celiac awareness day & a luna protein bar giveaway

Happy Celiac Awareness Day!!

Yesterday I received an adorable package of LUNA Protein Bars.

Haven't heard of LUNA Protein? Here is an overview: 

• A whole nutrition bar for women
• Less than 200 calories
• 12 grams of protein and 3 grams of fiber
• Core 4 nutrients: calcium, iron, vitamin D and folic acid
• Available in five gluten-free flavors: Mint Chocolate Chip, Chocolate, Chocolate Cherry Almond, Chocolate Peanut Butter, & Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

(Photo courtesy of LUNA)

I tried 3: Mint Chocolate Chip, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, & Chocolate Peanut Butter. They're all cloaked in chocolate like a candy bar. 

Before I'd even finished the Mint Chocolate Chip, I texted my recently-diagnosed gluten-free mom to give her a heads up that she'll want to try these. The flavor is similar to my very favorite Girl Scout cookie. There are teeny chocolate chips in a chocolatey nougat with a hint of peppermint. It's it a little crunch that is satisfying. And it's not grainy!! 

The Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough is very tasty too. I don't know how they make a gluten-free cookie dough that yummy, but I'm sold. It's not very often we get to have cookie dough flavored anything, let alone something that also has good nutritional value. 

I was going to save the Peanut Butter for later but gave in & ate it on a road trip to Toledo. Oops. It's drier than the other two - of course, it's peanut butter - but there is a hint of vanilla & almond that makes it more interesting to my tastebuds than a peanut butter cup. It's a good balance...but my favorite is the mint chocolate, hands-down. 

LUNA was the brainchild of the founders of Clif Bar and Company with a mission focused on "a dedication to quality, community, sustainability and a balanced work place".  

In my pre-gluten-free days, I really liked the convenience and nutrition of a Clif Bar. Since my diagnosis, I've been pretty skeptical of gluten-free protein bars; so often they're grainy and tasteless, and the tasty ones seem to only be available on specialty shops at a premium price. I'm a nursing student on the go. If I had time to track them down, I wouldn't have as much need for them, you know? Fortunately LUNA Protein Bars are available at a number of retailers: Kroger, Target, Walmart, etc. Check out their handy store locator here. 

So here's the really exiting part: 

LUNA has offered me the chance to run a giveaway!!   

I've chosen to do so using Rafflecopter so it's fair for everyone. What's the prize? A box of LUNA Protein bars in a flavor of your choice!  

How to enter:

1. Click this link to access the widget or scroll down a teeny bit.
2. Log in with Facebook or your email address. (The winner's info - and only theirs - will be shared with LUNA for shipping purposes.)
3. Complete the steps of your choice to earn entries!
4. A winner will be randomly selected at the end of next week & notified via email!

 Good luck, and happy eating!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway



-------

Full disclosure: 
The goodies were sent to me free of charge in exchange for an honest review to help celebrate Celiac Awareness Day. Beyond the samples shown above, I received no compensation of any sort.  The opinions expressed in this post are mine & mine alone. 

conscious box giveaway winner

Hello, all!  Thanks SO much to everyone who entered the Conscious Box giveaway!  It ended at midnight, and I'm proud to announce that Brenda S. was selected (using Rafflecopter and Random.org) as the winner.  I've connected her with the friendly folks at Conscious Box.

Didn't win?  You can still use the 25% code LOVELIFE.  Subscribe before this Sunday, and you'll still be able to get the April box!

Thanks again!!  :)

eco-friendly conscious box giveaway

I have very exciting news!!

Yesterday I learned about a home delivery service from Conscious Box, a monthly subscription service with natural, sustainable products.

Photo via Conscious Box

Each box comes packed with samples of natural products ranging from organic food to vegan beauty products to home products meant to lighten your footprint - something for just about every facet of your life.  Conscious Box is a supporter of jobs in the US, hiring American workers and paying a fair wage.  They also include ideas on how to reuse the box, use inks made from veggies, wind power, and BPA-free labels.  Each month, the package has a theme -- for example, "This Year Belongs to You" in January, "All You Need Is Love" in February -- and April's will be Earth Day.

