Have you heard about “The Perfect 10 Kookie” or Karlie’s Kookies?  It is this amazing cookie kookie that was created by famed Momofuku Milk Bar pastry chef, Christina Tosi and her long-time friend and supermodel, Karlie Kloss.  More about the kookie:

The Perfect 10 Kookie (see recipe below) is a delicious treat made with healthy, all natural ingredients and is dairy-free, gluten-free and sweetened with agave.  The cookies are available for sale at Momofuku Milk Bar in Manhattan and 30 percent of the proceeds go to FEED, an organization that provides school meals to children around the world through the United National World School Feeding program. Each “perfect 10 kookie” sold provides 10 school meals to hungry children around the world.

I was blown away by these kookies!  They have a wonderful texture and flavor and I love the simple and natural ingredient list. I kept waking up thinking of the cookies and almost justified having one for breakfast!

Ingredients:

• 7 cups almond flour
• 4 1/4 cups gluten-free oats
• 1 tsp kosher salt
• 1 tbsp cornstarch
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1 cup slivered almonds
• 1/4 cup vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1 cup agave
• 1 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips

(Makes 20-24 large cookies)

The cookies can be made by following the recipe above, or enter below for a chance to win one of 5 giveaway packages of Karlie’s Kookies.  Each winner will receive 2 tins of Karlies Kookies!

Continue reading →

Even though the groundhog seems to be a liar based on our recent weather, February is still coming to an end and that is something I am happy about.  We are less than 2 weeks away from “Springing Forward” which means more daylight and it always seems like there is more time to get things done.  I hope the weather follows and we start seeing more days that are warmer than this crap we have now. 

Have you seen this new Pop Crunch snack from Orville Redenbacher?  The bags say “Gluten-Free” right on the front (Holla!), so of course they caught my eye.  I didn’t pick up a bag because I already had plenty of snacks at home, but I am interested in trying them at some point.  Upon searching on the website I found there are 4 different varieties:

• Brown Sugar Cinnamon
• White & Sharp Cheddar Mix
• Cheddar & Caramel Mix
• Paremsan Herb Mix

I noticed there is a “Gourmet” line as well, but was unable to find out if they were labeled “Gluten-Free”, as that page would not open.  Anyone try this yet?

Tuesday – Baked Ziti, peas and salad

Wednesday – Leftovers

Thursday – BBQ pulled pork tacos, black beans, corn and salad

Friday – Make your own pizza and salad

Saturday – Takeout

Miles for Myelin – Enter to win a gluten-free food package worth over $50 by donating at least $5.00 towards MS research.

Only 1 more day to enter to win a great gluten-free package from the Almond Board of California!

Review: Emmy’s Organic Macaroons <—Best.Ever.Macaroon.

Manischweitz debuts new gluten-free products just in time for Passover.

Accidentally Ingesting Gluten…how do you handle this?

Appetizer Recipe: Easee Capresee Piecee

Have a great week!

The 85th Academy Awards are tonight and what better way to enjoy the evening than with some fun gluten-free appetizers? Glutino recently introduced Gluten-Free Sea Salt Crackers that make a great base for many appetizer combinations. 

These crackers are awesome straight out of the box, but the Oscars are a time to get dressed up, so dress up your gluten-free crackers with this mouth-watering recipe.

Easee Capresee Piecee

Ingredients:

• Fresh mozzarella cheese, cut into bite-size slices
• Cherry tomato halves
• Fresh basil leaves
• Olive oil
• Kosher salt
• Balsamic vinegar
• Glutino Gluten-Free Snack Crackers

Instructions:

On a Glutino Gluten-Free Snack Cracker, stack a slice of mozzarella, a basil leaf, a cherry tomato half and a blip of olive oil, a flick of Kosher salt and a smirk of balsamic.

Check out some other Oscar-worthy snacks from Glutino.

*Recipe courtesy of Glutino.

