The Everything Guide to Living Gluten-Free:

The Ultimate Cooking, Diet, and Lifestyle Guide for Gluten-Free Families

This is one of the newest cookbooks on the gluten-free scene! The Everything Guide to Living Gluten-Free is written by Jeanine Friesen, of The Baking Beauties, and it is the perfect book to help you transition to a gluten-free lifestyle!

”The Everything Guide to Living Gluten-Free covers a variety of topics for those looking at starting the gluten-free diet,” Friesen said. “Whether it be due to Celiac Disease, a gluten intolerance, or to help alleviate a number of other symptoms, like ADHD, migraines, and rheumatoid arthritis.”

Inside this Ultimate Cooking, Diet, and Lifestyle Guide for Gluten-Free Families, you will find guidance on making a stress-free switch to a gluten-free life, with valuable information on:

• Setting up a pantry to avoid cross-contamination
• Finding gluten-free options when traveling
• Selecting gluten-free health and personal care products
• Enjoying restaurant dinners and parties
• Helping children acclimate to the gluten-free lifestyle

I was lucky enough to get my hands on a Sneak Preview of this amazing book and was so impressed with how thorough it is. It covers everything you need to get started on a gluten-free lifestyle. It is full of tips, tricks, and tools to keep you on track and not feeling overwhelmed.

Plus, it has 100 tried, true, and tested Gluten-free Recipes ranging from Breakfast, to Kid-Friendly Lunch and Snacks, Main Dishes, Sides and Salads, Slow Cooker, and Dessert Recipes! And coming from someone who has tested MANY of Jeanine’s recipes over the years, I can assure you that all of her recipes are amazing!

If you are new to the gluten-free lifestyle, have been on this journey for a little while now, or know someone else who is just starting out living this way, this book is an invaluable resource for you. This is a wonderful tool and one that should be in every gluten-free kitchen.

UPDATE: THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED!

THE WINNER HAS BEEN CHOSEN AND HAS BEEN NOTIFIED BY EMAIL!

Jeanine Friesen, the author of this book, is graciously giving away a copy of her wonderful book to one of YOU, my loyal followers!

To enter to win a copy of The Everything Guide to Living Gluten Free, by Jeanine Friesen, just simply do One, Two, or all Three of the following. Just leave A SEPARATE COMMENT for each one that you do so that you can earn an entry for each.

1. Tell me what intrigues you about this cookbook!

2. Follow Cook It Allergy Free and/or The Baking Beauties on Facebook, or tell me if you already do.

3. Share this post with your friends on Pinterest, Twitter, Facebook or other social media and leave an additional comment saying you did so. Help spread the word about this great new cookbook!

The contest will end on Wednesday, March 20th at 9am PST. The winners will be announced then. You must be at least 18 years old to enter.

GOOD LUCK!

I have the perfect treat for you all, my lovely Allergy-Free friends!

There is a new book out that will prove to make your meal times in your Allergy-Free Kitchen a breeze.

Cybele Pascal – The Allergy Friendly Cook - has recently released her newest cookbook: Allergy-Free and EASY Cooking: 30-minute meals without gluten, wheat, dairy, eggs, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, and sesame.

This baby is a goldmine of simple meals that everyone in the family will love and yet not even realize are also Allergy-Friendly!  I actually spent much of the holidays cooking from her book because I was wanting something quick, healthy, and simple to get on the table while we were busy with all of our holiday fun.  Every recipe we tried was a huge hit in this house.

I love how she begins the book with a 13-page guide to stocking your kitchen for your Allergy-Free Cooking. There are some great tips for everyone, whether you are just getting started on your food allergy journey or even if you have been traveling this road for a while.

The different Recipe Categories included in the book are:

• Soups and Stews
• Pasta and noodles
• Casseroles and Potpies
• Chicken and Turkey
• Beef, Pork, and Lamb
• Takeout at Home
• Vegan

The recipes are easy to follow and they are ALL family-friendly… a huge bonus in my book! PLUS… there are so many beautiful full color photos of the recipes in this book too… great for ultra-visual people like myself.

