to this dish while the mahammara was a spicy kick that elevated its glorious taste even more, if that's possible. I loved the served alongside the sandwich was a mixed greens salad topped with freshly made dolmas. Dolmas are truly one of my favorite foods ever! I love the fresh, earthy taste they provide was also making you feel as if you were sitting right in Greece. These dolmas were wonderful with their use of freshly squeezed lemon juice and a creamy rice filling. The light, tart dressing on the salad greens was the perfect accompaniment to this hearty sandwich.

24 Carrots version of chicken salad was up next. It arrived looking gorgeous on top of fresh greens. I had to keep reminding myself that this was a vegetarian restaurant and that somehow, this was not really chicken. With it's perfect, shredded chicken presentation and it's excellent taste, I don't think even my picky husband could have told you it was soy and not chicken. The vegan mayo based dressing was complimented well with fresh cracked pepper and sweet purple grapes. Fresh celery pieces added a great textural difference with a perfect crunch.

Gluten free, as well as yeast and dairy free bread soaked for hours in a house made custard is the best of our next lovely meal. French toast with raw pumpkin seeds, plump blueberries and strawberries served with a pure maple syrup drizzle and orange blossom syrup on the side was presented to us. It was absolutely beautiful and smelled amazing. The pumpkin seeds were a great crunch to the dish while also being a healthy fat. The fresh fruit added the tartness that complimented this hearty bread so well. Many wonderful seasonings like star anise and cinnamon just made this dish dance in my mouth. The absolute best part for me was the in-house made orange blossom syrup. It was such a unique and beautiful ingredient that I couldn't help but feeling pampered. I am such a savory loving girl so it was much to my surprise that this ended up being my second favorite dish. I just loved the exotic flavors mixed with the gorgeous presentation.

Tofu egg scramble with house-made vegan bacon was our second insight to the great breakfasts that can be made at 24 Carrots. The bacon was great and made my friend Tami's favorite dish of the day with it's twice marinated, smoky flavor. It was so fun to see how great a vegan version of bacon can be when done right. The "eggs" were soft and fluffy as you would hope and were flavored nicely with fresh chopped vegetables and herbs.

Because this next dish was my absolute favorite of the night, I am going to let Sasha herself explain exactly what it is in her own words.
24Carrots twist on a treat my aunt would make for my sister & I as kids- Topopo (Volcano) nachos! Organic tortilla chips topped w/black beans, house salsa fresca, organic greens, beets, carrot, avocado, vegan cheese, fresh lime and a trio of sauces- Jalapeno cillantro, vegan garlic aoli & dollop of dragon sauce "lava"! think taco salad meets nachos on steroids ;o)
Does that not sound amazing?! It absolutely was! It was so funny to me that this was a childhood favorite for Sasha because it also was nostalgic for me reminding me of my mom's mexican goulosh we had at least twice a month as a kid. Fresh vegetable topped with this amazing vegan chili made from scratch was just perfect. Add the jalepeno cilantro and the aoli and it was too much to not rave about. I LOVED this dish and I am not the only one. It just so happens to be one of the top requested dishes on the menu. Since 24 Carrots doesn't have dishes like this on the menu all the time, but instead features it on different daily specials, be sure to call and let Sasha know you want to see this dish up again soon!

Chocolate banana cheesecake was our final dish and sweet element for the evening. This raw, vegan "cheese" cake was wonderful both in flavor and presentation. The nutty crust reminded us of a great oatmeal cookie while the filling was cool and smooth with just the right amount of sweetness. Caramel strawberry drizzle on top finished this dish perfectly. It added just a touch more sweet as well as some beautiful color. What a lovely time we had at 24 Carrots. We were so impressed with all the flavors, presentation and of course, the sweet owner Sasha. Thank you for an absolutely amazing tasting!

Visit 24 Carrots:

Address	6140 W. Chandler Blvd #2, Chandler, AZ 85226 · Get Directions
Phone	1 480.753.4411
Website	http://www.24Carrotsjuice.com http://twitter.com/24Carrotsjuice http://facebook.com/24Carrots

Gluten Free Creations Feature & Review-Valentines and St. Patricks Day!

2012-02-08T21:41:00.000-08:00

Gluten Free Creations Bakery is a great, local dedicated gluten free bakery, and now cafe as well, here in Arizona. (Don't worry, they ship all over! :) The owner, LynnRae, truly cares about the gluten-free, wheat-free and allergen-free community. She offers so many of her services for FREE to help educate people on living gluten-free. She is very knowledgeable on avoiding cross contamination and will do everything in her power to keep even the tiniest speck of gluten out of her bakery.

I have tried MANY of the products they offer and they have some really great things! I have to say, their fresh snickerdoodle cookies are some of the best I have ever had. Seriously...they are awesome! Also, the NEW Wunderful bread is delicious and can be enjoyed without a toaster. The bagels were excellent for breakfast sandwiches. The pizza crust was perfect size for an individual serving and tasted great, especially from Barro's who now offers gluten free pizza using her crust. The cinnamon roll cupcakes featured here are so yummy! They really do remind you of (what I remember) a cinnabun!

Today, I am here to tell you about the yummy Valentines offerings Gluten Free Creations has. We recently enjoyed their Molten Chocolate Cakes and the Strawberries and Champagne Cupcakes. Both were very tasty but I have to say that the chocolate cakes were my favorite. They were so moist and full of rich, chocolate flavor. I loved the textural difference of the cake itself and the chocolate ganache filling. Yum! They were so cute shaped into little hearts and would be a great lovers treat. The cupcakes were festive and fun with the pink frosting and little heart rings in the top. This classic Valentines flavor is one that many would enjoy. There are other great Valentines themed treats offered by Gluten Free Creations Bakery. You can check them out here.

To get you thinking about St. Patrick's Day since it too, is just around the corner, Gluten Free Creations is now offering gluten free freezer meals. One just happened to be themed right with the holiday. Reuben Casserole using corned beef, saurkraut and their gluten free "mock rye" bread. It was full of flavor and definitely an Irish themed dish! I especially loved the Irish Soda Bread that was served along side of the dish. The bread came in a lovely scone shape with plump, delicious raisins. It was perfectly sweet, but not too sweet to be a dessert. It was so tasty nice and warmed. These meals are easy to take to work or on the go, so be sure to check out what is available at their cafe!

Katz NEW Gluten Free Donuts!!!

2012-02-08T21:17:00.000-08:00

We have recently tried Katz NEW gluten free donuts. WOW, they were great! I haven't had a custard or raspberry filled powdered donut hole in, I don't even know how long, so this was a very fun review. It is so fitting with Valentines coming up as well. Beautiful and delicate white powdered donuts filled with deep red and sweet raspberry filling...yum! It seems like the perfect treat for your gluten free Valentines party where you will be watching the newly released Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn part I dvd. You will be watching it right? :) Even if not, this is a great little treat not only for Valentines, but anytime. The custard filled version was so delicious. It was creamy and rich custard surrounded by a light donut. The full size classic powdered donut was also a nice treat. Eating them was a very nostalgic experience. Whichever you choose to enjoy, you will be satisfied. Especially knowing that all Katz products are produced in a dedicated gluten free facility.

Katz is teaming up with bloggers all over to offer you all a great giveaway with a $275.00 value gift basket! If you would like to win just enter here, and be sure to tell them Gluten Free Frenzy sent you! :)

http://www.katzglutenfree.com/news_a/160.htm

**This company provided me with sample product for review purposes on this website. I was not paid or compensated in any other way for my reviews. They are my opinions and my opinions alone.

TTT-Tuesdays Tasty Tip with Chef David Hall

2012-02-07T19:45:00.001-08:00

Birra – Heaven in a Bowl

I am one of those fortunate people whose jobs have taken them around the globe. However, our neighbor to the south, Mexico, has tantalized my palate on many occasions over the year. Many years ago my job required me to go to Mexico quite frequently. This was a very fattening job because the business lunches were always fantastic, and portions were always large and I ate with reckless abandon.

We frequented one particular old restaurant/truck stop, I believe its name was La Trocadero, but I’m not sure as it was about 30 years ago. What I do remember is the soup I repeatedly ordered. It’s called Birria, rolling the R’s if you are talented. As is the case for many dishes originating in the state of Jalisco, broth is king. This red chili broth has a ton of flavor and medium heat. The heat can be increased by adding more cascabel peppers, or a few Chili Tepins (emphasis on few).

This heavenly clear red chili broth soup is made with suckling goat meat. Yep, I know; goat may not sound too appetizing to some Americans. Get over it. It IS delicious, especially in this dish. Think of it as a Mexican version of Boeuf Bourguignon. While it is not a quick dish to make, it is well worth the effort. The chilies are readily available in most grocery stores in the Southwest, and should be available in most Mexican specialty stores elsewhere. If you cannot find them locally, check online.

The Birria I ate was served with finely shredded lettuce, sliced radishes, thinly sliced red onions, limes and cilantro on the side for garnish. This allows for making additions you like as you eat.

Chef David Hall’s Version of Birria

Ingredients:

4 lbs meat (preferably suckling goat)

6 ancho chilies

4 guajillo chilies

4 cascabel chilies

8 California chilies

1 cup of water

1 teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper

1 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons unfiltered cider vinegar

¼ teaspoon cloves

1 tsp oregano

½ tsp cumin seeds, toasted and ground

½ teaspoon ground thyme or 2-3 sprigs

6 garlic cloves, peeled and finely diced

¼ teaspoon cinnamon

2 cups of red wine

1 15.5 oz. can diced tomatoes, low or no sodium

2 bay leaves

1 onion, peeled and coarsely chopped

1 cup chopped onion

1 cup chopped cilantro

4 limes

Corn tortillas

Directions:

1. Remove the seeds and veins from the chilies.

2. Toast the chilies on a hot pan until browned, or underneath a broiler, but be careful not to burn them.

3. Place the chilies, pepper, cloves, oregano thyme, garlic, salt and cinnamon in a blender with hot water to soak for 10 minutes.

