Upping the Gluten Free Challenge

Well, my friends, a few brave ones have submitted their thoughts about the gluten-free baking contest, so I thought I would up the stakes a little.

Rather than asking YOU to create a gluten-free version of your family favorites, why don't you submit the dessert names through the Comments of this blog post, and we will vote on which ones you want ME to convert into gluten-free versions. Once voting closes on May 15th, then I will attempt to create the top voted item as a gluten-free version and photograph the whole thing.

For each contribution and subsequent vote, I will send you a free gift from Pamela's Products. I'll contact you once your suggestion is posted to mail you your gift. I'll also have to get the recipe from you.

So between today, April 30th, and May 15th, suggest and vote for the best suggestions for gluten-free desserts. I'll keep you posted on which dessert is on top.

For Thanksgiving I made pumpkin custards - crustless pumpkin pies with crystalized sugar.

The Fisher scones would be great candidates for converting to gluten-free. What do you think?

Diabetes Expo at Seattle Convention Center May 1

On May 1, I'll be teaching a series of cooking classes for Day by Day Gourmet at the Diabetes Expo. Check out the Expo Link for details. It's free event for the public. If you're around, stop on by!

This is the second expo I've cooked for Day by Day Gourmet. The first was the Puyallup Fair last fall. Here are some pictures of that event.

Brad Vorhees gave the Day by Day Gourmet pitch. He explained the vision and mission.

I talked mostly about the nutritional value of the meals and how to assemble them. Kassi Blanchard helped me by doing all the hard work -- the preparation, mis en place, and such.

The convenient part of these meals is that they're pre-assembled, and all you have to do is follow the cooking instructions for the meal. For the most part, all you do is cook the meat, starch, and vegetable components. Portions are already set, so just divide the meals evenly, and serve.

Day by Day Gourmet takes the ideas of home meal replacement, like Dinners Ready, and controls the nutritional values of the components. Graham Kerr designed the original menu, and the meals are designed to provide 60 grams of carbohydrates, 2 to 3 servings fruits and vegetables, and 3 to 5 ounces lean meat. This makes the meals unique and healthy enough to eat several nights per week. Some customization is also available for the meals, such as substituting some ingredients and controlling for carbohydrates even more. A few of the meals are also naturally gluten-free. Some of the meals have also been tested for cooking from frozen, so dinner preparation is quick and easy. I hope you get a chance to test them out.

New Products from CSN Stores

Who doesn't like to buy and try new gadgets and cool things for your kitchen and home? I LOVE getting new toys for my kitchen! CSN stores sells all sorts of great items for the home, including home decor, kitchen tools, and even baby cribs!

I like looking at the different pans, knives, and dishes on Cookware.com, because it allows me to narrow my search to specific qualities or costs of tools without much effort. I have also had the opportunity to review an item for them, so look for that test soon!

Last winter, I partnered with CSN to host a drawing for a baking pan, which Laura Hunter won. This time, I get to test out an item, and you get to read about it :)

Check back soon!

I make home-made salsa, and when I'm making a lot of salsa, I get out my trusty food processor to shorten the time spent chopping ingredients. What handy tool do you use?

Gluten-Free Baking Contest! Win Product!

The Gluten Intolerance Group has partnered with Pamela's Products to host the first ever Gluten-Free Challenge, to take place in the middle of Gluten Free Awareness Month, May. The objective of the challenge is to increase awareness of the gluten-free lifestyle and to learn something new about the challenge and opportunity of eating gluten-free. You can join the challenge by visitingwww.gogfchallenge.com. You'll receive recipes and tips for the month.

In support of this challenge, I am hosting a gluten-free cooking contest for my readers to win some gluten-free products from Pamela's products for themselves. Pamela's Products is based in California, but their products can be found nationwide in many grocery stores, including Kroger stores like Ralph's, King Soopers, and Fred Meyer. You can also find Pamela's Products at specialty and health stores like Whole Foods. I have used the Baking Mix since 2008, and I absolutely love it. I can bake some of the most moist and textured quick breads that some cannot even tell that the breads are gluten-free. I want you, my reader, to have the opportunity to give Pamela's products a test -even if just once.

The contest is going to take place April 23 through May 1, and I will announce the winner on May 22nd, to kick-start the Gluten-Free Challenge.

You will bake a family favorite dessert using Pamela's Products rather than conventional ingredients. I'd prefer to see family traditions. The dessert must be one that requires a gluten-free substitute and not a naturally gluten-free item. The recipes must be original to you, but inspiration can come from other sites of recipes, like AllRecipes or Pamela's Products websites. If you take a recipe from somewhere else, then be sure to credit your inspiration.

You will create a recipe and write instructions for creating the dessert. Directions on serving the dessert would be helpful, too. Pictures of the cooking process and of the dessert will be happily received.

Submit your recipe, pictures, and contact information to me. If you are selected as the winner, then you will win Pamela's Product samples in the following way:

Grand Prize: 1 lb Gluten Free Baking Mix and 1 Lb Gluten Free Bread Mix

Runner up 1: 1 Package Vanilla Cake Mix with Chocolate Frosting

Runner up 2: 1 Package Chocolate Chunk Cookie Mix

I will select from the best-written recipes and bake them. Joshua will have the opportunity to judge them based on taste. If we have a tie, then a non-gluten-free diner (probably selected from our family members) will have to cast the tie-breaking vote. I will post the best recipes online with pictures and credit. If you would like your picture posted as well, send that to me.

We will be judging the products by the following parameters:

Originality - 5

Ease of Preparation - 3

Taste - 10

Texture - 7

Appearance - 5

30 points possible

Enter by emailing me your recipe, tips, and pictures at kimberly.schaub@gmail.com no later than midnight May 1st. I'll catalog the entries in a blog post and then select my favorites, which I'll then bake and blog about. You'll receive notification by email if you are selected as a winner.

By submitting your recipe and pictures, you are consenting to having them posted on my blog. If you are selected as a winner, I will contact you for your mailing address and shipping information.

I hope you enjoy the contest and are able to participate in the gluten free challenge!

Pamela's Products will be hosting their annual cooking contest in June, so this will give you a taste of what you can submit for their contest. Check out their website for details.

Earth Day April 22

A few years ago, in 2007, I attended my first Earth Day Fair in Pueblo, CO. That's where I met Tisha Casida, the publisher of That's Natural Marketing. She published a local, advertisement-driven news-magazine that featured articles written by business people and health professionals. That was the start of a close friendship and a few years practicing marketing, writing, advertising, and sales. Those were great days, but my passion has always been in the kitchen.

This year, instead of heading out to a festival, I'm going to make my kitchen more green and create a dinner to support local businesses. The food you eat travels miles and miles, and the miles that the food travel costs our environment. It is important that we learn to purchase our foods from farmers that are from our same areas.

I'm fortunate to live near the Pike Place Market, but you probably have farmers markets nearby. Check Local Harvest to see if there is one near you. You can also support local farmers by joining CSA programs. Be sure to carry bags or baskets to help you carry your produce around. Reuse bags to make the experience even more environmentally wise.

Gingered Carrot soup

2 pounds carrots, peeled and chopped

4 cups water

1 tablespoon butter

1 ½ cup chopped onion

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 tablespoons grated ginger

1 ½ teaspoons salt

¼ teaspoon each cumin, ground fennel, cinnamon, allspice, dried mint

3-4 tablespoons lemon juice

1 cup lightly toasted cashews

1 cup chicken broth, optional

Cook carrots until soft. Add other ingredients. Cook until all are soft. Blend in food processor.

Thin with water or chicken broth, if needed.