I can’t believe I am going to admit this, but I haven’t seen any of the movies that are mentioned on the list except for a few in the Animated Feature Films category.  What does that tell you about my movie companion?  Yes, she is 10 years old.  Of the movies that are mentioned in that category, I would say “Wreck it Ralph” gets my vote (we have seen “Brave” and “ParaNorman” too).  That being said, there are quite a few on the list that I would like to see, such as Argo, Silver Linings Playbook, Lincoln and Zero Dark Thirty. 

Do you plan on watching the Oscars tonight?  Have you seen any of the movies on the list?

Only 2 more days to enter to win a great gluten-free package from the Almond Board of California! 

*The crackers mentioned in this blog post were sent to me free of charge for the purpose of sharing this recipe and my thoughts.  The thoughts and opinions shared on this blog are mine and have not been influenced by anyone or anything.

Almonds are naturally gluten-free and naturally yummy.  I love to eat them by the handful, on salads and baked into my favortie recipes.  I am excited to share the winning recipes of the Almond Board of California’s Nutrition Pros Know Best Almond Challenge, where nutrition professionals submitted their best almond-inspired recipes.  I made both recipes and fell in love.  My favorite is the Intense Chocolate Almond Bites – these little bites of heaven are so easy to make and are the perfect way to end a meal or even refuel after a tough workout!

Intense Chocolate Almond Bites (Gluten-free)

Created by Cheryl Harris, MPH, RD, CWC, CLC

Ingredients

· 1 cup whole roasted almonds

· ⅓ cup cocoa powder

· ¼ tsp salt

· ¼ cup honey

· ½ tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 325º.

2. Put the almonds, cocoa powder and salt in a food processor and grind until only small pieces of almond remain, about 2 minutes.

3. Add in honey and vanilla extract and pulse for 30 seconds.

4. Form into balls the size of a cherry and flatten down.

5. Place on a Silpat mat or parchment lined cookie sheet for ease of cleanup (these do not spread, so feel free to put them close together).

6. Cook for 9-11 minutes or until browning.

7. The bites harden as they cool after baking.

Makes 20 bites, serving size is four bites

Approximate calories per serving: 205 calories

The other winning recipe was very good, but chocolate anything is the way to my heart.

Orange Almond Cake (Gluten-free)

Created by Laura Uyemura, RD

Ingredients

· 4 large egg yolks

· 2 Tbsp orange zest

· ½ tsp cinnamon

· 2 Tbsp sugar

· 1½ cups almond flour or almond meal*

· 2 Tbsp sugar

· 4 large egg whites

· 4 Tbsp sugar

· Pinch salt

· Powdered sugar

· 2-3 Tbsp slivered almonds for decoration

*You can purchase almond flour or almond meal, the latter is ground with skin. You may also grind your own in a food processor or blender, using about 1½ to 2 cups of almonds.

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375º

2. Prepare a 9 inch cake pan or springform pan: grease bottom and sides well. Cut out a circle of wax paper and fit it into the bottom of the pan. Grease the paper. Coat the bottom and sides of the pan with almond flour, shaking out the excess.

3. Beat egg yolks, zest, cinnamon, and 2 Tbsp sugar with electric mixer.

4. Mix almond flour with 2 Tbsp sugar and stir into the mixture above.

5. Beat egg whites, pinch of salt, and 4 Tbsp sugar until soft peaks form.

6. Blend a large spoonful of the egg white mixture into the almond mixture with a spatula. (It will be very stiff so mash it in, and add more whites until it’s soft enough to fold in the rest.)

7. Fold in the rest of the egg whites.

8. Pour into prepared pan.

9. Bake for 35 minutes until tester comes out clean.

10. Cool in pan, then un-mold and turn onto a serving platter.

11. Sprinkle with powdered sugar and slivered almonds.

Now for the really exciting part! One lucky reader will win almond flour, slivered almonds and whole roasted almonds so they can create the winning recipes.  All you have to do to enter to win is follow the directions in the Rafflecopter box below. Continue reading →

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The gluten-free lifestyle is often mislabeled as an expensive one.  Sure, it can be expensive, but take the time to read the post below contributed by Taste Guru to learn some ways to save some money.