4. When done soaking, purée in blender with the vinegar to make a paste.

5. Cut the meat into 2” chunks

6. In a Dutch oven, sear the meat on all sides, in small batches. Don’t overload the pan or you will not get a good sear.

7. Return all the meat to a Dutch oven, adding the red wine, tomatoes onion and bay leaves, then cover the meat with some stock (beef preferably, but chicken will work).

8. Simmer for about 4 hours or bake at 325⁰F until tender. The meat should practically fall apart.

9. Discard the bay leaves then shred the meat using two forks (similar to making pulled pork).

10. Return the meat to the Dutch oven to warm, making stock additions sufficient to cover the meat.

11. Adjust for seasoning and salt if necessary

12. Serve hot with the garnishes on the side.

Please take the time to make this dish.

We have some slots left in our Adult Culinary Boot Camp starting Saturday, March 24th. Classes meet once a month on a Saturday for five months. Detailed class notes, groceries and recipes are provided. For more details, check us out on the web at www.thymeforachef.com. Come join us for a memorable learning experience you will use for the rest of your life. Contact us to enroll for a very fun and very filling experience.

Blessings,

Chef David Hall

Thyme for a Chef, LLC

david@thymeforachef.com

"Sweets For Your Sweet" Event GIVEAWAY and feature of Cookies From Home!

2012-02-03T22:39:00.001-08:00

As most of you already know, I love Cookies From Home's delicious Gluten Free Gratefully cookie line. Their gluten-free cookies (and non-gluten free too, my hubby says) are just spectacular! The people over at cookies from home themselves couldn't be more friendly and sweet to work with. I love that you can feel that they genuinely care about making sure you have the most beautiful gift (they have amazing ones to choose from) and the best tasting cookies. What more could you ask for in a company? Well now they are doing even more for the gluten free community. Cookies From Home has so generously offered to give back 15% of all proceeds from the one-of-a-kind Gluten Free Frenzy tin filled with gluten free cookies back to the AZ East Valley Celiac Disease Foundation support group and Gluten Free Frenzy, to continue helping people live a gluten free lifestyle with ease and joy. Wow!!! We are so grateful to Cookies From Home and are proud to be working with them on this exciting venture. What better way to give or get a delicious gluten free Valentines or Easter (or anytime) treat while also giving back to the celiac community? I love it!

Some other big news for you, Cookies From Home is now offering a gluten free, vegan line of cookies. Isn't that great! There are so many individuals who can benefit from this I think it is just wonderful! I had the chance to review the line of gluten-free, vegan cookies and each was spectacular! In fact, we made up a platter of these cookies to serve after dinner with milk to some guests we had over and they loved them! They couldn't even tell they were gluten free. The gluten-free, vegan line includes the following flavors: peanut butter, cranberry walnut, lemon pecan and chewy chip. Each was very tasty and satisfying. The cranberry walnut was sweet with a nice tart from the berry, while the chewy chip was a classic favorite reminiscent of a chocolate chip cookie.

Here are the delicious gluten-free cookie flavors that Cookies From Home Offers:

Chewy Chip: The good old fashioned made from scratch chocolate chip cookie that is, America’s favorite!- I thought this was a delicious classic that would fill any ones desire for a chocolate chip cookie..mmm!

Peanut N’ Butter: A buttery blend like no other! Fresh peanuts and creamy peanut butter make this cookie the best lip-smacking treat you’ve ever tasted!- This is a delicious cookie with a great peanut butter flavor!

Triple Treats:Three times the taste, three times the smiles. Loads of chocolate chips, walnuts and raisins make this cookie hard to resist.- Mmm, a little bit of everything. If you like you like your cookies full of delicious treats you will love this one! I know I did.

Fudgies: These chocolate cookies are so rich, so dark, and so deliciously indulgent. They’re definitely a chocoholic’s delight.- This could satisfy any level of chocolate craving. These little nuggets of chocolate goodness hit the spot!

Mac the Nut: Creamy white chocolate and crunchy macadamia nuts perform a magnificent duet, surrounded by butter cookie batter that’s baked to perfection.- My very favorite Cookies From Home cookie! I love the classic flavor of the macadamia nut and white chocolate combination that reminds me of my childhood and getting this flavor of cookie with my mom when out and about...delicio!!!

So are you ready to win some Cookies From Home?!

**(1) Grand Prize Winner- Will receive a custom 2 lb. Gluten Free Frenzy tin filled with a delicious variety of gluten-free cookies all for themselves!!!

(Mandatory) Become a follower on glutenfreefrenzy.com AND visit Cookies From Home and tell me the gluten-free item that sounds best to you.

Extra Entries:

1. Visit Cookies From Home on Facebook AND leave a comment thanking them for this giveaway. Leave a comment here saying you did.

2. Visit Gluten Free Frenzy on Facebook AND leave a comment telling us which vegan cookie sounds best to you. Leave a comment here saying you did.

3. Follow Cookies From Home and glutenfreefrenz (yes our Twitter name is without the "y") on Twitter AND tweet about this giveaway with a link to www.glutenfreefrenzy.com. Leave a comment here saying you did.

4. Grab our blog button in the top left corner (beneath the big welcome picture) of this site and place it on your blog. Leave a comment saying you did with a link to the place it is.

5. Post about this giveaway on your blog, Twitter or Facebook with a link back to us. Leave a comment here with the link to the post.

***EACH ENTRY MUST BE SUBMITTED SEPARATELY!!!

*If you have any questions just post to me. Also, existing fans, and followers of Gluten Free Frenzy you MUST submit that you follow or are a fan to have it count as an entry. I can't go through everyone and submit their entry just for being a fan on my own, so please post that you are already a fan or follower if you are and specify to what (ex. Facebook, blog...) THIS IS A BLOG GIVEAWAY SO ALL ENTRIES TO WIN MUST BE DONE ON THIS BLOG POST...

*Giveaway ends Sunday February 26, 2012 at 11:59 PM (MST). This giveaway is open to the Continental US.

*Please keep in mind that this is not a dedicated gluten free facility. They do however, meet the standards for gluten free labeling on their gluten free cookies. Please always use your own discretion when choosing to enjoy a gluten free product as we are not responsible for any one else and their consumption of these products.

**This company provided me with sample product for review purposes on this website. I was not paid or compensated in any other way for my reviews. They are my opinions and my opinions alone.

Gluten Free Cookies & Milk Themed 1st Birthday!!!

2012-02-03T21:00:00.001-08:00

I have been planning a cute little 1st birthday party for my sweet Madden for months now (You can see the big board I made on my Pinterest for it...ridiculous, I know :) and thank goodness, it all came together! With the help of our friends at Sun Flour Mills we were able to make an adorable gluten free cake in the shape of a big cookie that was sweetened with honey just like I wanted. The pastry flour was great for making my own cake from scratch. I know Madden sure enjoyed it! We also used their gluten free sugar cookie mix to make big, round and crispy sugar cookies. In addition to that, we made chocolate chip cookies using Jewel's Cupcake Shop's all-purpose flour and chocolate chip cookie mix as well as mini brownies using their brownie mix. Since it was a milk and cookies themed party, these mixes and flours were great for making it gluten free as Madden needed but still delicious enough that all our guests gobbled the goodies right up. In fact, they could hardly believe it was all gluten free!

I have found that trying to do half and half is just hard for everyone because there is a cross-contamination issue and you have to bake separately. If you are lucky enough to find the right products so you can bake gluten free and make it taste amazing, everyone wins! Here are some of our recipes. For the cake, I found the recipe on cooks.com and adapted to make it meet our gluten free and naturally sweetened needs.

Honey Sweetened Chocolate Cake (Gluten Free)

1 1/2 c. gluten free pastry flour (We used Sun Flour Mills and enjoyed it.)
3/4 c. raw honey
1/4 cup raw cocoa
2 organic eggs (room temperature)
1/3 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup water
1/2 tsp. Real Salt
1 3/4 tsp. baking powder
1 1/2 tsp. gluten free vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9x13-inch pan with coconut oil or butter and dust lightly with flour or cocoa; tap out excess. Combine ingredients in order listed. Bake for 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes and frost as desired.

For the chocolate cupcakes feel free to use any gluten free chocolate cake mix. We used Sun Flour Mills chocolate cake and Pamela's vanilla frosting mix and they turned out very tasty! Top them off with an adorable little, gluten free chocolate chip cookie and it was the perfect treat for this themed party.

For the mini chocolate chip cookies that topped the cupcakes, we used this AMAZING recipe from Two Peas and Their Pod and just adapted it to our gluten free needs. They were absolutely perfect, not to mention, so adorable!

This was such a sweet day for our family. We love having two absolutely wonderful little boys full of zest and whimsy. We love you Madden, Happy 1st Birthday!!!

"Sweets For Your Sweet" Jewel's Cupcake Shop Valentines GIVEAWAY and feature/review!

2012-02-03T20:57:00.000-08:00

We are kicking off our February, "Sweets For Your Sweet!" Event with an awesome giveaway and feature of yummy gluten free products from Jewel's Cupcake Shop. This is one you don't want to miss as it is a gluten free Valentines themed giveaway!!! Read a great article on how Julie, like many other amazing bakers here in AZ (and other states) are taking advantage of the cottage law and baking delicious goodies from their home. Rest assured there are rules and regulations, not to mention that Julie's daughter has to live gluten free.

When we first got the products for review from Julie, Owner of Jewel's Cupcake Shop, the treats were almost too beautiful to eat! We couldn't resist though and dove right in. The cupcakes were so moist and delicious. The Salted Caramel was just the right amount of sweet, with a nice touch of sea salt. Who can resist sweet and salty?! I know I can't. The salt really brings out the beautiful sweet flavor in a dessert. I imagine that is why it has become so popular recently. The chocolate cupcake with chocolate chips couldn't have been more soft and moist. I usually don't like a bunch of chocolate, but I gobbled this little treat right up. The frosting was smooth and creamy while the cake itself was full of rich chocolate flavor. Finally, the award-winning apple pie cupcake was reminiscent of fall days in my home town and mom's apple pie. It was absolutely delicious and so full of great apple pie flavor, complete with the cinnamon and sugar notes.