And because I know how perfect this book is for all of you, I am giving away a copy to one lucky person here.

UPDATE: THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED AND THE WINNER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED BY EMAIL!

GIVEAWAY TIME:

To enter to win a copy of Allergy-Free and Easy Cooking, by Cybele Pascal, just simply do One, Two, or all Three of the following. Just leave A SEPARATE COMMENT for each one that you do so that you can earn an entry for each.

1. Tell me what intrigues you about this cookbook!

2. Follow Cook It Allergy Free and/or Cybele Pascal on Facebook, or tell me if you already do.

3. Share this post with your friends on Pinterest, Twitter, Facebook or other social media and leave an additional comment saying you did so. Help spread the word about this great new cookbook!

The contest will end on Wednesday, January 16th at 9.am PST. The winners will be announced then. You must be at least 18 years old to enter.

I have a special treat and giveaway for you just in time for all of your Holiday Cookie Baking!

SO…yes, today is all about Cookies… but the Super Healthy kind…and YES! There is such a thing. I promise.

I am talking about the latest cookbook from nutrition educator, recipe developer, and author, Hallie Klecker. The title alone lures you in:  Super Healthy Cookies: 50 Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free Recipes for Delicious and Nutritious Treats.

I have to tell you, up front, that I am literally in love with her new cookbook. Every single one of the gluten-free, dairy-free cookie recipes in this book are full of incredible nutrition and loaded with antioxidants, fiber, healthy fats, and plant-based vitamins and minerals.

There is not one recipe in the book that would make me feel guilty about feeding any of these cookies to my kids.  Plus, all of the recipes are simple enough to have the kids join in the prep process as well.

I think that, like a lot of you, we are always looking for ways to get some healthy nutrition into our families. And, if it just happens to come in the way of a cookie?… Well, who am I…or they…to complain.

I promise that you will enjoy the recipes in this book and you will feel so good about knowing that even if you (and the family) are eating all of these goodies, you are all getting a punch of nutrition to go along with your little treat.

You will want to add this one to your Christmas list… It is also a perfect gift to give to anyone you know that enjoys cooking with some of the healthier ingredients out there. I already have a few people on my list that will be receiving this book as a gift from me…hopefully they just aren’t reading this post….

And, because I am feeling in the giving spirit, today, I am giving away TWO copies of this book.

UPDATE: THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED. THE WINNERS WILL BE CONTACTED BY EMAIL.

To enter to win one of your own copies of the “Super Healthy Cookies” Cookbook, just simply do One, Two, or all Three of the following. Just leave A SEPARATE COMMENT for each one that you do so that you can earn an entry for each.

1. Tell me what intrigues you about this cookbook!

2. Follow Cook It Allergy Free and/or the Daily Bites on Facebook, or tell me if you already do.

3. Share this post with your friends on Pinterest, Twitter, Facebook or other social media and leave an additional comment saying you did so. Help spread the word about this great new cookbook!

The contest will end on Thursday, December 13th at 9.am PST. The winners will be announced then. You must be at least 18 years old to enter.

And one more thing before you go off and enter for your chance to win… make sure to check back here next week. I am going to be part of a fun Gluten-free, Dairy-free (and Allergy-Friendly) Progressive Holiday Dinner event being hosted by Hallie Klecker, the author of the website Daily Bites and, of course, this cookbook.

Now…GOOD LUCK! I cannot wait to see who the lucky winners are…

Yikes! Thanksgiving is in ONE week! Are you in panic mode yet?

Well, today, I have the perfect idea for a hostess gift if you are heading out to family and friends for the holiday. I am going to tell you all about it below and am even going to be giving away TWO of them just because I love the idea of this gift SO MUCH.

But first,  just in case you are cooking the big meal, I wanted to share my go-to game-plan, menu, recipes, and shopping list from my Allergy-Friendly Thanksgiving Series.

