Awesome News and a Giveaway! CLOSED

In case you haven’t heard, today the FDA announced its decision to standardize gluten free labeling. The FDA’s decision mandates that all products labeled “gluten free” must contain less than 20 parts per million of gluten by August 2, 2014. Awesome, huh?!

Before now there wasn’t a threshold for how much gluten was allowed to be in a product labeled “gluten free,” so this is great news!

Click here for more specifics on the new labeling.

Today also happens to be the 9th anniversary of the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act (FALCPA), making this day even cooler.

Don’t you think this calls for a celebration?! Yeah, me too.

And so does Glutino (they’ve been advocating for years for a gluten free labeling law). They’re going to let me do a giveaway of 5 boxes of their yummy Toaster Pastries to celebrate!

Have you tried these things, yet? They’re quite tasty.

(Did you know, Glutino’s products currently contain less than 10 parts per million of gluten, which is well below the standard announced by the FDA? I’m quite the fan of this company.)

To enter to win 1 of the 5 boxes:

• Comment on this post
• Make sure I have a way to contact you if you win
• Giveaway closes next Friday, August 9, at midnight

Click here to read the official press release from Boulder Brands, Glutino and Udi’s about the new FDA labeling.

Gluten Free 4th of July Dessert and a GIVEAWAY! (CLOSED)

Giveaway is closed.

If you’ve been reading Gluten Free in Utah for awhile, you probably already know that I use Betty Crocker Gluten Free baking products often. They’re way easy, they’re yummy, the price is right, and you can find them pretty much in every grocery store you go to (that’s a big deal!).

Well, the Betty Crocker Gluten Free line is coming out with even more products! They now have a gluten free sugar cookie mix and and all-purpose gluten free rice flour blend. Pretty cool.
Even cooler is that to help spread the word about their expanding gluten-free line, Betty Crocker sent me an awesome baking gift package and you have a chance to win the same gift package! But first, check out this DELICIOUS dessert I created using my gift package and a Betty Crocker Gluten Free mix:

Besides being yummy, it’s easy to make and it looks pretty . You can use any berries you want, but if you use strawberries/raspberries and blueberries it’s a perfect 4th of July treat!
My kids loved helping me make this. I used the Betty Crocker Gluten Free Brownie Mix and made them just how they say on the box.
So easy! All I needed was 1/2 stick of melted butter and 2 eggs! (Look how cute the new packaging and directions are. I’m a fan.)


Add the delicious cream cheese and pudding frosting (also very easy to make).

And some berries.
I started with strawberries


But I accidentally put the strawberries right by the cold vent in my refrigerator and half were frozen, so I needed to come up with another plan (fresh berries on this are a must).
Luckily, I had blueberries and decided to give them a try. So glad I did! They were DELICIOUS on this!


Then I realized that it would be yummy AND patriotic to add both the berries together. Hooray for the frozen strawberries so that this happy accident could happen .


Here’s the recipe for the frosting:
Mix together:

• 1 pkg vanilla pudding
• 12 oz cool whip
• 1 pkg cream cheese (softened)
• 1/2 c. milk

It’s best if you put it in the fridge for at least an hour, but it’s not necessary (I’m horrible at planning ahead).
This is also really good as a fruit dip or mixed in with fruit for a fruit salad dessert.

Now, time for the GIVEAWAY!

This gift pack includes: A baking tool set and an 8” square cake pan.
Retail value: $60
Now, I’ll admit, when I first received the gift package I thought, “These are cool, but I already have all of these baking tools and really don’t need two. Maybe I’ll get rid of the ones I have and keep these because they’re cuter.”
Then I opened them up.
Not only are they cuter, but they’re cooler, too!
The pastry brush and rubber scraper have a little kick-stand on them!

That certainly comes in handy. No messy countertop!
And the ends of the rolling pin unscrew so you can change the size and choose what thickness you want to roll your dough out. Love it! (And notice the measurements on the actual wood of the rolling pin).

And for some reason the timer just absolutely fascinates me.