The Linzer cookies were another great treat we were able to review and let me just tell you, not only were they gorgeous but they were so delicious! They were soft and buttery with a nice tart jam filling. I love jam filled cookies but had never had one this good. Great job Julie! :) As you can see, the non-gluten free hubby loved them too.

Finally, we reviewed Jewel's Cupcake Shop's all-purpose flour, chocolate chip cookie mix and brownie mix. All of which we used to make treats at our sweet baby's first birthday party (a gluten free cookies and milk theme) and nobody even knew they were gluten free they tasted so good! The all-purpose flour was so easy to work with and could actually be exchanged equally in a traditional cookie recipe for flour. It was so nice and easy.

Here are some of Jewel's Cupcake Shop's Valentines Specials: (Just call or e-mail for any request you may have as she is very workable. We just love this cake she made, thanks Julie! :)

Almond Raspberry Linzer cookies- $5 each or 4 for $18 (Mail-able)
8 inch personalized brownie heart $20
8 inch personalized chocolate chip cookie heart $20
5 inch mini personalized Black Magic chocolate ganache cake $25
6 red velvet or black magic w/ganache cupcakes (or half and half) $15
Perfect Brownie Mix $6 (Mail-able)
Best Ever Chocolate Chip Cookie mix $6 (Mail-able)

Flat shipping fee is $6.95 for most things.

**IMPORTANT NOTE: Since there is an additional, local to Arizona, prize being offered, if you live in Arizona, make sure to put LOCAL in all caps at the beginning of each of your entries to be considered for this prize. Thank you!**

So are you ready to win some yummy Jewel's Cupcake Shop delectable gluten free treats?!

**(1) Grand Prize Winner (nationwide)- will be receiving 4 Almond raspberry linzer cookies, their choice of cookie or brownie mix, and one 2 lb bag of all purpose flour all for themselves!!!

**(1) LOCAL TO ARIZONA, Grand Prize Winner- will be receiving 4 almond raspberry linzer cookies, their choice of heart cookie, brownie or cupcakes and one 2 lb bag of all purpose flour!!!

(Required) Just leave a comment in the comments section at the bottom of this post, after visiting Jewel's Cupcake Shop, telling me CUPCAKE flavor sounds most delicious to you.

Extra Entry #1: Visit Jewel's Cupcake Shop on Facebook and thank her for this giveaway, with your favorite treat from her website or cupcake flavor of hers. Leave a comment here saying you did.

Extra Entry #2: Post about this giveaway on your blog with a link back to us. Leave a comment WITH THE LINK TO YOUR POST here.

Extra Entry #3: Retweet about this giveaway making sure to include our Twitter page in the tweet. Leave a comment here saying you did.

Extra Entry #4: Visit Gluten Free Frenzy on Facebook and tell us what you would use her gluten free all-purpose flour to make. Leave a comment here saying you did.

*Extra Entry #5: Follow Gluten Free Frenzy and Jewel's Cupcake Shop on Twitter. Leave a comment here saying you do.

*Extra Entry #6: Subscribe to glutenfreefrenzy.com by e-mail. (On the right hand side under followers.)

*Giveaway ends Friday February 10, 2012 at 11:59 PM (MST). This giveaway is open to the US only.

**I was provided with sample product from this company for review purposes on this website. I was not paid or compensated in any other way for my reviews. They are my opinions and my opinions alone.

*Please keep in mind that Jewel's Cupcake Shop is baking under a new law, the Home Baked and Confectionary Goods program, also known as the Arizona Cottage Law, which went into effect July 20. Home bakers can now sell baked goods for a profit as long as they register with the state, get a food handlers license and comply with a still evolving set of rules. A home baker must also include an ingredient list, their name, home address and phone number on the packaging. Please always use your own discretion when choosing to enjoy a gluten free product as we are not responsible for any one else and their consumption of these products.

Rise and Shine, It's Groundhog Day!!!

2012-02-02T07:08:00.000-08:00

"It's 6 am. Rise and shine. And don't forget your booties 'cause it's cold out there today. It's cold out there every day. What is this, Miami Beach?"

I LOVE Groundhog day! I know, weird right? I always watch the Classic Groundhog Day movie with Bill Murray but that was it. With two little boys, and one cheesy mama, I knew this could be another fun holiday. So here is what we did to start our day...Lots more to come!

Gluten Free Biscuits and GrrrrOUNDHOG Day Gravy!

For the biscuits, we made our favorite, quick and easy Pamela's Pancakes drop biscuits. We then topped them with some quick gravy and finished them off with these cute groundhog picks from Lily Jane. Did he see his shadow or not?

Gravy:
2 c. gluten free chicken, vegetable or beef broth
1/4. c. cornstarch
1/2 tsp. Real Salt
1/2 tsp. Real Onion Salt
1/4 tsp. Real Garlic Salt
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1 tsp. chopped parsley

Heat all but 1/2 cup of broth in a saucepan until boiling. Combine remaining 1/2 cup of broth and cornstarch together and slowly temper into hot broth. Season with salts, pepper and parsley. Enjoy over hot gluten free biscuits with or without gluten free sausage.

Feature GF Bloggers-Gluten Free Gidget

2012-02-01T21:58:00.001-08:00

We love featuring recipes from fellow gluten free bloggers when asked to do so. Here are a few that we thought you might enjoy! :)

Chocolate Peanut Butter Glazed Donuts
http://glutenfreegidget.blogspot.com/2012/01/homemade-chocolate-peanut-butter-glazed.html

Greek Breakfast Casserole
http://glutenfreegidget.blogspot.com/2011/12/bea-udi-ful-holiday.html

Thanks to Katrina over at www.glutenfreegidget.com for these lovely recipes!

*If you are a gluten free blogger and would like to be featured, please e-mail us at glutenfreefrenzy@gmail.com. Thanks and have a lovely gluten free day!

TTT-Tuesdays Tasty Tip with Chef David Hall

2012-01-31T19:54:00.000-08:00

Kicked-up Southwest Chicken and Noodle Soup

While chicken and noodle soup is one of the most popular soups in America, it doesn't grab my attention in the least. As one who has grown up in the Arizona southwest desert, spicy pepper-laden dishes are pretty much the norm. The good news is that those hot peppers containing capsaicin not only help clear my sinuses of the pollen and dust-filled Phoenix air, but also provide many other health benefits, including increased production of endorphins which fortify your immune system. The bad news – bland soups, such as a typical chicken and noodle soup, cause me to experience an ocular- induced coma, resulting in me falling face-forward into chicken noodle soup from culinary boredom. If or when this happens when dining out, my wife stealthy disappears from the table before the restaurant staff summons paramedics with a 911 call. Later comes the embarrassment of explaining to the ER doctor why I am wearing soup, not to mention an elegant dinner just turned into an expensive circuitous hospital detour on my way home in a costly cab driven by an odiferous driver. It is simply best for me to avoid bland soups.

Therefore, crushed red peppers come to the rescue, better yet, specifically Chili Tepin to the rescue. Tepin are tiny dried chilies measuring only about ¼" in diameter. If you are using the ubiquitous crushed red pepper that came with your spice rack 10 years ago, use a couple tablespoons. If however, you decided to venture out and try using Chili Tepins, start with only six or eight of these little dynamos. They are tiny, but HOT. What Tepins lack in size they make up in piquant (that wonderful fiery sensation on your tongue.) Do not attempt to crush these babies using your thumb and palm. If you do, you will enjoy the experience for hours. No kidding. You are warned.

This soup is a chicken and noodle recipe with a hot red sauce added as well as some red and green bell peppers added for crunch, taste and color, garnished with green onions and cilantro. It is simple but delicious.

We use brown rice pasta in our home because our home is GF (gluten-free). The important thing to remember when using rice-based pastas is that the difference between al dente and mush is only about 30 seconds, and no one likes chicken and mushy noodle soup. Therefore, I typically par-boil the pasta until just before it is al dente and immediately strain it and run it under cold water to stop the cooking. This also rinses the pasta of the milky rice flour-filled water ensuring your soup is clear and not cloudy. Once the rest of the soup is done, I simply add the pasta to warm (not boiling).

If you eliminate the pasta and substitute corn chips as a garnish added at the table, along with some avocado chunks and cheese, you'll have a delightful classic tortilla soup. My preference is to fry some corn tortillas in peanut oil until they are rock hard because they will taste better and remain crunchy a bit longer than any other chip. The next best alternative is to use the salt-free blue corn chips made by The Garden of Eatin. Salted chips simply make the soup too salty.

The most important ingredient in making chicken based soups is to use homemade stock, not store-bought broth, the difference between the two are night and day. To learn how to make a good chicken stock, go to the Resources tab on our website, www.thymeforachef.com.

Southwest Chicken and Noodle Soup

Servings 8

Ingredients:
1 package of brown rice spiral pasta, cooked al dente.
2 tablespoons oil
2 large boneless skinless chicken breasts
Crushed red pepper, or the dried red pepper of your choosing
½ teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper, fine grind
½ teaspoon ground cumin
¼ teaspoon dried oregano
1 8 oz, can of tomato sauce
1 large garlic clove
2 cups frozen corn
1 red bell pepper, ¼" dice
1 green bell pepper, ¼" dice
1 large yellow onion, diced
2 quarts chicken stock
8 green onions, finely sliced, green ends only
1 cup cilantro, roughly chopped.

Directions:
1. Cook the pasta in salted water until the pasta is firm and approaching al dente. Strain and cool with cold water to stop the cooking and wash the pasta of the cloudy water. This prevents the pasta from becoming mushy. Set aside.