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Gluten Free Savvy on a Shoestring

For many people, making the switch to a gluten-free lifestyle seems like an overwhelming investment. The question “Can I afford it?” often is one of the first things that comes up in the doctor’s office. Unfortunately, consumers who judge the cost of gluten-free living by that special aisle in the grocery store packed with fancy alternative flours and various processed foods are not getting a realistic idea of the bigger picture. In reality, gluten-free living is largely about eating unprocessed, whole foods. Despite the assumption that these foods are more expensive, they are actually the least expensive options for someone with cooking basics in their back pocket.

There are many natural, delicious, and versatile foods that fall under the guise of gluten free, like black beans, brown rice, sweet potatoes, and eggs. These simple, delicious basics can be turned into a multitude of meal options with some simple, healthy recipes at your disposal. Feeling overwhelmed? Here are some handy tips for cutting back on your gluten-free food budget.

Stock Up During Sales

There are some days when you just crave a big bowl of spaghetti or a couple of easy-to-make brownies. Fortunately gluten-free pantry staples like baking mixes, pasta, and specialized flour go on sale several times throughout the year and can be found regularly on sale or discounted through bulk-buying deals or subscriptions on Amazon. They also last quite a while in the pantry. So when you find a good deal on these items stock up!

Embrace Your Inner Coupon Clipper

Don’t underestimate the power of the Sunday newspaper! Clipping coupons for gluten-free pantry items can put more than just pennies back in your wallet, especially when combined with a sale. Be sure to check in with your favorite gluten-free brands online, as most regularly post coupons on their websites or social media accounts. Also, plenty of frugal gluten-free foodies out there regularly compile the best and newest coupons available on the web, so be sure to bookmark these sites.

● Stockpiling Moms

● Coupon Divas

● Surviving the Stores

Get Trendy and DIY

Believe it or not, making your own gluten-free snacks like cookies, cakes, and other treats often is cheaper than buying processed gluten-free food. You’ll also get the added benefit that it’s likely healthier, lower in sugar, and lacking other unhealthy additions, as well.

Find a few hours in your week to hunker down and whip up gluten-free muffins, breads, and other freezer-friendly meals for the week or month. Cooking in large batches and freezing means you always have gluten-free goodies on hand, helping to reduce impulse purchases of expensive, processed gluten-free food and snacks. It will allow you to stretch your meats, beans, baking supplies, and gluten-free grains further. Not sure where to start? Hearty options like Lentil Stew and Chinese Rice Stew with Chicken freeze well, use fresh ingredients, and they taste good, too!

Mull Over a Meal Plan

You crave a frugal, gluten-free lifestyle, right? So, to stay on-budget, your kitchen should run like a well-oiled machine with a rotating meal plan. Make sure to consider what fruits and vegetables are in-season, what recipes are in-house favorites (try storing them in an online recipe box), and create a schedule so that you can cook ahead, freeze, and mix-up your culinary adventures.

If you’re at a loss of where to start, check out these websites for some tantalizing, budget-conscious gluten-free meal plans.

● $5 Dinners

● Stockpiling Moms

● The Peaceful Mom

● The Gluten-Free Homemaker

Whatever you do, make sure that you stick to your gluten-free diet in a fun, frugal, and meaningful way. Think of your newfound diet and all of the new and exciting food adventures as a means of enhancing your health — not detracting from it.

Founded by a celiac sufferer, Taste Guru is a gluten-free box of the month club committed to boxing up the tastiest and most exciting gluten-free products on the market every month and delivering them with free shipping right to your door! Sign up now using code PINGURU and get six months for only $100!

For delicious gluten-free recipes, tips, and news, check out Taste Guru on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter.

It’s Monday!  Are you ready for a new week?  I had a couple of early morning (5:30 AM) clients today and it was 18 when I left for work.  I am so ready for the cold weather to be gone.  Apparently the temperature will be getting up to 50 later today, which will seem warm after this weekend.  I guess I should celebrate that the temperature is predicted to be over 20 for our long run on Saturday.