So fun to play with!
Anyway, you can have these fun baking toys, too .
GIVEAWAY INFO:

• To enter leave a comment letting me know what your favorite gluten free baked treat is (or your favorite baked treat if you don’t eat gluten free).
• 1 entry per person.
• Please leave your contact info in case you win.
• This giveaway will close Wednesday, June 26 at midnight (Utah time). I will use random.org to choose the winner.

Good luck and enjoy the recipe!

Disclosure: The information and prize pack have been provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark.

A Baby, Hospital Food, Gluten Free Expo, and a GIVEAWAY! (CLOSED)

GIVEAWAY CLOSED. 

CONGRATULATIONS TO COMMENTER #6, JACLYN! 

(Winner picked using random.org.)

As I mentioned in my previous post, I just had my 3rd baby! She's an absolute sweetheart!

I've got to tell you about the food they had at the hospital where I had her. There was a menu that I could order from anytime of day and there were tons of gluten free options! I had grilled ham and cheese sandwiches, tortilla wraps, cupcakes, cinnamon rolls, and french toast. All gluten free and delicious! It was seriously heaven. In fact, we were anxious to go home, but we stayed a few extra hours because I wanted to have my lunch there so I could get some more yummy treats.

The tortilla wrap was especially yummy and made me want to get some gluten free tortillas so I could make it on my own. I'm trying to remember exactly what was in it. I think it was a California something or other wrap. It had chicken, bacon, avocado, lettuce, and other stuff. Yeah, I really don't remember, I guess (I did just give birth ;) ). Basically, make sure you have the bacon, avocado and chicken and then add whatever else sounds good to you.

But what about the gluten free tortillas? Well, Rudi's Gluten-Free Bakery now sells them, so you can get some from them! Here's some more info:

Rudi’s Gluten Free’s new tortillas come in three varieties including Plain, Spinach and Fiesta flavors. The new tortillas offer a soft, pliable base for a yummy sandwich wrap or burrito. As with all of Rudi’s Gluten-Free products, the tortillas are made with only the highest quality, wholesome ingredients, and are certified gluten-free and carry the Gluten-Free Certification Organization (GFCO) seal.

Sounds good, right? I'm especially excited for the spinach wraps.

And guess what?! One of you can win some awesome Rudi's products in honor of the Gluten Free Expo coming up. Here's what you'll get:

• Samples of Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bakery’s new tasty Gluten-Free Tortillas
• A Rudi’s Gluten-Free T-shirt and magnet
• A tortilla warmer
• A cookbook filled with delicious gluten-free recipes

 Pretty cool, right? And all you have to do to enter is comment and tell me whether or not you're going to the Gluten Free Expo this Saturday, Oct. 13 (don't worry, even if you're not going you're still entered to win just the same ;) ).  Trust me when I say you don't want to miss the expo. Rudi's will be there, so if you don't win the giveaway you'll still have a chance to sample their delicious products. 

The giveaway will end Friday, October 12, at midnight (Utah time). You don't have to live in Utah to enter.

So... will you be at the expo?

Giveaway on Grandpa's Kitchen Facebook Page!

Go check out the Grandpa's Kitchen Facebook giveaway! 

When 150, and then 200, "likes" are reached on their Facebook page, they'll do a drawing. To enter all you need to do is comment on the giveaway post (you'll be entered into both the 150 and 200 drawings with that one comment).

Go enter!

Cookbook Giveaway Winner!

The winner of the Cookbook giveaway is...

 #5 Vickie Ewell

 Congratulations!

Please email me at glutenfreeinutah@gmail.com with your address, so I can send you your copy of  

Susan Bell's Gluten-Free Cooking Made Easy.

(I used Random.org to choose the winner.)

If you didn't win, don't worry, there's still another giveaway you can enter.

CLOSED: Announcing a Gluten Free Recipe Contest and a GIVEAWAY!