2. Place the red pepper, black pepper, cumin, oregano and tomato sauce in a blender and blend to a smooth consistency, breaking up the crushed red pepper and incorporating into the tomato sauce. Set aside.

3. Lightly salt and pepper the chicken breasts.

4. In a large pot, big enough to hold one gallon, cook the breasts on medium-high heat to cook through and obtain a nice caramel color. Remove the chicken breasts and allow to cool. Once cooled, dice the chicken into ½" chunks, or shred the chicken.

5. Deglaze the pot with the diced onions, bell peppers and corn.

6. Add the chicken stock and bring to a simmer.

7. Start making additions of the red sauce to the stock until you are happy with the level of spiciness. Adjust saltiness as needed.

8. Add the chicken.

9. Bring to a low simmer for 10 minutes to infuse the flavors.

10. Add the pasta and serve, garnishing with the green onion and cilantro.

We have some slots left in our Adult Culinary Boot Camp starting Saturday, March 24th. Classes meet once a month on a Saturday for five months. Detailed class notes, groceries and recipes are provided. For more details, check us out on the web at www.thymeforachef.com. Come join us for a memorable learning experience you will use for the rest of your life. Contact us to enroll for a very fun and very filling experience.

Blessings,
Chef David Hall
Thyme for a Chef, LLC
david@thymeforachef.com

Giveaway Winners!!!

2012-01-30T14:46:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to the following winners!!! Your winning e-mail will be arriving within 15 minutes and will be valid only with a response from THAT e-mail address within 48 hrs. Thank you and enjoy your yummy prizes!!!

Innocent Indulgence #40:
lwdesignadventures@gmail.com

Happy Family #42:
afields82@ymail.com

Bakery On Main #58:
tsn816{at}gmail{dot}com

Valentines done gluten free (at home)!!!

2012-01-30T11:00:00.000-08:00

So most of you know that last Valentines, my sweet little Madden boy was only about two weeks old so of course, we decided to keep everything low key (as low key as Valentines can be with it being my favorite holiday! ;) and at home. My hubby and I take turns planning the events that will take place for Valentines. I LOVE this holiday so much since I am all girl and love mushy, cheesy lovey-dovey, pink, hearts and anything that has to do with love at all (my poor hubby right? ;) I figure, since it is a big holiday in our house, it really isn't fair to make Josh do everything every year, so we take turns. This year was my turn. While I don't care about presents or anything like that, I do care about love notes and a thoughtful day or evening. I know my husband and my son Jaxton just LOVE chocolate so what would be better than a gluten free chocolate fountain that we could all enjoy in the comfort of our own home?! This was a wonderful Valentines surprise for my family that didn't cost too much and was delicious! Here is what you need:

A chocolate fountain and gluten free chocolate
Bananas, strawberries, and fresh-cut pineapple (plus any other fruit you like)
Gluten free cookies and graham crackers
Gluten free pretzels
Gluten free cake cut into little squares
Gluten free marshmallows
And finally...gluten free mini chocolate candy bars (for those like my hubs who can't get enough chocolate ;)
Oh and long skewers or fondue forks

Another Valentines tradition in our house is to make my mom's inspired gluten free sugar cookies and decorate them in all kinds of fun V-day decor and pink tinted frosting. The kiddos love this activity every year!

For breakfast, I always try and do something pink, red or just in the shape of hearts. This year I decided to do heart shaped toasts and fried eggs using my metal heart cookie cutter. Could that be any easier?! So cute too! Top with raspberry or strawberry jam and now you have the red color as well!

Here are a few of our other Valentines from the past:
http://www.glutenfreefrenzy.com/2011/02/our-valentines-2010-ideas.html
http://www.glutenfreefrenzy.com/2010/02/sample-valentines-menu.html
http://www.glutenfreefrenzy.com/2010/02/celebrate-valentines-daywith-hearts.html
http://www.glutenfreefrenzy.com/2010/07/belgian-waffles-with-homemade-whipped.html

Josh's Famous Barbeque Chicken and Funeral Potatoes

2012-01-25T12:00:00.000-08:00

Josh's Famous BBQ Chicken

1 lb. free-range chicken tenders
1/4 tsp. Real Onion Salt
1/4 tsp. Real Garlic Salt
dash of black pepper
1 tsp. oregano
3 Tbls. your favorite gluten-free BBQ chicken

*Season meat with salts and oregano. Grill until cooked through. During the last 2 minutes of cooking, baste on both sides with BBQ sauce.

Funeral Potatoes

2 bags Cascadian Farms hashbrowns
1 can gluten free cream of mushroom soup
2 c. gluten free sour cream
1 1/2 c. raw cheddar cheese, shredded
1/3 c. raw or organic butter, melted
1/4 tsp. Real Salt
1 tsp. black pepper
2 c. gluten-free corn flakes
2-3 Tbls. raw or organic butter
1/4 tsp. Real Salt

*Combine first 7 ingredients. Press into a 9x13 baking pan. In another bowl combine last 3 ingredients. Lay over the potato mixture. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes.

*This great recipe will be featured on http://glutenfreehomemaker.com/2012/01/gluten-free-wednesdays-1-25-12/

"New Year, New You!" GIVEAWAY and Feature/review on Boulder Granola!

2012-01-24T20:02:00.001-08:00

Unleash your inner hippie... I love Boulder Granola's awesome slogan. I know my friends always call me a "granola" not because I am one but because they THINK ;) all my gluten free food is weird and super healthy. I have made them taste my stuff and now they know just how amazing gluten free can be. Boulder Granola's gluten free, dairy free granola is no exception to this statement. It is just one more food item that proves how great gluten free can be! My husband and I just loved how the texture was softer than many but still had a nice little crunch. It reminded me of crushed macaroons in the flavor. Who doesn't love macaroons?! We both agreed that it was best served over granola or fresh fruit. It wasn't so crunchy that it made for an odd need to "bite" your yogurt but instead was soft enough to marry well with granola but still add a great textural difference. What a great way to start the day and really Unleash your inner hippie!

The other great thing about this company is that all of their products are also certified organic. I love knowing that what I put into my body and my kids bodies is free of pesticides and herbicides. Two convenient sizes are just one more thing that makes Boulder granola so versatile. There is a 12 oz. bag that is great for your cupboard and breakfasts daily while the 3 oz. size is just right for slipping into your purse, backpack or kiddos lunchbox! We loved Boulder Granola and know you will as well!

So are you ready to win some Boulder Granola products?!

**(1) Grand Prize Winner- will receive a 12 oz bag and a 3 oz bag of their Gluten free/Dairy Free granola all for themselves!!!

(Required) HERE'S HOW TO ENTER: (Make sure you are a follower of this blog AND please make sure to leave your e-mail with EVERY entry. If you don't leave your e-mail, you will not be chosen as we do need some way to contact you. Thanks! :)

(Mandatory) Become a follower on Gluten Free Frenzy's blog AND Visit Boulder Granola and tell me something you learned about the gluten free process of making this granola. If you are already a follower, please still leave a comment that you are and do the second part. If possible tell a friend about this site.

1. Visit our Facebook page and tell us what is your favorite way to enjoy gluten free granola.

2. Visit Boulder Granola on Facebook and thank them for this giveaway with a link to Gluten Free Frenzy. Leave a comment here saying you did.

3. Follow Boulder Granola and Gluten Free Frenzy on Twitter. Leave a comment here confirming you do.

4. Post about this giveaway on your blog, Facebook or Twitter with a link back to us and leave us a link to it here in the comments section.

***EACH ENTRY MUST BE SUBMITTED SEPARATELY!!!

*If you have any questions just post to me. Also, existing fans, and followers of Gluten Free Frenzy you MUST submit that you follow or are a fan to have it count as an entry. I can't go through everyone and submit their entry just for being a fan on my own, so please post that you are already a fan or follower if you are and specify to what (ex. Facebook, blog...) THIS IS A BLOG GIVEAWAY SO ALL ENTRIES TO WIN MUST BE DONE ON THIS BLOG POST...

*Giveaway ends Tuesday, January 31st 2012 at 11:59 PM (MST). This giveaway is open to U.S. readers only.

*Please keep in mind that this is not a dedicated gluten free facility. They do however, meet the standards for gluten free labeling on their gluten free cookies. Please always use your own discretion when choosing to enjoy a gluten free product as we are not responsible for any one else and their consumption of these products.

**This company provided me with sample product for review purposes on this website. I was not paid or compensated in any other way for my reviews. They are my opinions and my opinions alone.

Kettle Cuisine Gluten Free Community Contest!

2012-01-24T19:58:00.000-08:00

Check out this fun contest that my friends at Kettle Cuisine are hosting. You can win a weekend getaway to Beantown! www.facebook.com/kettlecuisine (or link to the video http://youtube/ySqQ4G8_uqY)

"New Year, New You!" GIVEAWAY and feature on Laura's Wholesome Junkfood!!!

2012-01-24T14:04:00.000-08:00

Have you tried Laura's Wholesome Junkfood's gluten-free flavor of cookie, Mint Double Fudge? Yeah, I said mint AND double fudge in the same sentence! Oh boy, these cookies are soooo good! My husband said. "Are you sure these cookies are gluten-free, because they are good!" They remind me of the classic girl scout cookie, Thin Mints. Yum!!!

A little about Laura's Wholesome Junkfood:

“Once upon a time a cookie met a protein bar and they fell in love and got married. This is their child, a wonderful mix between a protein bar and home made tasting cookies (or as we call them Bite-lettes™!) Whether as a snack, pre-gym workout or a fix for a sweet tooth, your customers won’t believe something this tasty is good for them. They taste great, and you know that you are eating real food, not candy or laboratory snacks...”