They work with 1% for the Planet to make sure every purchase goes to a cause and also support businesses that care about the planet.  You can check out some of those brands here.  If you find an item you just adore, you can buy a full-size version through their shop.  They also have a neat point system in the works that will allow you to buy items at a discount.

Conscious Box has three package options: Classic, Certified Vegan, and Gluten-Free --- a new addition!  The founder has Celiac, so they know what they're doing :)

From there, you can choose from a variety of subscriptions: 1 month, 3, 6, or 12 (a baker's dozen because a 13th month is free).

So here's the best part: Conscious Box is offering one of my lucky readers a free three-month Conscious Box subscription!  It's a $59 value, so enter now!  (Due to shipping, the winner must be in the United States.)  The giveaway entry period will run from 12:00 am 3/29/13 to 12:00 am 4/5/13.


Also, they're giving each of you a 25% off discount code that's good on any Conscious Box subscription.  Use code: LOVELIFE

At only $19.95 -- basically $12 for the box, $7.95 USPS Priority shipping -- it seems like a great deal to at least try!  I'll be sure to follow-up with a review when I receive my first package.

Interested in further information before you jump in?  Here are several reviews from others: November 2011, October 2012 (here and here), December 2012, January 2013 (here & here), and February 2013.

Happy eating, and GOOD LUCK!!

Steps:

• Log in with Facebook or your email address (so I can contact you if you win)
• Enter up to 15 times with super-easy tasks (Ex: "like" Conscious Box and/or this blog on Facebook)
• Someone will be randomly selected by Rafflecopter next Friday to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

final winner & chicken dinner

The time has come.  It's the final drawing.  Since Christmas was on Sunday and very busy, spending time with my parents at home 2 hours away, seeing my boyfriend's parents, & hanging out at a friend's annual get together, the drawing waited until today. 

The prize:

• Sunbutter® Sunflowerseed Spread [from the GoPicnic Sunbutter + Crackers meal]
• Crunchmaster Multi-Grain Crackers (Sea Salt flavor) [from the GoPicnic Sunbutter + Crackers meal]
• Snyder's of Hanover Gluten Free Pretzel Sticks (100 Calorie Pack)
• A Taste of Thai Toasted Coconut Fortune Cookie
• 2 passes to the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum

Here's a close-up of the packaging on the only fortune cookies I've found thus far:

There's a fun story behind the mini bag of Snyder's Gluten Free Pretzel Sticks.  The Kroger near our place had carried them late this summer.  I was so excited!  I have this bad habit of snacking on something then getting caught up in a project & leaving the bag open, so these snack size bags are ideal for me.  But when I went back, expecting them there, they were suddenly gone without warning.  Even the price tag was gone!  A couple weeks ago, my boyfriend ran into the Snyder's employee responsible for stocking the product.  He asked the representative to look into bringing them back.  When we went in Kroger for a few staples, Scott snuck away to grab two bags and surprise me with them.  It's amazing what can happen if you're willing to take a minute, use a little charm, and ask :D 

The names were drawn from my pretty new purple cloche hat.

 And the winner of the fourth and final drawing is.....Galina!  Congratulations!!  Please email me your information (which I won't keep, store, or share), and I'll send it your way!

Many thanks to my followers - old and new - for making this December to Remember a success :)  Sending you happy thoughts & warm wishes for the New Year!!

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Tonight I decided to try something easy and new: chicken-in-a-packet.  Admittedly, I need a creative name for it.  Ideas are welcome!