Annual Allergy-Friendly Thanksgiving Prep Series:

• The Menu and The Plan of The Ultimate Thanksgiving Series
• Cranberry Citrus Cider Sauce AND Green Bean and Shallot Salad with Champagne Vinaigrette.
• Gluten-Free Cornbread Recipe to use in the stuffing and Crock Pot Mashed Potatoes.
• Gluten Free Cornbread/Bread Stuffing With Apples, Sausage, Pine Nuts and a secret ingredient that  you will NOT want to leave out.
• Cider Glazed Brined Turkey with Apple Brandy Gravy
• Toffee Pecan Caramel Apple Streusel(Gluten-free and Egg-free already, but simple to make Dairy-free and Nut-free too) and Crustless Pumpkin Streusel Pie.
• The Shopping List
  

If you are hosting the big feast this year, the above list will make your Allergy-Friendly Thanksgiving so much easier. It has everything you need, from the recipes and the shopping list, to even a step-by-step game plan to keep you organized and get you through the day without going crazy.

And in case you are not hosting, but perhaps bringing a dish along with you, you can easily pick from one of the recipes above to bring along and know that you will have an allergy-safe dish for you and your family to eat.

You can also bring along this absolutely perfect hostess gift with you this season to pass out to your wonderful hosts of the holidays.

The 2013 Cookbook Desk Calendar!

Diane Eblin, of The Whole Gang, and author of The Gluten-Free Diner e-book, has just created a “great affordable gift option for friends, family, hostess, clients, co-workers, employees, teachers, mail carriers, newspaper carriers…really anyone on your gift list!”

Her one-of-a-kind 2013 Cookbook Desk Calendar is a stunning desk calendar that has individual cards for each month beautifully displaying the calendar, recipe, and a gorgeous full-color photograph of the meal.  The calendar itself is based on her own philosophy of easy, healthy, gluten-free living with a simple way to also cook dairy-free, vegetarian, vegan, and Paleo meals all at the same time without having to cook five different meals at one time.

AND… each calendar comes in its own gift/shipping box to make your gift-giving really simple this year.

This Cookbook Desk Calendar Features:

• 12 beautifully-designed cards in a clear CD case specially made to stand-up and display on your desk or countertop.  (4 5/8” x 5 3/8”)
• Gorgeous color photos of each dish with easy-to follow recipes on the back.
• All gluten-free and dairy-free recipes with optional Vegetarian, Vegan, and Paleo directions for each recipe to fit any diet!
• BONUS!  Secret access code for a hidden page full of insider tips, tools, resources & 28 additional recipes on The WHOLE Gang website.

BONUS Hidden Page Features include:

• 9 new additional recipes & links to 19 more recipes
• cooking tips and tricks
• additional recipe suggestions along with instructional photos
• ingredient information and tools/resources for substitutions and suggestions
• instructional cooking videos

I recently received my calendar and am completely in love with it. I have it sitting right on my counter and have already made four of the different recipes from it! I love how the recipes are laid out and how she provides options to completely tailor the recipes to whatever your dietary needs may be.

If you decide to order one of these as a gift, just beware, you may decide you want to keep it for yourself. In that case…you may just want to order an extra for you!

And…you may just be one of two lucky winners to receive your own calendar. I am giving away a calendar to two different winners.

**UPDATE: This Contested Has Ended. Winners Will be Contacted By Email**

To enter to win one of your own 2013 Cookbook Desk Calendars, just simply do One, Two, or all Three of the following. Just leave A SEPARATE COMMENT for each thing that you do so that you can earn an entry for each.

1. Tell me what intrigues you about this calendar!

2. Follow Cook It Allergy Free and/or The Whole Gang on Facebook, or tell me if you already do.

3. Share this post with your friends on Pinterest, Twitter, Facebook or other social media and leave an additional comment saying you did so. Help spread the word about this great new cookbook calendar!

The contest will end on Wednesday, November 21st at 9.am PST. The winners will be announced then. You must be at least 18 years old to enter.