I read yesterday over at Gluten-Free Philly that California Pizza Kitchen will be testing gluten-free pizzas later this year.  I sure hope that they take all of the necessary precautions, unlike last time.  They do currently offer several gluten-free menu items, though I am not sure how safe I feel eating there seeing that they didn’t seem to grasp the seriousness of cross-contamination.

Monday – Sweet Thai Chile salmon, coconut baked brown rice, sugar snap peas and salad

Tuesday – Easy Enchilada Bake, corn and salad

Wednesday – Italian grilled chicken, fettuccine Alfredo and salad

Thursday – Waffles and fruit salad

Friday – Make your own pizza and salad

Saturday – Take-out

Make sure to check out more gluten-free menu plans over at Jo-Lynne Shaw’s Musings of a Housewife.

Week in Review

Miles for Myelin – Enter to win a gluten-free food package worth over $50 by donating at least $5.00 towards MS research.

Review and discount on Core Defender Meal Bars

Refrigerated cookie dough review: Yes, you can eat this straight from the refrigerator!

Review: Trader Joe’s Flourless Chocolate Cake

Review: Trader Joe’s Chocolate Chip Brownie

Have a great week!

Working out later in the day always poses a challenge for me, especially if the workout is around dinner time.  Some Tuesday nights I go to BodyPump class with my friends and then grab a drink after the class, so I am forced to eat a small, early dinner and then to refuel with a larger than normal protein bar or late dinner.

It seems perfectly fitting that I received some complimentary samples of the new Core Defender Meal Bars to try out just as I was trying to figure out the best way to fuel my body on these tough days.

CORE Meals are a fresh, full bowl of raw oatmeal to go. Eat like a bar, drink water, and you’ll be satisfied for hours! Made from 7 whole, raw, 100% organic, tested GF ingredients, the whole foods in CORE Meals provide powerful, stable energy. With a controlled, fully balanced ratio of calories, complex carbs, lean proteins, and healthy fats, CORE Meals are loved by athletes for pre/post workout meals and depended upon by busy moms and adventurers. Learn more from our Frequently Asked Questions, explore our ingredients, and enjoy! 🙂

Some background on Core Foods:

On a quest to get to the bottom of human nutrition, our founder Corey Rennell trained with elite athletes, researched the biology of food and lived with 12 tribes from around the world. Remarkably, he discovered the most profound and consistent things we know about nutrition are REALLY SIMPLE. At CORE, we apply this enduring wisdom to make convenient, healthy, food. Inspired by the inherent reciprocity of the traditional people Corey lived with, CORE Foods is a not-for-profit B Corporation, with 100% of profit being reinvested in food, community, and the planet. We believe that healthy food is a human right and we strive to separate food from profit in the way we do business.

Many protein bars are candy bars in disguise, but not these bars!  These bars are full of real, wholesome ingredients.  There are three varieties of the Defender bars:

• Raw Walnut Banana – Whole oats, raisins, flax, bananas, ground spices
• Raw Cashew Cacao – Whole oats, cashews, cacao, raisins, flax, ground spices
• Raw Almond Raisin – Whole oats, almonds, raisins flax, ground spices

I emailed my contact to make sure the oats were from a gluten-free source and received this response:

Hi Kim,

Thanks for contacting us! We source our oats from Bob’s Red Mill (http://www.bobsredmill.com/gluten-free-information.html).  While his oats aren’t certified gluten free, we’ve spoken to numerous celiacs specialists who have given a nod to his lack of certification because of his fastidious management of a separate processing line.

While we are not working in a gluten free kitchen, we have more stringent standards for washing and preparing the kitchen for our product run than most facilities or companies do.  To top it all off, we test every batch of our product for gluten using EZ gluten strips from Elisa Labs.  This test system tests to 10ppm and we complete it on every flavor beginning, middle and end.

If you have any questions or hesitations, please feel free to contact us!