I started with 7 defrosted chicken tenders.
Ideally, you have aluminum foil on hand.  However, from cookie-baking, there wasn't much to be found!  I made what I had on hand work for me.  
I poured a small amount of vegetable oil on the aluminum foil, which sat on a baking sheet.
I placed the chicken tenders on the foil.  Knowing my boyfriend would want his different than mine, his was separate from mine.
I kept it simple, sprinkling the tenders with Italian seasoning and salt.  On mine, I added diced tomatoes, shredded carrots, and broccoli.

They baked at 400 degrees for 25 minutes, at which point I added shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan cheeses.

Another ten minutes, and the cheese was gooey gorgeous! 

My boyfriend's wasn't as pretty or succulent as mine, and I felt bad because he's trying to avoid carbs at night, but it paired well with marinara sauce and his favorite green beans.

I also gave Lundberg Family Farms Creamy Parmesan Risotto a try.

It was incredibly easy!

• Put 1/2 tablespoon butter (or olive oil) in a heavy nonstick 2 quart saucepan and place over medium heat. Add rice and saute until grains are coated with oil. 
• Stir in contents of seasoning pouch and 2-1/2 cups water. Mix well to dissolve seasonings. 
• Bring to a boil. reduce heat to a simmer, and cook uncovered 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. 

The flavors went quite well with the chicken-in-a-packet, and I'll definitely buy it again soon!  

Have a great day, and happy eating!!

december to remember 3rd winner!

Today is the third drawing!  The prize:

• Thai Kitchen Instant Rice Noodle Soup in Thai Ginger & Vegetables
• Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free Cornbread Mix
• GoPicnic Chili Lime Salmon Spread [from the GoPicnic Salmon + Crackers meal]
• Crunchmaster Multi-Seed Crackers (in Original) [from the GoPicnic Salmon + Crackers meal]
• Sweet Perry Orchards Ginger Zip Fruit & Nut Mix [from the GoPicnic Salmon + Crackers meal]
• Plastic fork [from the GoPicnic Salmon + Crackers meal]
• A catch: since I couldn't review the salmon or fruit & nut mix, I kindly ask that the winner reviews it for a guest post here on my blog.

I've made equally-sized entries for each follower and comment made since the drawing began on December 1.  The hat used in tonight's drawing:

And the winner is...Stephen Groves!  Email me your address, and the goodies will be on their way to you!

The freebies in the fourth and final giveaway have yet to be determined, but it will definitely include 2 free passes to the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum ($20 value).  Follow and/or comment to win!  Each comment is another entry!

second winner & gopicnic's hummus + crackers

This week I had 14 entries for the giveaway - 8 from last week and 6 new followers/comments.  Thanks for the love!

All 14 entries in my Bengals hat from today's game

The lucky winner: AlliesCreativeDesigns!  Congratulations!  Please email me your address to win your prize:

For my gluten free followers (and those who'd like to check it out), I have a HUGE stack of Udi's Gluten Free coupons.  If you'd like some, please email me your address.  No, your information absolutely will not be sold, given away, or otherwise used.  (...unless you'd like personal Christmas and other special event cards from yours truly.)

Also, a quick product review...  Last night before a delightful Christmas party, I was a little hungry and decided to try one of the 6 gluten free GoPicnic Ready-to-Eat Meals I recently ordered via Amazon.  (Amazon has an excellent selection of gluten free items.)

I received 6 meals directly from GoPicnic:

• Hummus + Crackers
• Sunbutter + Crackers
• Tuna + Crackers 
• Salmon + Crackers
• Turkey Pepperoni + Cheese
• Turkey Stick + Crunch (which I tried & reviewed in October when I first discovered these treats at Jungle Jim's)

My meal of choice last night was Hummus + Crackers.  This particular meal is gluten free, vegan, and kosher.  The packaging is fun, with a Sudoku game inside the box.  The items included:

• Wild Garden Hummus Dip in a cute to-go pack
• Crunchmaster Multi-Seed Crackers (yummy by themselves!)
• Sweet Perry Orchards Baja Blend Fruit & Nut Mix (a GoPicnic exclusive)
• Seapoint Farms Dry Roasted Edamame
• Endangered Species Supreme Dark Chocolate Square (An ethically traded chocolate that I love, love, love - especially the Extreme Dark Chocolate!  I could go on about the ethics issues and controversial labor practices in the cocoa industry [I earned certificates in International Human Rights and Security Studies at the University of Cincinnati], but this company participates in co-ops that are environmentally and ethically sustainable.  Yummy, feel-good, and gluten-free - everyone wins!)