GOOD LUCK!!!!

Nourishing Meals – Healthy Gluten-Free Recipes for the Whole Family:

A Whole Foods Cookbook and Guide to Raising Healthy Children including over 300 nourishing gluten-free, dairy-free, and soy-free recipes.

And guess what? I am giving away 3 copies of it. Why? Because this is THE cookbook and resource that perfectly captures everything I believe in regarding how I feed my family. And more than anything, I believe that everyone should have a copy of this one in their cookbook collection!

This book, written by Alissa Segersten and Tom Malterre, MS, CN, sets an absolute foundation for raising healthy, resilient children (and keeping ourselves that way in the process as well).

Nourishing Meals has a huge variety of recipes, from plant-based main dishes to nourishing grain-free desserts. No matter what your diets are, this book has something for everyone.

This cookbook truly is about Nutrition for the Whole Family. In it, you will discover “what nutrients are key for proper growth and development both in childhood and in utero, why going gluten-free can help solve mysterious health ailments, why removing processed foods from your diet and eating whole foods can benefit your health; as well as the causes behind the rise in food allergies and what to do about it.”

Our family has had so much fun cooking from this book. And I love the idea that everything that I make from it lends to raising healthy children…and adults!

Here are just some of the recipes we have made from Nourishing Meals and have loved in our house so far:

• Blueberry Teff Muffins
• Quinoa Currant Porridge
• Pumpkin Pie Granola
• Fruit And Avocado Bowls with Hempseeds
• Black Bean and Potato Breakfast Burritos
• Blueberry Peach Crisp
• Berry Parfaits with Orange Cashew Cream
• Pumpkin Pie with a Pecan Crust

So…if you are as eager to get your hands on a copy of this book as I was, then you will WANT to enter this giveaway!

UPDATE: THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED. WINNERS WILL BE CONTACTED BY EMAIL!

To enter to win a copy of Nourishing Meals, just simply do One, Two, or all Three of the following. Just leave A SEPARATE COMMENT for each thing that you do so that you can earn an entry for each.

1. Tell me what intrigues you about this book!

2. Follow Cook It Allergy Free on Facebook, or tell me if you already do.

3. Share this post with your friends on Pinterest, Twitter, Facebook or other social media and leave an additional comment saying you did so. Help spread the word about this great new cookbook! Everyone should own a copy of this one!

The contest will end on Wednesday, October 10th at 9.am PST. The winners will be announced then. You must be at least 18 years old to enter.

Have you heard about the new book, The Gluten-Free Edge: A Nutrition and Training Guide for Peak Athletic Performance and an Active Gluten-Free Life?

I just finished reading it….AND I loved it SO much that I am giving away a copy of it along with a pedometer to motivate a  lucky winner into action.

The Gluten-Free Edge was written two people I highly respect and admire in the Gluten-Free Community.  Peter Bronksi, award-winning writer and endurance athlete, and also the co-author of Artisanal Gluten-Free Cooking and founder of the blog No Gluten, No Problem; and Melissa McLean Jory, MNT, nutritionist, wilderness adventurer, yoga enthusiast, and founder of the blog Gluten-Free For Good.

This book addresses how you can gain an edge in sports and in life by going gluten-free. It talks about how science is showing more and more that gluten can have a negative impact on our health, regardless of whether or not we have Celiac Disease.

According to an excerpt from the book synopsis:

“The Gluten-Free Edge is the first comprehensive resource to include:

• What gluten is and how it negatively impacts health and athletic performance
• The myriad benefits of adopting a gluten-free nutrition plan
• What to eat during training, competition, and recovery
• How to deal with group meals, eating on the road, and getting “glutened”
• Insights from prominent athletes already living the gluten-free edge
• 50 simple, high-octane recipes to fuel your performance

Whether you’ve been diagnosed with gluten intolerance or simply want to get ahead of the competition, this book is for your. Your own gluten-free edge is waiting.”

