Gluten Free Holiday Cookies from Lucy's - Limited Edition!

The nice folks at Lucy's are spreading holiday cheer with two limited edition gluten free cookie flavors: Holiday Sugars and Chocolate Merry Mint.  The Holiday Sugar cookies are sprinkle with sparkling sugar and the Chocolate Merry Mint cookies have a hint of delicious mint flavor!

Tuck Lucy's gluten free holiday cookies into lunchboxes or offer them on trays at your next holiday get together.  My kids also love them with a cup of hot cocoa after school for a special treat.  However you decide to serve them, these delicious holiday cookies  are sure to be a hit with the whole family!

Lucy's limited edition holiday cookies will only be available throughout holidays so don't miss them!

Saffron Road Introduces Gluten Free Crunchy Chickpeas!

Have you tried the new Crunchy Chickpeas snacks from Saffron Road?  They are a healthy gluten free alternative to fried, fat-laden snacks, offering 6 grams of protein and only 4 grams of fat per serving.  These addicting little morsels come in 3 yummy flavors to suit every palette: Falafel (my personal favorite), Bombay Spice and Wasabi.

Saffron Road's Crunchy Chickpeas are made with organic chickpeas that are certified Non-GMO.  They are perfect for snacking at home or on the go.  Try putting out bowls of all three flavors at your holiday gatherings... they are sure to stir up some "spicy" conversation.

You can find Crunchy Chickpeas at your local Whole Foods Market.

Lucy's Introduces NEW Gluten Free Brownie Cakes and Snack N’ Go Packs

Now available in stores!

Does your family love Lucy’s gluten-free cookies as much as mine does?  If so, you will be happy to hear that Lucy's has added two new lunchbox-friendly products to its baked goods line... Lucy’s Snack N’ Go cookie packs and Brownie Cakes.  Both products are now available in stores!

I greatly appreciate the convenience factor of Lucy's new Gluten Free Brownie Cakes and Snack N’ Go Packs; being that I pack my daughter a gluten free lunch for school each day it is a blessing when I can quickly add a lunch component that is delicious, pre-wrapped and safe for her to eat.  Lucy's has really hit the taste target with their yummy Brownie packs... my daughter says they are her new favorite gluten free treat!  Of course we are long time fans of Lucy's cookies as well; you can check out my previous Lucy's gluten free cookie review here.

About the products...

Snack N’ Go Packs: Conveniently packaged in a serving of three cookies in individual foil packs (six foil packs per box). Each pack is one serving, ranging from 120-130 calories with 0mg cholesterol and 0g trans fat. Suggested retail price is $5.49.  Available in two varieties: a box dedicated only to Chocolate Chip , and a Combo box, which includes Chocolate Chip, Maple Bliss, and Chocolate cookies (two packs of each flavor). As always, Lucy’s cookies are gluten free, vegan, non-GMO, and made without milk, eggs, peanuts, or tree nuts. 

Lucy’s Brownie Cakes: Four two-brownie packs come in each 8.2 oz box for a suggested retail price of $5.49. A serving size is one brownie, for 120 calories, 0mg cholesterol and 0g trans fat. These rich chocolate brownies are also gluten free, vegan, non-GMO and made without milk, eggs, peanuts, or tree nuts.

About Dr. Lucy’s LLC...

"Through the brand Lucy’s, Dr. Lucy’s LLC creates and markets delicious, high quality, convenient foods for people with and without special dietary considerations. On the market since December 2007, Lucy’s currently offers seven flavors of gluten-free allergy-friendly cookies—Ginger Snap, Maple Bliss, Chocolate, Chocolate Chip, Cinnamon Thin, Sugar and Oatmeal packaged in both 5.5 ounce boxes and 1.25 ounce grab & go packs. Now adding convenient Snack’n Go cookie packs, and all new Brownie Cakes. All treats are baked without wheat, gluten, dairy milk, butter, eggs, casein, peanuts or tree nuts. Lucy’s incorporates a three component allergen control program that includes selectively sourcing raw materials, testing for trace allergens in an on-site lab and baking in a dedicated facility."

GIVEAWAY WINNER: Gluten Free Breakfast Kit

And the winner is:

gkuroda (comment #5)

Congratulations! You were e-mailed on 6/13/12; please reply to my e-mail (not this post) within 48 hours or a new winner will be chosen.

Special thanks to the Kellogg Company® for sponsoring this giveaway!

Cookbook Review: Betty Crocker Gluten Free Cooking

As many of you know I am a lifelong fan of all things Betty Crocker.  I love that they have created affordable and tasty gluten free foods in the last few years, especially their dessert mixes and Bisquick.  Now the folks at Betty Crocker have written a gluten free cookbook full of delicious recipes, some using Betty Crocker gluten free mixes and others using regular gluten free flours.  I personally appreciate the recipes that use the Betty Crocker gluten free mixes, as they are time savers for my busy family.