The meal was delicious and filling, and I can't wait to try the next one!  The hardest part will be deciding which one.  Stay tuned for the review, and keep those comments coming for the next giveaway on Sunday!!

shortbread: the most frustrating cookie i've met

Today was the annual gluten free cookie exchange with the Cincinnati Celiac Support Group.  Unfortunately Scott & I arrived terribly late due to the frustration of shortbread cookies.  A few months ago, I bought a bag of Bob's Red Mill GF Shortbread Cookie Mix.  It happened to be 40% off but didn't expire until June 2012 or so.  When I thought of today's exchange, I thought this would be perfect.  Simple, Christmas-y, and traditional without being overdone, especially in the gluten free world.  The words "easy to prepare" definitely caught my eye.

The ingredients were simple - the mix, 1 1/2 sticks of butter, and 2 tablespoons of water.  The directions said it would look dry and crumbly.  Oh, it was:

I followed the next instructions and rolled it into a ball & smoothed it over, then tried to roll half of the dough out.  It's supposed to be rolled onto parchment paper and covered in plastic wrap, but that didn't work so well for me.  I tossed the dough back in the mixing bowl and added not 2 but 4 more tablespoons of water.  Repeat.  This worked much better.  I grabbed a star-shaped cookie cutter and tried to cut through the plastic wrap.  I got it, but they looked more like Patrick the Star than stars.  Eventually (realizing that it was already 3:15 and the exchange started 30 minutes away at 3:30) I rolled out the rest of the first half and threw it onto a cookie sheet.  (The second half is still in the fridge, awaiting further attention.  Tomorrow.)  I tossed my 12 stars and the circle of dough into the oven.  375 degrees for about 20 minutes.

Not exactly my prettiest cookies (and they could use more butter for a taste that's more like Walker's, which I miss so much), but they were pretty popular at the exchange.

When we arrived at the exchange, this was the pretty spread of cookies.  (Like I said, we were late...)

I also took Rice Krispie treats, made with peppermint marshmallows.  Soon I'll post the recipes that folks brought: caramels, chocolate chip cookies with marshmallows, coconut macaroons.  Mmm.  

While I was cooking my cookies, Scott grabbed the mail.  One of my Christmas presents had arrived.  He wrapped it and insisted that I open it.  As soon as the shortbread went in the oven, I did.  He got me business cards (with cute little owls) & a business card holder for my blog and had created an email address specifically for it.  Love it!!

After the Bengals/Texans game, there will be the second drawing for December to Remember.  Here's the giveaway:

Comment and/or follow to be entered to win!!  If you're reeeeally lucky, you might also get a selection of cookies.  :)

when butter was a food group

Within an hour of getting home most days after work, I have popcorn.  By have I mean devour.  It's a good source of fiber (something important for everyone but especially gluten-free foodies), 100% whole grain, and an excellent vehicle for butter. 

When I was little, my dad pointed out that neither my mom nor I can say butter without smiling.  Even our eyes smile! So I laughed out loud when I saw this early depiction of the 7 recommended food groups in the December issue of ShopSmart:

I'm pretty sure these are the guidelines I follow, despite wanting to be a good little eater and abide by the new My Plate design:

If you're heading to DC for the holidays (before January 3rd), What's Cooking, Uncle Sam? The Government's Effects on the American Diet is on display at the National Archives and includes the first poster, which is from the 1940s.  Allergy folks couldn't agree more with the exhibit's tagline:

Food.  We love it, fear it, and obsess about it.