I love that many of our own local sports celebrities here in our town have been very vocal about their choices to go gluten-free. My own children feel like having a special diet is now more like a cool badge rather than something to be embarrassed of.  My oldest is even convinced that the reason he is “such a great baseball and football player” (his words exactly) is because he is gluten free. Of course, his reason to be so is not by choice, considering he has Celiac Disease.

This book is packed with amazing information backed by science, research, and history. It has amazing personal accounts from many of the elite athletes. And it provides a realistic approach to food as it relates to how to achieve peak athletic performance, not only for the serious athlete, but also for the weekend “warriors”.

Along with some amazing nutrient dense recipes, The Gluten-Free Edge also has a great list of whole, fresh foods, full of complex carbs, lean proteins, and healthy fats that are all completely gluten-free and that will leave you feeling full of energy.

UPDATE: THIS CONTEST HAS ENDED. WINNER HAS BEEN CONTACTED BY EMAIL!

Now. One lucky winner will win a copy of this book AND a pedometer to motivate them into action and on the way to an active gluten-free life.

Who wants to win?

To enter to win, just simply do One, Two, or all Three of the following. Just leave a separate comment for each thing that you do so that you can earn an entry for each.

1. Follow Cook It Allergy Free on Facebook, or tell me if you already do.

2. Follow Gluten Free For Good on Facebook, or tell me if you already do.

3. Follow No Gluten, No Problem on Facebook, or tell me if you already do.

The contest will end on Wednesday, September 26th at 9.am PST. The winner will be announced then. You must be at least 18 years old to enter.

Good Luck!

Simply Gluten Free Fun And Giveaway Day!!

Well, by now I am most certain that you’ve heard the latest gossip around town…

There is a new Gluten Free and Allergy Friendly magazine on the block that is about to hit news stands in November.

The name? Simply Gluten Free Magazine…

According to it’s August 8th Press Release, Simply Gluten Free Magazine will be a:

“…high-quality, aesthetic, highly informative bi-monthly publication with a mission to provide knowledge, support, and an abundance of creative solutions to those seeking optimum health for themselves and their families by embracing gluten-free and/or allergen free lifestyles.   The magazine, which will also be published in digital format at www.simplyglutenfreemag.com, will be loaded with great tasting and easy-to-prepare recipes brought to life with page-after- page of gorgeous food photography.  Kicinski says the quality, styling, and content will rival even the most well-established mainstream food and lifestyle magazines on the market.” 

The woman behind the magazine is Gluten-free living expert Carol Kicinski, she is also lady behind the Simply Gluten Free Website and the author of the books, Simply…Gluten Free Desserts and Simply…Gluten Free Quick Meals (which two lucky winners will be receiving as part of this fun giveaway package).  

And here is some additional information from the Press Release:

“Working in tandem with the magazine’s Editor-in-Chief Wendy Gregory Kaho (a veteran magazine editor, blogger, freelance writer, and a mother of two celiac children), Kicinski has recruited the talents of a team of well-respected and highly popular bloggers from the Web’s allergen-free community to serve as the magazine’s writing staff. 

“Each of our contributing writers focuses on their own areas of special interest and research,” says Kicinski.  “They are all amazing people who are dealing with creating an allergen-free lifestyle for themselves and their families every day, finding and testing various products and then blogging about their own experiences and reactions.   These writers are all very involved in allergen-free issues on the front line, fighting the fight and walking the walk.”  

And trust me when I tell you that you will NOT want to miss the first issue. This one is going to start off with a bang!

“Kicinski says for the November/December premier issue, the magazine’s Holiday Entertainment section will be filled to the brim with informative articles on how to celebrate in style with an assortment of gluten-free food ideas: 

• Mix & Match Holiday Dinners:  Creative combinations of gluten-free entrees and side dishes to delight your guests 
• Tips for Lowering the Costs of Gluten-free Diets  
• Holiday Cocktails:  How to Get the Party Started and Stay Gluten-Free 
• Preparing a Paleo Holiday Dinner 
• Glitch-free Holiday Baking 
• Easy Allergen-free Substitutions
• Vegan Holiday Dessert Recipes 
• Breaking Medical and Scientific News and Information by Leading Doctors 

Simply Gluten Free Magazine will be distributed in supermarkets, health food stores, doctors’ offices, and nutritionists’ offices, and is projected to have an initial combined monthly readership of over 250,000  (15,000 print and over 235,000 online).” 