I just love this description right from Laura’s Wholesome Junkfood Website. It describes so well these yummy cookies! I had the opportunity to taste the gluten-free line of Laura’s Wholesome Junkfood cookies last year and I fell in love with them! I am addicted to this new flavor, as well as the cashew chocolate chip...they are so tasty! Let me just tell you, these cookies are so soft and chewy that each one is like the first. These are a fun, on the go snack that is so travel friendly. And if you are anything like me you can barely pack one more thing in your hand when you leave the house, so this is the perfect size package. I even snuck it into the theater to enjoy my “wholesome junkfood” while watching a movie! :)

Not only do they have delicious cookies but they have some of the greatest customer service I've ever had the pleasure of enjoying. The wonderful employees at Laura's Wholesome Junkfood are always happy to answer any questions you have. I just adore their sweet marketing lady, Char. She is always so genuinely concerned about all of you who read Gluten Free Frenzy. So sweet!

So are you ready to win some Laura's Wholesome Junkfood products?!

**(1) Grand Prize Winner- will receive a Laura's Wholesome Junkfood cookbook and 6 tubs of mint double fudge gluten free cookies all for themselves!!!

(1) Second Place Winner- 6 tubs of mint double fudge gluten free cookies all for themselves!!!

(1) Third Place Winner- 2 tubs of mint double fudge gluten free cookies all for themselves!!!

(Required) HERE'S HOW TO ENTER: (Make sure you are a follower of this blog AND please make sure to leave your e-mail with EVERY entry. If you don't leave your e-mail, you will not be chosen as we do need some way to contact you. Thanks! :)

(Mandatory) Become a follower on Gluten Free Frenzy's blog AND Visit www.lauraswholesomejunkfood.com and tell me the gluten free cookie that sounds best to you. If you are already a follower, please still leave a comment that you are and do the second part. If possible tell a friend about this site.

1. Visit our Facebook page and tell us what is your favorite way to enjoy gluten free cookies.

2. Visit Laura's Wholesome Junkfood on Facebook and thank them for this giveaway with a link to Gluten Free Frenzy. Leave a comment here saying you did.

3. Visit www.lauraswholesomejunkfood.com and sign up for their newsletter. (It will be verified on their end.) Leave a comment here saying you did.

4. Follow Laura’s Wholesome Junkfood and Gluten Free Frenzy on Twitter. Leave a comment here confirming you do.

5. Post about this giveaway on your blog, Facebook or Twitter with a link back to us and leave us a link to it here in the comments section.

***EACH ENTRY MUST BE SUBMITTED SEPARATELY!!!

*If you have any questions just post to me. Also, existing fans, and followers of Gluten Free Frenzy you MUST submit that you follow or are a fan to have it count as an entry. I can't go through everyone and submit their entry just for being a fan on my own, so please post that you are already a fan or follower if you are and specify to what (ex. Facebook, blog...) THIS IS A BLOG GIVEAWAY SO ALL ENTRIES TO WIN MUST BE DONE ON THIS BLOG POST...

*Giveaway ends Tuesday, January 31st 2012 at 11:59 PM (MST). This giveaway is open to U.S. readers only.

*Please keep in mind that this is not a dedicated gluten free facility. They do however, meet the standards for gluten free labeling on their gluten free cookies. Please always use your own discretion when choosing to enjoy a gluten free product as we are not responsible for any one else and their consumption of these products.

**This company provided me with sample product for review purposes on this website. I was not paid or compensated in any other way for my reviews. They are my opinions and my opinions alone.

TTT-Tuesdays Tasty Tip with Chef David Hall

2012-01-24T14:03:00.001-08:00

Make It Hot, Baby

Late in 2010 I decided to take a working vacation and check out the Asian Cuisine course at the CIA. Nope, the guys at the Central Intelligence Agency have not lost their intelligence and taken up cooking. The CIA I am referring to is the excellent Culinary Institute of America culinary arts school in the northern wine country in California. It was definitely a working vacation as we started cooking around 1:00 pm and served at about 8:30 when the day-students arrived for a huge dinner. Each day offered a different cuisine such as Vietnamese, Korean, Thai, Indian, Chinese or Japanese.

Learning about the different flavor profiles in different cuisines is always exciting for me. During the course, I had the opportunity to make two different styles of Hot and Sour Soup, one Chinese and the other Thai. Both are delicious and uniquely different. The Chinese gets its heat from toasted fresh ground black pepper while the Thai gets is heat from Thai Bird’s Eye chilies. The Thai sour component comes from fresh lime juice while the Chinese sour comes from rice wine vinegar.

Both styles are bold in flavor, and because the base for both soups is from homemade chicken stock, they are lean and healthy soups. While I am still trying to decide which tastes best, I offer up my adaptation of this gluten-free Thai version, with some introductory comments.

· Ingredients such as lemongrass, galangal, kaffir lime leaves and straw mushrooms can be purchased at a local Asian market if your grocer does not carry them.

· Don’t judge the fish sauce by its smell. Once cooked in a dish, it is very tasty and brings richness to the dish. There are different grades and levels of quality. If you don’t like one, try another.

· Use stock instead of broth if possible; it will be richer in body and flavor

· Thai Bird’s Eye chilies are very hot, consider wearing gloves when slicing.

· Drain the tofu by placing it on a towel and placing a weighty plate on it for about 20 minutes.

Thai Hot-and-Sour Soup

Servings 8

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon peanut oil

1 to 1½ pounds shrimp, U25

3 lemongrass stalks

1 tablespoon peanut oil

2½ tablespoons red curry paste

4 teaspoons galangal, finely minced

6 kaffir lime leaves

2 quarts chicken stock

7 Thai bird chilies, VERY thinly sliced (add more if you like it hotter)

1 pound firm tofu, drained, pressed, ½” dice

4 plum Roma tomatoes cut into eighths

1 16 oz. can straw mushrooms, cut in half

1/3 cups fish sauce

1 tablespoon turbinado sugar

1 cup lime juice

½ cup cilantro, coarsely cut for garnish.

Directions:

1. Place the serving bowls in an oven to warm.

2. Peel and devein the shrimp. Rinse and reserve the shells

3. Slice the shrimp sashimi style (very thin). Set aside (refrigerated).

4. Using the back of a heavy chef’s knife, bruise the lemongrass to help release the essential oils. Trim the lemongrass at its root end. Trim the top ½ inch, then slice in half lengthwise and cut into 1-inch lengths. Set aside.

5. Heat the oil in a saucepot over medium heat. Toast the curry paste until it is aromatic but not browned, about 1 minute.

6. Add the reserved shrimp shells and lemongrass, along with the galangal, kaffir lime leaves and chicken stock.

7. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes to infuse the flavors. Strain soup into a new pot.

8. Add chilies, mushrooms, fish sauce and sugar. Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer.

9. Add the tomatoes, tofu, and then stir in the lime juice.

10. Taste and adjust seasoning with fish sauce and additional lime juice, if needed.

Service:

1. Place some shrimp in the bottom of a serving bowl and ladle the hot soup over the shrimp to cook it.

2. Stir for a couple seconds to cook the shrimp.

3. Garnish with cilantro and serve immediately.

We have some slots left in our Adult Culinary Boot Camp. Classes meet once a month on a Saturday for five months. Detailed class notes, groceries and recipes are provided. For more details, check us out on the web at www.thymeforachef.com. Come join us for a memorable learning experience you will use for the rest of your life. Contact us to enroll for a very fun and very filling experience.

Blessings,

Chef David Hall

Thyme for a Chef, LLC

david@thymeforachef.com

New Grains Bakery GIVEAWAY and feature/review!!!

2012-01-21T09:11:00.000-08:00

New Grains Bakery is home to the famous, jumbo pink frosted and sprinkled sugar cookie, making over 500 per week to keep up with nationwide demand! Let me tell you, this cookie is fantastic! Not only is their famous sugar cookie great but so are there array of other gluten free products. New Grains Bakery offers everything from chocolate drizzled macaroons to sourdough bread. BYU, UVU and even the LDS MTC in Provo, UT are all providing the local community with New Grains Bakery's gluten free products. I just love that they are in the University's now! In addition, a local chain of Macey's grocery stores now carries their cookie, brownie and puff pastry doughs. New Grains Bakery ships their products nationwide so yo don't have to be local to enjoy them. They also have a 100% money back guarantee which is great! One of the owners, Tim says that hey have yet to have anyone need to use it which is something they are very proud of. With great prices and a wonderful selection of products, New Grains Bakery is a great go to spot for yummy gluten free goodies!

We recently had the opportunity of reviewing multiple items from the New Grains Bakery product line. Here is what we thought.

Jumbo Pink Frosted and Sprinkled Sugar Cookie- The epitome of gluten free cookie Heaven! For those of us who still remember what a Granny B's cookie tasted like (pre-celiac) then you will know that this cookie is something to be thankful for. With it's mildly sweet sugar cookie topped with a rich, very sweet pink frosting and childlike colored sprinkles, this cookie is a home run. I even think the flavor is better than the classic Granny B's! There is some food coloring in the frosting and the sprinkles just so you are aware.

Chocolate Drizzled Macaroon, Chocolate Chip Cookie, Brownie Cookie with Chocolate Chips, Pumpkin Cookie with Chocolate Chips and Pecan Bar- All the cookies were soft and moist but especially the macaroon. It was full of rich, moist coconut and drizzled with the perfect amount of dark chocolate drizzle. Both the chocolate chip and the brownie cookie with chocolate chips had just the right amount of rich, full-sized chocolate chips that added just a touch more sweetness to the cookie. As I am a pumpkin chocolate chip cookie fan, I couldn't help but enjoy New Grains Bakery's version of this seasonal favorite. The ratio or pumpkin and chocolate flavors were spot on. It was also moist and chewy. Finally, the pecan bar. This treat was absolutely divine! I loved the nice buttery crust topped with a rich and sweet pecan pie like filling. Whole pecans really made this bar visually appealing as well as tasty! The pecan bar was one of my favorite New Grains Bakery items.