Have you heard about the Betty Crocker Baker's Challenge?  It's a gluten free recipe contest!  Here's some info on it, provided by MyBlogSpark:

We know baking in a gluten-free world poses its own challenges – as well as sweet rewards – so we want to give you a chance to show off the creative solutions and tasty treats that you’ve created for your family and friends.
Now through June 30th, visit www.glutenfreely.com/bakerschallenge for the chance to win a Grand Prize of $5,000. The grand prize winner will also have the chance to be featured on a Betty Crocker^® Gluten Free dessert mix or Bisquick^® Gluten Free baking mix package and/or be featured in a Betty Crocker publication! All you have to do is submit an original gluten free holiday-themed appetizer, bread or dessert recipe, using any Betty Crocker Gluten Free dessert mix or Bisquick Gluten Free baking mix.

Recipes will be judged on five key categories: taste, creativity, ease of preparation, consumer appeal and appearance. Plus, we want you to keep baking deliciously, so if you’re one of 10 selected finalists, you will receive a Betty Crocker Gluten Free Baking gift basket filled with baking items and Betty Crocker Gluten Free mixes. Even more exciting, finalists’ recipes will be featured on www.glutenfreely.com/bakerschallenge and voted on by the Gluten Freely community to determine the Grand Prize Winner!

For great recipe tips, ideas, and suggestions, visit www.glutenfreely.com to help get you started and learn more about the Baker’s Challenge Gluten Free Recipe Contest.

In addition, through the end of June, you can save 20% on the purchase of any of the five Betty Crocker Gluten Free mixes. Visit http://www.glutenfreely.com/ourstore to buy yours today!

Sounds fun, huh?  I need to get experimenting because I'd love to win that prize!  The folks at Betty Crocker, through MyBlogSpark, kindly provided me with a box of each of their gluten free mixes to help get me started.  And guess what?  You have the chance to receive the same package!  If you win everything you see in the picture below will be delivered to your door to help inspire you in the Baker's Challenge.

You can have up to 2 entries:

1. Leave a comment about the Baker's Challenge (i.e. which mix you think you'd use in the contest, whether or not you'll enter, what recipe from the Gluten Freely website you'd like to try, etc.)
2. Share the info that throughout the month of June you can save 20% on any of the 5 Betty Crocker Gluten Free mixes at the Gluten Freely Store.  You can do this through a blog post, tweet, facebook, email, whatever.  Just come back here and leave a second comment letting me know you shared that info.

That's it.  The contest will end just over a week from today on Thursday, June 16 at midnight.  Good luck! 


Edited to add:  YOU DO NOT HAVE TO ACTUALLY DO THE RECIPE CONTEST TO ENTER!

Gluten Free Chicken Fettuccine and a Giveaway!- CLOSED

Remember the gluten free banana muffins I made?

And remember how amazingly delicious they were?
And how I got the awesome recipe from this book:

Well, I have some exciting news:

1. I’m going to share another recipe with you from Susan Bell’s book and
   
2. a lucky reader is going to win a copy of their own!

First for the recipe:
I didn’t have any mushrooms, so I left them out this time, but I love mushrooms and will use them the next time I make this.
I did sauté some fresh spinach in the garlic butter (rather than mushrooms) and it was tasty!  Then, instead of combining the bacon and spinach with the sauce, I just added it to the top.  (Only because I ran out of spinach and there wasn’t enough to mix in.  It was still good this way though.)
Verdict:  This was a very tasty dish and it was easy to prepare.  I’ll definitely add the mushrooms next time I make this and maybe even keep the spinach.  Give it a try!

Now… onto the giveaway!
You can have up to 2 entries:

1. Leave a comment on this post telling me what your absolute favorite food is (gluten free or gluten-full, it doesn’t matter).
   
2. Head over to Susan’s blog, check out her great posts (full of recipes, interesting articles, product reviews, and more), then head back over here and let me know you did so (and even better, leave a comment on her blog as well).

That’s it!  2 entries just for doing those things.
The giveaway will end June 10, 2011 (2 weeks from today) at midnight. 
Good luck!  This is a great book and I’m excited for the lucky reader who wins!