You can sign up for your subscription today and receive 70% off the cover price right now!

Oh. And P.S….I will just include here that I am proud to announce that I will be one of the contributing writers and an Associate Editor for the magazine. 

And…while I just happen to be on the topic of Simply…Gluten Free, I want to share with you her latest cookbook as well.

Simply…Gluten Free Quick Meals has over 100 gluten free recipes that will help you get a meal on the table quickly and easily…

This is just the book for us busy moms dealing with food allergies and special diets…all of the recipes are obviously gluten-free, but most of the recipes can also easily be adapted to many other food allergies as well, including many vegetarian options.

I love how Carol lays out the book, with all of her quick meals being set up into simple menus that make from entertaining for a group to a quick meal at home with the family seem totally doable. She also has an amazing spread of her beautiful photography of many of the dishes.

So far our family has made quite a few of the menus and we have loved every one of them. A couple of our favorite menus have been:

All American Meat Loaf Dinner:

• Mini Meat Loaves
• Dairy-Free Ranch-Style Smashed Potatoes
• Broccoli with Garlic Chips
• Dairy-Free Chocolate Ganache with Fruit

Date Night (although ours involved the kids ):

• Steakhouse Filet Mignon
• Roasted Asparagus
• Easy Blender Bearnaise Sauce
• Chocolate-Strawberry Fool

And because I said that today is all about Simply…Gluten Free today, I am doing a fun giveaway package for 2 lucky winners.

Two people will win both a Copy of Simply…Gluten Free Quick Meals AND a Subscription to the new Simply Gluten Free Magazine.  

To enter, you just need to do one of the following. BUT…if you do all three, you get three entries into this giveaway. Just make sure to leave a separate comment for EACH one that you do. Each comment qualifies you for an additional entry.

1. Simply…leave a comment here telling me how long you have been gluten-free or allergy-free.
2. Simply…follow Me, Cook It Allergy Free, on Facebook (or tell me if you already do).
3. Simply…follow Simply Gluten Free Magazine on Facebook (or tell me if you already do).

The contest will end on Wednesday, August 22nd at 9.am PST. The winners will be announced then. You must be at least 18 years old to enter.

UPDATE: THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED. WINNERS WILL BE NOTIFIED BY EMAIL!

Hang tight. You are about to find out what Vixi stands for…and then you will want to be Vixi too! 

According to the VixiBar Website:

“In Latin, the word VIXI means “to live; to be alive” At VixiBar™, we believe eating natural, pure, delicious food that your body can use leads to the extraordinary ability to do… anything! … Be Vixi Today!”

Not long ago, Kate, the founder of VixiBar, sent me a package of her line of amazing protein-packed natural food bars. I was excited to try them considering I already loved her philosophy on health, nutrition, and active living and figured her bars would represent this as well.

As Kate says on her website:

“As a Fitness Consultant and athlete, I had a hard time finding a bar to eat or recommend to my clients. I wanted something with only natural & pure ingredients. It had to be GREAT TASTING, with no added sugars, free of gluten, soy and lactose, but with whey protein (non-rBGH). It hit me one morning after a classic Colorado run… and the rest is history!”

Vixi Bars are an all natural food bars that contain 12 grams of natural whey protein.

They are also gluten free, grain free, soy free, lactose free, non GMO, rich in fiber, and free from any added sugar or preservatives.

Disclaimer for all of my DAIRY-Free friends here: Please note that while the bars are Lactose Free, these are NOT Dairy free. They do contain Whey Protein. 

Disclaimer for all of my NUT-free friends here: Please note that some, but not all, of the flavors do contain organic peanuts.