Italian Dipping, Sourdough and Multigrain Breads- These nice large pieces of gluten free bread are excellent for paninis, and nice large sandwiches (which are usually very hard for us to get on gluten free bread). The Italian dipping bread was perfect for a cold night of soup that needed a dipping companion. The bread help up well to being dipped and tasted great with its fill of delicious herbs and spices. The sourdough bread was my top choice for sandwich making as it added a nice tangy flavor that married well with the other sandwich toppings. Multigrain was great for paninis as well as french toast. Each bread had its own unique flavor and was soft and moist enough to be eaten without toasting.

Pizza Crust and Beligian Waffle Mix- Both mixes were easy to prepare and provided a hearty helping of the end dish. The pizza crust had excellent Italian spices and seasonings. I had a hard time rolling it into a perfect circle (as you can see ;) however, the taste was great and for those better at rolling out dough, this could be a very pretty pizza. The Belgian waffle mix made airy and light waffles that were the perfect base for a homemade whipped cream and berries topping. My husband is the ultimate Belgian waffle fanatic and he thought the flavor and texture were wonderful!

Parmesan Garlic Breadsticks and Parmesan Croutons- Oh my goodness!!! These breadsticks were pure gluten free goodness!!! The fluffy texture combined with the perfect garlic parmesan topping made these an absolute hit both with my mom and I who eat gluten free as well as my dad, sister and hubby who don't. We had them alongside my mom's famous gluten free lasagna and boy were they the perfect addition to this lovely meal! In addition to the meal, we also served a green salad topped with parmesan croutons. They added the perfect textural difference the salad needed that both my mom and I hadn't enjoyed in a long time. These croutons are crunchy and full of delicious parmesan flavor.

New Grains Bakery really is special in it's desire to provide the gluten free community with a unique variety of tasty gluten free products. They have absolutely succeeded in our books! Thank you New Grains Bakery for providing lovely goodies to those of us who require them and even those who don't because they are just that tasty!

So are you ready to win some New Grains Bakery products?!

**(1) Grand Prize Winner- will receive a prize pack filled with the following New Grains Bakery items all for themselves!!! Including shipping this prize is worth over $60.00!!!

1 Gluten Free Multi-Grain Loaf
1 Gluten Free Naturally Aged Sour Dough Loaf
2 Gluten Free Pink Sugar Cookies
1 Gluten Free bag Croutons
1 Gluten Free Brownie Chocolate Chip Cookie
1 Gluten Free Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookie
1 Gluten Free Garlic and Parmesan Bread Sticks (Sour Dough Base)
2 Gluten Free Coconut Macaroon
1 Gluten Free Pecan Carmel Bar
1 Box of Brownie Poppers

(Required) HERE'S HOW TO ENTER: (Make sure you are a follower of this blog AND please make sure to leave your e-mail with EVERY entry. If you don't leave your e-mail, you will not be chosen as we do need some way to contact you. Thanks! :)

(Mandatory) Become a follower on glutenfreefrenzy.com AND visit New Grains Bakery and tell me what OTHER product looks most tasty to you and why this prize is something you would like to win. If you are already a follower, please still leave a comment that you are and do the second part. If possible tell a friend about this site.

Extra Entries:

1. Visit New Grains Bakery on Facebook and thank them for this giveaway. Leave a comment here saying you did.

2. Follow New Grains Bakery blog and leave a comment here saying you did.

3. Grab our blog button in the top left corner (beneath the big welcome picture) of this site and place it on your blog. Leave a comment saying you did with a link to the place it is.

4. Post about this giveaway on your blog, Twitter or Facebook with a link back to us. (3 entries!!! So be sure to leave 3 comments for this.)

***EACH ENTRY MUST BE SUBMITTED SEPARATELY!!!

*If you have any questions just post to me. Also, existing fans, and followers of Gluten Free Frenzy you MUST submit that you follow or are a fan to have it count as an entry. I can't go through everyone and submit their entry just for being a fan on my own, so please post that you are already a fan or follower if you are and specify to what (ex. Facebook, blog...) THIS IS A BLOG GIVEAWAY SO ALL ENTRIES TO WIN MUST BE DONE ON THIS BLOG POST...

*Giveaway ends Sunday 2/5/2012 at 11:59 PM (MST). This giveaway is open to the US only.

**This company provided me with sample product for review purposes on this website. I was not paid or compensated in any other way for my reviews. They are my opinions and my opinions alone.

Reliv Gluten Free Products Feature and Review

2012-01-21T08:00:00.000-08:00

Some mornings I wake up and wonder, "What am I going to make for breakfast?" I am tired from being up late then getting up early and I want to get moving with my day, BUT I also want to enjoy a nutritious gluten free breakfast myself, and also want to provide that for my family. My go to breakfast that can be made in under 3 minutes?

Chandice's Reliv Morning Start Meal

1 c. plain gluten free yogurt
1 c. organic milk
1 heaping Tbls. gluten free peanut butter
2 scoops Reliv Now for kids in chocolate flavor
2 bananas
3 cups fresh, organic spinach
1 c. ice

*Combine everything in the blender adding the spinach last and using a spoon to push down into the rest of the mixed shake. Mix until everything is smooth and enjoy! Looks a little green but it can be a "mock" mint chocolate shake! ;) Or you can add a little mint and really make it a mint chocolate shake. Either way, it is a delicious way to get spinach into your family at breakfast. You can't even taste it! This recipe feeds a family of 4.

This is the shake that I make for my whole family. I love it because my boys think they are getting a real treat for breakfast but little do they know they are eating plain yogurt and spinach! My hubby really enjoys these shakes as well and encourages me to make them multiple mornings a week. It was so funny, my almost 3 year old said to me, "Mom, what are we having for breakfast?" This was on a Monday morning and we had left over chocolate chip gluten free pancakes from Sunday brunch so I told him, "Yay! We have leftover chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast!" He responded with, "Again? Can we just have shakes?" Can you believe it?! I was so thrilled my little guy wanted a yogurt and spinach filled shake over chocolate chip pancakes, but that just goes to show how yummy it is.

Some other Reliv products my husband and I enjoy using for our own snacks throughout the day are the Reliv Classic and the Reliv Innergize. We combine them to make this delicious, gluten free shake.

Orange Shmorange Dreamsicle

12 oz. filtered water
1 scoop Reliv Classis
1/2 scoop Reliv Innergize
1/2 dropper of vanilla cream liquid stevia drops (I like Sweet Leaf for this flavor, but whatever works)

*Put everything in a blender bottle and shake, shake, shake until the lumps are gone. Enjoy! This tastes just like an orange dreamsicle...mmm!!! This is a single serve recipe.

I really enjoy the Reliv Innergize because it helps me when I am lagging especially right after lunch. This product also comes in lemon flavor which is fun for changing up the drink flavors. Reliv Classic gives me the nutrients I need from a meal while also providing me with a quick and easy meal replacement. Reliv also gives me the confidence that I need in knowing that what I put into my body is gluten free. Dr. Carl Hastings, is the top food scientist with Reliv. He has addressed the gluten free testing that is being done saying that testing is done on the FDA
recommended <20ppm. Testing results have shown below <5ppm. However, Reliv cannot guarantee those results each time so they never refer to that amount exclusively. I think it is great that they are so rigorous in their testing and are always coming in under 20ppm and often times as low as 5ppm. That gives me great comfort. Here is a nice article on gluten free living from Reliv's blog, http://wordpress.reliv.com/publicblog/healthy-living-tips/to-be-or-not-to-be-gluten-free/. While this article is more directed to the general public, rather than those with celiac disease who don't have a choice in living gluten free, I think it is great that they are bringing more attention to the benefits of living a gluten free lifestyle. Thank you Reliv for providing gluten free product for those of us who need it.

These are the friends who introduced us to the gluten free Reliv products.

Vohn & Tami Martineau
Ambassadors
Gilbert, AZ
Home: (480) 497-3541
Cell/Text: (480) 388-0515
Email: shakeitup@cox.net

Story: (641) 715-3900 pin 2863#

Martineau Every Tuesday 11am CST
Conference Call: (712) 432-0190 pin 432283#
Duration: 30 min

Conference (712) 432-0199 pin 432283#, then # again
Call Replay: This will take you to the most current recording

*Please keep in mind that this is not a dedicated gluten free facility. They do however, meet the standards for gluten free labeling. Please always use your own discretion when choosing to enjoy a gluten free product as we are not responsible for any one else and their consumption of these products.

**Reliv provided me with sample product for review purposes on this website. I was not paid or compensated in any other way for my reviews. They are my opinions and my opinions alone.

TTT-Tuesdays Tasty Tip with Chef David Hall

2012-01-17T21:34:00.001-08:00

Healthy Low-cal Does Not Mean Low-flavor Profile

Growing up I hated fish and seafood. Why? Because, I grew up in the Arizona desert, where my seafood experience was limited to skanky nasty fish from the grocery store, or those little breaded-deep-fried "fish sticks" we got in the school cafeteria. I always wondered, "What kind of fish grew in the shape of a rectangular block?" Eventually, I also learned that chicken does not grow in nuggets either.

Since my youth, the availability of fresh seafood is much better here in the Phoenix area. Nowadays, I thoroughly enjoy seafood as long as it is fresh, wild and I cannot smell it when it comes out of the meat case. Yes, I do smell each and every piece of fish before I lay down the dollars. There is little worse than paying a lot of money for something, only to find out when you get it home it is already spoiled. That's right. If you can smell it and it smells like anything other than an ocean breeze, it's already bad. That being said, please try my healthy low-cal spicy shellfish soup, heavily seasoned with chipotle, cumin, thyme and oregano. If you have followed my articles, you know I'm not much on subtly in my soups and food in general. This recipe is no exception.