Best,

Laraine

Raw Cashew Cacao Bar

I was impressed with the flavor of the bars.  They aren’t sweet, which is a good thing, and you can actually taste each and every ingredient.  I believe the Raw Banana Walnut is my favorite of the three.  The package recommends drinking 2 glasses of water along with the bar in order for it to equal a meal – a bowl of oatmeal.  I was full from the bar and 1 glass, so I am not sure how I could have drunk another glass of water.  The bars are very satisfying and have between 350-400 calories, 11-12 grams of protein, 19-24 grams of fat, 7-8 grams of fiber and 20-21% of the RDA of iron.  The bars are real food, so they go bad and must be kept in the refrigerator (2 months) or freezer (6 months).  They can be kept for a week on-the-go if necessary.

The Defender Bars can be purchased directly from the Core website for $39.99 for 10 meals (bars).  Like I have said before, while they are pricey, consider the convenience of the bars and that they are on-the-goal meals that are roughly twice the size and calories of the traditional bar.  “Like” Core Foods on Facebook for a $5.00 off coupon and to enter to win a free case ($40 worth!).

*These bars were sent to me free of charge for review purposes.  The thoughts and opinions shared here are mine and have not been influenced by anyone or anything.

I have a close friend who was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in October of 2006.  I met Melissa just a little over a year ago while training for 5 half marathons with MIT.  We ran together for many miles of training and then for 3 of my 5 half marathons last year.  Melissa is an amazing woman who is doing a phenomenal job of showing MS who is boss – she runs her MS, it does not run her.

Melissa and me completing our last half marathon of 2012 with a PR for her – 1:54:25.

Melissa started a team – Miles for Myelin – to help raise money to support cutting edge research projects, as well as provide programs which address the needs of people living with MS today.  I have happily joined this team and will be running for MS because I want to do something for the people who have been diagnosed – and because we want to prevent more people from learning what it means to live with MS. Today, there is no cure for multiple sclerosis, and with a diagnosis occurring every hour in this country, it’s time to act. Diagnosis is most common between the ages of 20 and 50, and individuals face a lifetime filled with unpredictability.  I will be running the Cap City Half Marathon (for the third time) on May 4, 2013 as a Miles for Myelin team member.

More about Melissa and her story:

I love saying Run MS! My motto since the beginning has been, “I have MS, it doesn’t have me”. Since finding out that I have MS in 2006 my life has changed completely. I have changed completely. I have learned who I am and I have learned that I can do ANYTHING that I put my mind to. I love saying Run MS because I fear that someday MS might Run me. Not today though. Today I run my MS and today I will do everything I  can to keep it that way for a very long time.

I have known since October 10, 2006 that I have Multiple Sclerosis. I decided, maybe that not day but shortly after, that I couldn’t be sorry for myself. Life would go on and I could either hate every day and be miserable or work with what I did have. At that time, I had no strength on the right side of my body. In fact I was admitted to the Hospital for having a stroke. I couldn’t write or use my right arm for much of anything, my mouth drooped (really not attractive!) and my right foot kinda drug on the ground when I walked.

Fortunately, with a lot of steroids, physical therapy and occupational therapy I regained most of the strength that was lost. I’ve had flare ups since then and I’ve been through 4 different drugs. I’m on the 5Th now and it seems to be doing it’s job. Thank you God. But there are side effects. In fact, all of the options have very severe side effects. That is why I am so passionate about raising awareness and funds for research. I have three children and a husband that I never want to cause burden or pain. I hope that someday soon they can discover not only better treatments but a cure.

“Commit to the Lord whatever you do and your plans will succeed.” Proverbs 16:30

Melissa also follows a gluten-free (Paleo) diet to manage her MS and her daughter’s ADHD.  You can follow her progress and yummy meals on her Facebook page – Run This House.

I am trying to reach a goal of raising $500 to help Melissa reach her goal of raising $10,000 this year for Multiple Sclerosis.  Can you help us reach that goal?  Click here to donate – every bit counts, but for each donation of at least $5.00 you will be entered to win a box of gluten-free goodies from Gluten-Free is Life!