There are 10 different flavors to choose from:

• Chocolate Macaroon
• Coconut Bliss
• Apple Crisp
• Peanut Butter Cup
• Peanut Butter & Jelly
• Peppermint Patty
• Cherry Biscotti
• Cherry Brownie
• Pumpkin Pie
• Peanut Butter Banana

One of my favorite things about these bars is how short the ingredient list is on each bar. There are only 5 or 6 ingredients (depending on the flavor) in each bar…and each ingredient is an actual real food that you can feel good about eating.

You can see all of the ingredients in each of the flavors on the VixiBar Product Page where you can pick which ones you want! Then you can add your favorite flavors to your Shopping Cart!

Of course, how they taste is what is most important here. After all, if they do not taste good, my family is not going to eat them.

Thank goodness my two little self-declared starving munchkins volunteered to help as testers. I swear they act as if I don’t feed them. But I do. I promise.

My oldest took one look at the flavors and made absolute sure that the Cherry Brownie, Pumpkin Pie, and Peanut Butter and Jelly flavored bars were going to be his.

My youngest, as usual, just let his older brother tell him what to do and gladly accepted the Coconut Bliss and Apple Crisp flavors.

In the end, we really shared all of the bars and we each tasted all of the flavors. The boys kept fighting over who was going to get a taste of what. And any time they started fighting over them, Mom came in and saved the day by taking the bar in question to enjoy herself.

In the end, not only did we get to try some delicious and nutritious bars, but we also got a good lesson in the importance, fun, and benefits of sharing…

We loved all of the flavors that we tried, but my hands down favorite was the Coconut Bliss. I could eat that one every. single. day.

The boys, however, absolutely LOVED the:

• Peanut Butter and Jelly
• Cherry Brownie
• Pumpkin Pie

And except for the few flavors that contain peanuts, the rest are actually a perfect bar to send to a nut-free school as a treat in the lunch box as well. That is a huge plus in my book.

VixiBar is on a mission to let everyone know that they can have a natural food bar with both functional benefit and great taste – a bar without compromise! I think these bars are achieving that mission for sure!

So here is your chance to be Vixi too…

GIVEAWAY TIME!!

One lucky follower will win a Variety Pack of 10 VixiBars delivered straight to your doorstep.

You are allowed the chance to enter 3 times by doing each of the following. Just leave a separate comment for each thing you do so I can track your entries:

1. In one sentence, tell me which flavor sounds the best to you..(if you win, I will make sure that flavor is included in your package). 

2. Follow Cook It Allergy Free on Facebook (or tell me if you already do).

3. Follow VixiBar on Facebook (or tell me if you already do).

One winner will be chosen at random on Wednesday, April 25th at 7:00 am Pacific Standard Time. Winner will be contacted via email then. Entrants must be 18 years of age or older.

*Vixi Bars provided me with this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product. I chose to do this review and giveaway because I really love these bars and I know you will too.*

I think this cute guy inherited his mother’s love of cookbook reading.

The other day, waiting for us on our doorstep, was our copy of the new cookbook Eat Like A Dinosaur, by the Paleo Parents, Matt and Stacy.

My oldest son, who had been anticipating the book’s arrival, was so excited that he never even took off his jacket or put away his lunchbox. He just tore open the package and plopped his tiny little behind down at the counter and read the entire book cover to cover.

After my son skipped over the “Boring Chapter for Parents” (the book calls it this, not me), he read the actual Eat Like A Dinosaur story out loud to his little brother. And then he read it again.

After that, he started pouring through recipes. This book has over 100 kid-approved recipes and projects that are free of grains, dairy, and legumes.

I think he had our entire menu planned for the next two weeks on that first afternoon.

We have had a blast cooking our way through the book…everything that we have made together has been a hit and has received a big two-thumbs-up each time.