Clams, Scallops and Shrimp in a Chipotle Tequila Broth

Ingredients:
1 teaspoon olive oil
Cooking spray
2 cups yellow onion, chopped
1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
5 garlic cloves, minced
4 cups low-sodium (gluten-free) chicken broth or homemade stock (which is much better)
1/4 cup tequila
1 teaspoon ground cumin
2 teaspoons tomato paste
3 teaspoons chopped seeded chipotle chili, canned in adobo sauce
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
1 (14.5-ounce) can low/no sodium diced tomatoes, undrained
24 littleneck clams
1/2 pound sea scallops (fresh diver scallops preferred if available)
1/2 pound peeled and deveined medium shrimp
1 lime juiced
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1/4 cup chopped green onions

Directions:
1. Using a stiff bristle brush, scrub the clams removing any loose debris. Heat olive oil in a Dutch oven coated with cooking spray over medium-high heat. Add yellow onion, bell pepper, black pepper, and salt to pan; sauté 5 minutes or until the onions are translucent.
2. Add garlic; sauté 2 minutes, being careful not to burn the garlic. Add the chicken stock/broth, tequila, cumin, tomato paste, chipotle, thyme oregano, and turmeric. Reduce heat to low, and simmer 4 minutes, stirring occasionally.
3. Add the clams and cover cooking for about 8 minutes or until shells open. Discard any unopened shells.
4. Add the shrimp and scallops to the soup; cook 7 minutes or just until done.
5. Add the lime juice.
6. Ladle into large shallow bowls; garnish with cilantro, and green onions.

For added heat and smokiness, just and more

Want to do something special for your significant other? Ask about our Aphrodisiac dinner offering. Remember, Valentine's Day is just around the corner, so consider getting an Aphrodisiac Dinner gift card for that special person in your life.

Until next time, greet a perfect stranger with a big smile, and shake hands asking him/her "Remember me?" When they look confused and admit they don't, tell them "Some friend you are," and walk away. They'll be scratching their head all day trying to "place you."

Blessings and good times,
Chef David Hall
Thyme for a Chef, LLC
www.thymeforachef.com
(impractical joker and chef at large)

"New Year, New You!" Event GIVEAWAY and Feature on Bakery on Main!

2012-01-14T00:01:00.000-08:00

Bakery On Main has come out with some great new products! We recently had the opportunity of reviewing their three new certified gluten free, instant oatmeal's and oh my goodness were they good! With flavors like Maple Multigrain Muffin, Apple Pie and my personal favorite, Strawberry Shortcake how could you go wrong? You can't and they most certainly did not. These hot cereals are definitely the best certified gluten free oatmeal's I have had yet. I really love keeping quick, healthy things like this on hand for those mornings when you just don't feel like cooking or when you are in a hurry but don't want to fill your belly with the lack of nutrients that most cold cereals offer. Ingredients like certified gluten free oats which have been shown to aide in weight loss when enjoyed in moderation at breakfast, freeze dried fruits, chia seeds, flax meal, quinoa, amaranth and sea salt I know I am feeding my boys a nutritious breakfast as well as helping myself keep off the pounds. There is evaporated cane juice as a sweetener but with 10 grams per packet (which makes up a nice big bowl of hot cereal) I feel that the roughly teaspoon and a half of sweetener isn't too bad, especially when considering all the great, whole grain nutrients that are also in the bowl.

Strawberry Shortcake was so nostalgic for me as strawberries and cream hot cereal used to be my favorite. I was able to enjoy something I haven't in a long time without losing the integrity of a gluten free meal. The sweetness was just right and I loved the real strawberries in every bite, yum!
Maple Multigrain Muffin really was like biting into a tasty fresh baked muffin without all the unnecessary carbs and sugars. This was also very nice with fresh sliced banana.
Apple Pie was my hubby's favorite. The flavor was just right and was very reminiscent of a homemade apple pie. Apple pie for breakfast, count me in!

So are you ready to win some Bakery On Main products?!

**(1) Grand Prize Winner- will receive a box of each flavor, Strawberry Shortcake, Multigrain Muffin and Apple Pie of Bakery On Main's new instant oatmeal all for themselves!!!

(Required) HERE'S HOW TO ENTER: (Make sure you are a follower of this blog AND please make sure to leave your e-mail with EVERY entry. If you don't leave your e-mail, you will not be chosen as we do need some way to contact you. Thanks! :)

(Mandatory) Become a follower on glutenfreefrenzy.com AND visit Bakery On Main and tell me what OTHER product looks most tasty to you and why this prize is something you would like to win. If you are already a follower, please still leave a comment that you are and do the second part. If possible tell a friend about this site.

Extra Entries:

1. Visit Bakery On Main on Facebook and thank them for this giveaway.

2. Follow Bakery On Main and glutenfreefrenz (yes our Twitter name is without the "y") on Twitter AND tweet about this giveaway with a link to www.glutenfreefrenzy.com.

3. Grab our blog button in the top left corner (beneath the big welcome picture) of this site and place it on your blog. Leave a comment saying you did with a link to the place it is.

4. Post about this giveaway on your blog, Twitter or Facebook with a link back to us. (3 entries!!! So be sure to leave 3 comments for this.)

***EACH ENTRY MUST BE SUBMITTED SEPARATELY!!!

*If you have any questions just post to me. Also, existing fans, and followers of Gluten Free Frenzy you MUST submit that you follow or are a fan to have it count as an entry. I can't go through everyone and submit their entry just for being a fan on my own, so please post that you are already a fan or follower if you are and specify to what (ex. Facebook, blog...) THIS IS A BLOG GIVEAWAY SO ALL ENTRIES TO WIN MUST BE DONE ON THIS BLOG POST...

*Giveaway ends Sunday 1/29/2012 at 11:59 PM (MST). This giveaway is open to the US only.

**This company provided me with sample product for review purposes on this website. I was not paid or compensated in any other way for my reviews. They are my opinions and my opinions alone.

"New Year, New You!" Event Feature on Mr. McDougall's Soups from Right Foods

2012-01-13T13:34:00.000-08:00

All Natural Gluten Free Soups from Dr. McDougall’s Right Foods

Ready-to-Serve Soup Line Offers All Natural, Gluten Free Soups That are Tasty & Filling

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF. (June 6^th, 2011) - Dedicated to promoting natural delicious wellness, Dr. McDougall’s Right Foods® has changed the face of grocery canned soup shelves by introducing a delicious gluten free carton soup line: Dr. McDougall’s Right Foods Ready-to-Serve Soups. Available in fifteen gluten free flavors, the carton-packaged soups are also all natural and are low in fat and calories yet high in fiber and plant based protein. They are great to enjoy at work or for a quick, nutritious dinner.

The ready-to serve soups are available in fifteen gluten free flavors which include Lentil, Black Bean, Vegetable, Split Pea, Chunky Tomato, Vegetable, Light Sodium Lentil, Light Sodium Garden Vegetable, Chili Bean, Chana Masala, Organic Lentil Vegetable, Organic Tortilla, Organic Lower Sodium Black Bean, Organic Lower Sodium Vegetable, Organic Lower Sodium Tomato. All of the soups are gluten free and five are lower sodium, boasting only 290mg sodium per serving without sacrificing great taste.

“Our goal was to create delicious soups that could be enjoyed by busy families on-the-go,” says Dr. McDougall’s Right Foods co-owner Rita Vinnicombe. “With a focus on plant-based protein and fiber, as well as gluten free ingredients, our ready-to-serve soups offer an oasis of great taste that is consistently healthy and nutritious.”

Dr. McDougall’s Right Foods Ready-to-Serve Vegan Soups are packaged in paper-based BPA-free packaging sourced exclusively from certified sustainably managed forests. They are often found in the natural food section of select traditional grocery stores, as well as in many natural food stores and online at www.rightfoods.com as well as Amazon.com. The ready-to-serve soups are sold at an SRP of $3.19 for the natural soups and $3.89 for the organic varieties.

About Dr. McDougall’s Right Foods®

As the nation’s leading natural soup cup brand, Dr. McDougall’s Right Foods offers more than 40 all-natural, healthy meals that deliver on taste, nutrition and satisfaction. All of Dr. McDougall’s Right Foods products, including the company’s new Asian Entrées line, are vegan, low-fat, and free of cholesterol, heavy salt, animal products or genetically modified ingredients. For more information, please visit www.rightfoods.com.

We recently reviewed these soups and found them to be very delicious! The lower sodium soups didn't have enough salt for my liking but the flavor was still great. With a bit of Real Salt they were just right. These soups are great for those of us with celiac disease and other digestive disorders that benefit from higher fiber diets. This is a tasty way to get in those extra grams of fiber. While also being gluten free and vegan.

Vegetable was a great childhood classic with hearty bites of real potato and tasty peas. This classic was one of my favorites!

Lentil was very filling with fiber rich lentils and carrots. This soup is best enjoyed this with a nice slice of thick home made gluten free bread.

Black Bean was surprisingly very tasty with a nice southwest flair. Add chicken for just a little something more. Yum!

Chili Bean was wonderful with just the right amount of spice and seasonings. I loved dipping gluten free tortilla chips in this for a complete meal.

Find Mr. McDougall's at http://www.rightfoods.com/

*Please keep in mind that this is not a dedicated gluten free facility. They do however, meet the standards for gluten free labeling. Please always use your own discretion when choosing to enjoy a gluten free product as we are not responsible for any one else and their consumption of these products.

**Each of these companies provided me with sample product for review purposes on this website. I was not paid or compensated in any other way for my reviews. They are my opinions and my opinions alone.

"New Year, New You!" Event GIVEAWAY and Feature on HappyFamily and HappyBaby!

2012-01-13T00:01:00.000-08:00

My family and I have had the joyous opportunity of trying Happy Baby and Happyfamily organic foods. I have to say that we all loved them! It was so great to find some delicious gluten-free products for my two boys that are not full of the junk that many of the other baby and toddler targeted foods are. I do want to note that not ALL Happybaby and Happyfamily products are gluten-free, however many of them are and those were the ones we tried. Here is what we tried and our thoughts on them.