Which brings me back to popcorn...  Now, not all popcorn is gluten-free, although many varieties are, and some folks suggest just skipping the confusion and making your own with an air popper.  I have one and love it, but sometimes - at work, for example - it's a little cumbersome.  A lot of microwave popcorn is safe, but not all.  Personally, I trust Orville Redenbacher and love their Tender White.  I add freshly melted butter, as much as I'm in the mood for.  I've read that most microwave popcorn is safe, as are most movie theater options.  Best bet: check with the manufacturer. 

Pure butter is gluten free, but spread, margarine, and butter sauce sometimes need a second look.

Not much causes as much fear in my bones as crumbs in the butter dish.  For those in a shared house like me, be sure you have separate butters (as well as peanut butters, jars of mayonnaise, jelly, other condiments, and toasters).  It's also taken some training to stop myself from using the 5 second rule.  I feel wasteful if I drop something & don't eat it, but it's just not worth it. 


For more information on popcorn, here are some links:
Is Movie Theater Popcorn Gluten Free?
Is Popcorn Gluten Free?
Gluten Free Living: On Your Plate


Remember: the second drawing will be this Sunday!  Follow and/or comment to enter these items!

december to remember 1st winner!

For my first December to Remember giveaway, here is the prize:

• Special Diet Solutions: Healthy Cooking Without Wheat, Gluten, Dairy, Eggs, Yeast, or Refined Sugar by Carol Fenster, PhD
• One $1 coupon for Udi's Gluten Free Foods (available at Kroger) 
• One bag of PopCorners Popped Corn Chips in Kettle flavor

 
Below are the 8 entries in my pink Santa hat:

And my first winner is............robinlt_64!  Congratulations!  Amazing, the last to enter is the first to win!  Robin, please email me (or Facebook direct message) your address, and this will be shipped your way!  Best of luck with those gluten free cookies!

Thanks to my 7 contestants and their 8 entries!  More to come next Sunday!  Keep those follows and comments coming!

december to remember & gluten-free cookie exchange

I'm getting in the Christmas spirit and have decided to join Granny Sue's News and Reviews & The Pauley Principle and host a December to Remember Giveaway.   'Tis the season of merriment and gift-giving. In that spirit, I will have at least 4 giveaways this month, maybe more.  Most but not all will be gluten-free themed; they'll also be useful.  This seemed a wonderful way to thank loyal followers and welcome new ones as we enter the chilly, stay-cozy-at-home months.

To enter:
Become a follower and comment on posts.  One comment = one entry. The names will be tossed in a Santa hat.  I'll draw a name on Sundays and notify winners in a post (so everyone knows).  The winner will need to email me their snail mail address or make arrangements for in-person delivery.  Since it's on Sundays, the contest will run from today until Christmas Day.  Easy peasy lemon squeezy! 

I won't share, sell, or otherwise misuse your information, and the giveaway costs you nothing!  And I get wonderful new readers & friendies :)

In other news:  

The Cincinnati Celiac Support Group is holding the 2011 Gluten-Free Holiday Cookie Exchange and kid's cookie decorating meeting on Saturday, December 10 from 3:30 to 6 pm at: 

Wyoming Branch of the Public Library of Cincinnati & Hamilton County

500 Springfield Pike

Cincinnati, Ohio 45215

All you need to do is bring gluten free cookies of your choice to share and trade with the rest of the group.  About 2 dozen cookies should be plenty, but you're welcome to bring more or fewer.  It's up to you!  But the more you bring, the more you can take home.  If you would like to share your recipes, bring multiple copies with you.

Newly diagnosed?  Not a cook?  No worries! Check your local grocer (Kroger, Meijer, Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, Susan's Natural World, Jungle Jim's, etc.) for pre-made cookies.