The package will include:

• Lucy’s Holiday Sugars Cookies
• Jo-Sef Chocolate O’s
• Cocomama Quinoa Cereal pouches (2)
• Enjoy Life Not Nuts Seed and Fruit Mix – Mountain Mambo
• Lucy’s Brownie Cakes
• Annie’s Homegrown Cocoa & Vanilla Bunny Cookies
• Crunchmaster 7 Ancient Grains Hint of Sea Salt Crackers
• Orgran Outback Animals Chocolate Cookies
• LaraBars (7 various flavors)
• Van’s Whole Grain Cereal Bars (3 – one of each variety)
• Schar Cheese Bites
• Turbana Plantain Chips
• Crispy Natural Chips

This package has a retail value over $50!!  I may even toss in some more goodies if I reach my goal of $500!  So, head over to donate and don’t forget to leave a comment telling me that you did!

In order to be entered in the giveaway, please post a comment below letting me know that you donated at least $5.00.  You don’t have to share the amount publicly here or on the donation page, but I need to be able to verify the donation and cross-reference via the comment you leave in order for your entry to count.

*Some of the items in the prize package were sent to me free of charge for sampling purposes and there was more than we could eat.

Cold winter mornings are the perfect time to wake up slowly, drink a cup of piping hot coffee and enjoy a warm bowl of cereal.  I like gluten-free oats, but was intrigued when I heard about Cocomama Quinoa Cereal.  Sure I have made my own version of quinoa cereal in the past, but I loved the convenience of the Cocomama cereals. 

More about Cocomama:

In 2008, Sara Gragnolati discovered she had food allergies. So she decided to take charge when her taste buds were appalled by the gluten-free offerings on the market. She discovered ingredients like quinoa and amaranth and wondered why very few packaged foods took advantage of these versatile and nutrition-packed foods. Thousands of years ago, these energy-inducing super proteins were considered sacred. (True story.)  Thus, Cocomama was created.

There are four varieties of Heat & Eat Quinoa Cereals:

Honey Almond – water, coconut cream, organic quinoa, honey, cranberries, orange juice, natural flavors, sea salt

Orange Cranberry – water, coconut cream, organic quinoa, honey, kaniwa, natural flavors, sea salt

Wild Blueberry – water, wild blueberries, coconut cream, organic quinoa, pure maple syrup, natural flavors, wild blueberry powder, lemon juice, sea salt, cinnamon

Banana Cinnamon – water, banana puree, coconut cream, organic quinoa, pure maple syrup, natural flavors, cinnamon, sea salt

More about the quinoa cereals:

Enjoy a wholesome meal wherever life takes you. Cocomama’s innovative packaging makes it easy to eat healthy on the go. There’s no preparation required—all of our Quinoa Cereals are fully cooked in a nutritious, light coconut milk and sweetened with all natural sweeteners and real fruit. We’ve done all the work, all you have to do it simply tear open the pouch, stir (heat, if you want it warm) and enjoy as snack or a meal.

Each pouch of cereal contains between 210 and 240 calories, 4-5 grams of protein, 2-3 grams of fiber and 8-10 grams of fat.  It doesn’t get much easier to eat a healthy breakfast than this, folks.  If you have the luxury of being at home to make breakfast, you can probably do so a little cheaper, but if you don’t have that luxury, and are always on-the-go, these are perfect!  I tried the cereals both ways – cold and warm –and while I prefer them warm, that is just my preference.  I was unsure about these pouches of cereal keeping me full until snack or lunch time. I was pleasantly surprised to see that I lasted 3+ hours! Not only are these filling and satisfying, but they taste great, too!  I love the simple list of ingredients, although I am not going to lie, I did have to Google “kaniwa”.  Turns out is a close relative of quinoa, but doesn’t have the saponins, which is the outer coating that gives quinoa that soapy/bitter flavor if not rinsed well.  Huh…I always say you learn something new every day!  

Cocomama Quinoa Cereal can be purchased directly from the Cocomama website or Amazon.com. 

*These products were sent to me free of charge for review purposes.  The thoughts and opinions shared here are mine and have not been influenced by anyone or anything.