Happy Baby Melts- These delicious freeze dried yogurt snacks are low in sugar and high in probiotics. My sons would never have known any of this. They literally would have eaten the entire bag in one sitting if I didn't limit him. They LOVED these tasty little treats!

Happy Baby Bites- Yum! We tried the veggie tots and I will tell you what, I loved them just as much as my little guys did! They were a veggie packed little tater tot type snack that we just loved! The potato was a delicious way to hide the rest of the veggies. These are great for lunches or snacking.

Happy Baby Frozen- These are an excellent little meal maker especially for babies. My toddler wanted more texture so they were a great starter for his meal.

Happy Baby and Tot Meals- I couldn't believe how yummy these were! The combination of yogurt, fruits AND veggies makes you think it wouldn't be tasty but my little guys ate them right up. In fact, at some meals Jax ate 2 of them!

Happy Munchies- Broccoli, Kale and Cheddar cheese munchies were so fun for my boys! They were great because they were full of flavor while also being full of great veggies for my kids. They were the perfect size for little hands to pick up while also being soft enough for a crunch but can melt in the mouths of little ones for easy eating.

Happy Baby Organic Puffs- My little Madden just loved these! He would see me get the canister out of the cupboard and would get so excited and start grunting for me to give him some. I loved it! The two gluten free flavors, strawberry and sweet potato were the perfect texture and size for little mouths. They weren't too sweet but sweet enough to pass as a little treat.

As you all know, I always try to include something I find extremely important directly from the manufacturers website, to you as the consumer in my review. I love the following and wanted you to read it for yourself.

Happy Baby's Promise To You

	HAPPYBABY is committed to providing families with the healthiest, most optimal nutrition possible. Besides using the best organic ingredients, we also incorporate the best nature has to offer when it comes to added nutrition, like our sustainable source of DHA, pre and probiotics, and supergrains like Salba and Quinoa.
	HAPPYBABY has partnered with Dr. Sears, well known author and pediatrician to ensure the healthiest formulations possible for baby's growing body. We work together to create products that he feels good about recommending to his patients and you.
	HAPPYBABY has made a "No Junk" promise to ourselves and you. We work hard every day to ensure that our foods are safe, of the highest quality, so you do not need to think about it! You can count us to offer items without added sugar, trans fats, anything artificial, and always in the safest packaging.
	HAPPYBABY makes the best informed decisions about our foods, sourcing and packaging so that we make the very best for our world as well as your family. We are constantly making improvements to our offerings and reducing our carbon footprint. Learn more about our green partnership with Method®.
	HAPPYBABY works with Project Peanut Butter to help feed starving children in Malawi. Every package purchased contributes to this effort. Learn more at projectpeanutbutter.org
	HAPPYBABY wants to feed your mind as well as your tummy. Come to our site to learn and view tips and tricks from our experts as well as other moms, dads and caregivers. Read more in our book—a great resource guide for parents on feeding, nutrition and green parenting options.
	HAPPYBABY promises to always support organic. We believe that children deserve delicious foods free from chemicals, pesticides, artificial ingredients, and preservatives. Healthy bodies, healthy world.

So are you ready to win some Happy Baby and Happy Family Organic Foods?!

**(1) Grand Prize Winner- will receive free an AMAZING prize pack which includes the following: FREE Coupons for each product line (2 for each product line), Recipes and Nutrition Guide  HAPPYFAMILY FAQ

(Required) HERE'S HOW TO ENTER: (Make sure you are a follower of this blog AND please make sure to leave your e-mail with EVERY entry. If you don't leave your e-mail, you will not be chosen as we do need some way to contact you. Thanks! :)

(Mandatory) Become a follower on glutenfreefrenzy.com AND visit Happy Baby Foods and tell me a product that looks most tasty to you and why this prize is something you would like to win. If you are already a follower, please still leave a comment that you are and do the second part. If possible tell a friend about this site.

Extra Entries:

1. Visit Happy Baby Foods on Facebook and thank them for this giveaway.

2. Follow Happy Baby Foods and glutenfreefrenz (yes our Twitter name is without the "y") on Twitter AND tweet about this giveaway with a link to www.glutenfreefrenzy.com.

3. Grab our blog button in the top left corner (beneath the big welcome picture) of this site and place it on your blog. Leave a comment saying you did with a link to the place it is.

4. Post about this giveaway on your blog, Twitter or Facebook with a link back to us. (3 entries!!! So be sure to leave 3 comments for this.)

***EACH ENTRY MUST BE SUBMITTED SEPARATELY!!!

*If you have any questions just post to me. Also, existing fans, and followers of Gluten Free Frenzy you MUST submit that you follow or are a fan to have it count as an entry. I can't go through everyone and submit their entry just for being a fan on my own, so please post that you are already a fan or follower if you are and specify to what (ex. Facebook, blog...) THIS IS A BLOG GIVEAWAY SO ALL ENTRIES TO WIN MUST BE DONE ON THIS BLOG POST...

*Giveaway ends Sunday 1/29/2012 at 11:59 PM (MST). This giveaway is open to the US only.

*Please keep in mind that this is not a dedicated gluten free facility. They do however, meet the standards for gluten free labeling. Please always use your own discretion when choosing to enjoy a gluten free product as we are not responsible for any one else and their consumption of these products.

**This company provided me with sample product for review purposes on this website. I was not paid or compensated in any other way for my reviews. They are my opinions and my opinions alone.

Gluten Free Frenzy!

"Sweets For Your Sweet!" Danell's Signature Blend GIVEAWAY and feature!

So are you ready to win some delicious Danell's Signature Blends?!

**(1) Grand Prize Winner- will be receiving one bag of each of her mixes all for themselves!!! That's a bag of All-Purpose Flour, Pancake Mix, Brownie Mix, Chocolate Frosting and Pizza Crust...yum!

*Extra Entry #2: Follow Gluten Free Frenzy and Danell's Signature Blend on Twitter. Leave a comment here saying you do.

*Extra Entry #5: Post about this giveaway on your blog with a link back to us. Leave a comment WITH THE LINK TO YOUR POST here.

*Extra Entry #6: Subscribe to glutenfreefrenzy.com by e-mail. (On the right hand side under followers.)

*Giveaway ends Wednesday February 29, 2012 at 11:59 PM (MST). This giveaway is open to the US only.

**I was provided with sample product from this company for review purposes on this website. I was not paid or compensated in any other way for my reviews. They are my opinions and my opinions alone.

Garlic Butter Green Beans

24 Carrots Restaurant Feature and Review

Gluten Free Creations Feature & Review-Valentines and St. Patricks Day!

Katz NEW Gluten Free Donuts!!!

TTT-Tuesdays Tasty Tip with Chef David Hall

"Sweets For Your Sweet" Event GIVEAWAY and feature of Cookies From Home!

Gluten Free Cookies & Milk Themed 1st Birthday!!!

"Sweets For Your Sweet" Jewel's Cupcake Shop Valentines GIVEAWAY and feature/review!

So are you ready to win some yummy Jewel's Cupcake Shop delectable gluten free treats?!

**(1) Grand Prize Winner (nationwide)- will be receiving 4 Almond raspberry linzer cookies, their choice of cookie or brownie mix, and one 2 lb bag of all purpose flour all for themselves!!!

**(1) LOCAL TO ARIZONA, Grand Prize Winner- will be receiving 4 almond raspberry linzer cookies, their choice of heart cookie, brownie or cupcakes and one 2 lb bag of all purpose flour!!!

*Extra Entry #6: Subscribe to glutenfreefrenzy.com by e-mail. (On the right hand side under followers.)

*Giveaway ends Friday February 10, 2012 at 11:59 PM (MST). This giveaway is open to the US only.

**I was provided with sample product from this company for review purposes on this website. I was not paid or compensated in any other way for my reviews. They are my opinions and my opinions alone.

Rise and Shine, It's Groundhog Day!!!

Feature GF Bloggers-Gluten Free Gidget

TTT-Tuesdays Tasty Tip with Chef David Hall

Giveaway Winners!!!

Valentines done gluten free (at home)!!!

Josh's Famous Barbeque Chicken and Funeral Potatoes

"New Year, New You!" GIVEAWAY and Feature/review on Boulder Granola!

(Required) HERE'S HOW TO ENTER: (Make sure you are a follower of this blog AND please make sure to leave your e-mail with EVERY entry. If you don't leave your e-mail, you will not be chosen as we do need some way to contact you. Thanks! :)

Kettle Cuisine Gluten Free Community Contest!

"New Year, New You!" GIVEAWAY and feature on Laura's Wholesome Junkfood!!!

(Required) HERE'S HOW TO ENTER: (Make sure you are a follower of this blog AND please make sure to leave your e-mail with EVERY entry. If you don't leave your e-mail, you will not be chosen as we do need some way to contact you. Thanks! :)

TTT-Tuesdays Tasty Tip with Chef David Hall

New Grains Bakery GIVEAWAY and feature/review!!!

(Required) HERE'S HOW TO ENTER: (Make sure you are a follower of this blog AND please make sure to leave your e-mail with EVERY entry. If you don't leave your e-mail, you will not be chosen as we do need some way to contact you. Thanks! :)

Reliv Gluten Free Products Feature and Review

TTT-Tuesdays Tasty Tip with Chef David Hall

"New Year, New You!" Event GIVEAWAY and Feature on Bakery on Main!

(Required) HERE'S HOW TO ENTER: (Make sure you are a follower of this blog AND please make sure to leave your e-mail with EVERY entry. If you don't leave your e-mail, you will not be chosen as we do need some way to contact you. Thanks! :)

"New Year, New You!" Event Feature on Mr. McDougall's Soups from Right Foods

"New Year, New You!" Event GIVEAWAY and Feature on HappyFamily and HappyBaby!

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