Bisquick Gluten Free- Review and Giveaway!- CLOSED

Through MyBlogSpark, Bisquick has given me the opportunity to do a review and giveaway on a Bisquick Gluten Free Prize Pack!  I received a prize pack myself a few weeks ago and have really enjoyed it.

As I've stated before, I love Bisquick Gluten Free!  I've still only made the pancakes out of it (I'm so in love with them I haven't felt a need to branch out yet), but I've read reviews on the other recipes you can make from the mix and they all sound wonderful.  I still can't get over how few other ingredients need to be added to the baking mix.  This is seriously a product that should be a staple in every gluten free house.   

They are so fluffy!  I put some of my mom's amazing buttermilk syrup on these ones.  Heaven!

This is information from MyBlogSpark:

Make sure to look for Bisquick Gluten Free baking mix in the baking aisle at your local grocery store.
To find great recipe tips and ideas, visit www.bisquick.com/glutenfree. There, you´ll find countless gluten-free recipes for family favorites such as Gluten Free Strawberry Shortcakes and Gluten Free Pizza Crust, using Bisquick Gluten Free baking mix. Check back often! We´re adding more recipes every day!
In addition, you can visit http://www.myblogspark.com/uc/main/8b49/ to download a printable coupon for $1 off Bisquick Gluten Free baking mix!

 Pretty cool, huh?

Even cooler is that you now have the chance to win the Bisquick Gluten Free Prize Pack which includes:

• Bisquick Gluten Free baking mix
• Pancake spatula- (it's wider than most and perfect for flipping big pancakes)
• Pancake pen- (fun for making pancakes into shapes)
• Pancake pan

All you need to do is leave me a comment telling me what you'd like to make with your Bisquick Gluten Free baking mix.  Simple.  I'm pretty sure I'll be making pancakes the next few times still.  I can't get enough of them!

For a bonus entry you can leave another comment telling me if the Bisquick Gluten Free mix will be for you or someone else (i.e. are you gluten intolerant or is someone you know?).  You don't have to be gluten intolerant to enter, but I would love it if you shared the Bisquick Gluten Free mix with someone who is (they'll love you for it, trust me!).  Then you can keep the rest of the prize pack for yourself.

The giveaway will end Tues, November 2 at midnight (that's 2 weeks from this post).  I'll announce the winner the next day.  Make sure I have a way to get a hold of you if you win (or be sure to check back, so you can claim your prize). 


Also, be sure to enter to win the CSN Giftcard Giveaway if you haven't already!  That one ends in a week!

A Review, a Giveaway, and an Apology

I have the opportunity to do another review for CSN Stores and I can't wait! The hardest part is deciding what product I'd like to review. CSN Stores has over 200 stores with over 1 million products. You can find dining room tables, baby gear, cookware, and lots more!

Now is where you come in. I'm leaning towards being practical and putting the gift card towards a convertible car seat I'll be needing for my son soon anyway, but I'm not sure. I want to know what you'd get if you had $20 to spend at CSN Stores.

What's in it for you, you ask?

Well, for giving me some ideas your name will be entered to win a $20 CSN Gift Certificate for yourself!

Here's how it'll work: Each person gets 1 entry. It will be open for 1 week. All entries must be in by 10:00 pm (Utah time) Wednesday, July 7th. Enter by commenting and telling me what you would use your CSN gift card for. The winner will be chosen randomly using a Random Number Generator.

P.S. This giveaway is my way of saying sorry for the lack of posts and sorry that new posts will continue to be scarce for the next few weeks (life is BUSY). So... "SORRY!"

(Pretend that the flowers are a CSN Stores gift card.)

Christmas Giveaway Winner

The winner is Comment #12

Congratulations,
Paige!!!

You'll be receiving the super cute open skillet in green.


Thanks to everyone who participated!

This giveaway just fell in my lap, but I really enjoyed it and will try to get more giveaways in the future.

In the meantime, I'll continue posting delicious gluten free recipes and other tips on living Gluten Free in Utah, so be sure to check in often :).