I made a super-easy cherry coffee cake recipe from the Betty Crocker Gluten Free Cooking book that utilized gluten free Bisquick and my family loved it!  The cake was moist and flavorful and was a real treat for breakfast or dessert.  You can substitute any flavor of canned pie filling you wish in the recipe with great results; I will definitely make it again.

I am looking forward to making many more of the recipes from Betty Crocker Gluten Free Cooking.  I hope you will enjoy this wonderful additional to your gluten free cookbook library as much as I do!

GIVEAWAY: Gluten Free Breakfast Kit ($70.00 approx. retail value)!

GIVEAWAY PRIZE is One (1) “KELLOGG’S® RICE KRISPIES® GLUTEN FREE BREAKFAST KIT: one (1) nine-ounce box of Gluten-Free Rice Krispies ®, one (1) Kellogg's Rice Krispies® Assorted Mugs, four (4) Linden Street Boston Checks Placemats from JC Penny, four (4) Gerber Daisy White Napkin Rings from Crate & Barrel, one (1) Set of Monogrammed Napkins from West Elm, and two (2) Rice Krispies Snap!™ Crackle!™ Pop!™ Bowls . Total ARV: $70

I have been a fan of Rice Krispies cereal since my childhood; I can still remember putting my ear to the cereal bowl to hear them snap, crackle & pop! Now I enjoy sharing gluten free Rice Krispies cereal with my daughter.  To help gluten free families like mine, Rice Krispies has teamed up with “The Gluten-Free Dietitian” Tricia Thompson, MS, RD to to "de-bunk" the following gluten myths:

Myth One: You always have to pay more for gluten-free products.

"Gluten-free doesn’t have to mean more expensive or a trip to a specialty store. For example, a box of Kellogg's Rice Krispies Gluten Free cereal costs the same amount as Kellogg's Rice Krispies and is sold alongside the original blue box."

Myth Two: All gluten-free snacks for kids require extra attention from mom and dad.

"Not all snacks require a lot of time and preparation. With many favorite products now available in gluten-free varieties, it’s easy to whip up a quick gluten-free snack that the whole family will love, like Rice Krispies Gluten-Free Treats™."

Myth Three: Food that’s labeled “gluten-free” is healthy.

"Not all gluten-free products qualify as healthy. When grocery shopping, look for gluten-free cereals, breads, and pastas that are made with gluten-free whole grains or have been fortified or enriched as they are good sources of iron and B vitamins, which may be lacking in gluten-free diets."  

You can find fun gluten free recipes using Rice Krispies cereal on their website, Facebook and Pinterest pages.

How to enter this giveaway: 

Simply leave (1) comment on this post sharing your favorite way to serve or prepare gluten free Rice Krispies cereal; be sure to leave your e-mail address so I can contact you if you win.  Giveaway open to US residents only.  Limit one entry per person.

Giveaway ends Tuesday June 12, 2012 at 3:00 p.m. PST (entries received after this time will not be posted). Winner will be selected by random.org. Winner will be notified by e-mail and will have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is selected; PLEASE NOTE: I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR E-MAIL REPLIES THAT ARE SENT TO ME AND NOT RECEIVED IN MY INBOX FOR ANY REASON. IF YOU DO NOT RECEIVE A PROMPT REPLY BACK FROM ME ASSUME I DID NOT RECEIVE YOUR E-MAIL. RE-SEND YOUR REPLY UNTIL YOU RECEIVE A RESPONSE FROM ME WITHIN 48 HOURS (FROM THE TIME I SENT YOUR WINNER'S NOTIFICATION E-MAIL) OR A NEW WINNER WILL BE CHOSEN. LEAVING AN ENTRY COMMENT ON THIS POST WILL SERVE AS ACCEPTANCE OF THESE TERMS.

Click here for the official giveaway rules.

Disclosure of Material Connection: Kellogg Company® has provided me with a Kellogg’s Gluten-Free Breakfast Kit to conduct a reader giveaway. However, my opinions on the product are entirely my own and I have not been paid to publish positive sentiments towards Kellogg Company® or their products.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” 

Is Dominoes Pizza Chain's Gluten Free Crust Safe to Eat?

While the gluten free community is always looking for new gluten free dining options, the first priority is figuring out if the foods offered are safe to eat. The Gluten Intolerance Group (GIG) has released a statement regarding the release of Dominoes Pizza chain's effort to introduce gluten free pizza crust.  Here is an excerpt from that statement: "While GIG appreciates Domino's desire to offer a gluten-free pizza, we do not feel the effort put forth demonstrates a true commitment toward making a safe environment for producing gluten-free food."  To read GIG's entire statement regarding Dominoes gluten free crust on Examiner.com click here.

I trust GIG's opinion on gluten free restaurant safety; based on their statement I personally will not be purchasing the Dominoes gluten free pizza for my daughter who has Celiac Disease.  I find it unfortunate that Dominoes does not understand the need for adequate cross contamination practices when offering gluten free food to its customers.