So far, we have cooked up the following meals (all done with the help of my boys):

• Banana Chocolate Chip Bread
• Mini Egg Pizzas
• Maple Chicken Salad
• Fool’s Gold (aka Chicken Nuggets)
• Bacon Burgers
• Ten Tomato Ketchup (to use up our tomatoes from the garden and to satiate my youngest son’s abnormal affection for this condiment)
• Apple Bacon slaw
• Grain-free Granola
• Apple Rings and Cinnamon Apple Tidbits (thanks to my husband’s new dehydrating obsession and his purchase of the Excalibur 9-tray Dehydrator)

We have all loved everything that we have made so far. My son still has a number of recipes he wants to try, but I thought I better let you all know now how much we are already enjoying this book!

(note: I do have pictures of many of the dishes, but am experiencing an issue with my photo uploader – I will update our photos once it is remedied)

Some fun facts to note about this book:

• 288 pages – more than recipes, includes a “how to” chapter for parents and “projects” to get the family spending time together
• illustrated kids story aims to get kids excited and thinking positively about embracing food changes
• over 100 recipes and projects which are grain-, dairy-, legume- and refined sugar-free, but not lacking in flavor or fun!
• all recipes have full color, bright, fun layout with corresponding photo – enticing to kids
• allergy-friendly book has top 8 allergens on each page and easy index in the back
• written & photographed by normal suburban family who turned their health around with switching to a “real foods” diet (lost over 200lbs, kids no longer have asthma, eczema, allergies, behavioral issues, etc.)
• All recipes are Paleo, but it’s not a paleo specific book – it’s for all kinds of families with a wide range of food habits – including those with allergies, WAPF, GFCF or simply trying to eat better

Eat Like A Dinosaur receives 8 thumbs up in our house…since all four of us love it!!

AND NOW FOR THE GIVEAWAY TIME…

IF YOU WANT TO EAT LIKE A DINOSAUR TOO…TWO OF YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO WIN A COPY RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW!!

You are allowed the chance to enter 3 times by doing each of the following. Just leave a separate comment for each thing you do so I can track your entries:

1. In one sentence, tell me why you want this book.

2. Follow Cook It Allergy Free on Facebook (or tell me if you already do).

3. Follow Paleo Parents on Facebook (or tell me if you already do).

Two winners will be chosen at random on Tuesday, April 17th at 7:00 am Pacific Time. Winners will be contacted via email then. Entrants must be 18 years of age or older.

Well in true gfe-gluten-free easily form, my sweet Shirley has out done herself with the most stunning holiday event yet. Home for the Holidays- Gluten-Free Style (and very Allergy Friendly as well) has kicked off with an enormous bang. Twenty four bloggers are sharing recipes that represent what the home and holidays are all about for them.

And there are over 100 prizes you can enter to win - this list is insane. And then a GRAND PRIZE and two runner ups that will knock your socks off!

- Grand prize: A top-of-the-line VITAMIX blender!

- 2nd Prize: $150 Shopping Spree at Free From Gluten

- 3rd Prize : A Giveaway Package from Caveman Cookies worth $89.

And you will see below the great gifts that I am also giving away today as part of the event. But WAIT! Here is the most exciting part…

Each Entry/Comment you leave here will also count towards the Grand Prize, and 2nd, and 3rd Prizes as well! So make sure to maximize your chances!

Of course you know I am going to say how steeped in tradition the holidays are for us. And after all, our family has a long list of must-do’s for the season that we stick to like glue.

But this last year has brought some unexpected events and experiences that have left me understanding that simple moments are what really make this season bright.

Like the pride the boys get when they “help” Dad build the fire…and the sound of their belly laughs that are simply full of pure joy just because Santa will soon be burning his britches and squeezing his jolly belly through our chimney.

Like belting out Christmas songs with my boys at the top of our lungs and dancing to them “like no one is watching”. And then giggling hysterically afterwards…

Like listening to Big Brother read Christmas stories to Little Brother and Big Brother asking questions and encouraging Little Brother like Mom and Dad usually do…

And like sitting around the breakfast table together in our pajamas during the cold December weekends and enjoying special breakfast treats that are not normally made during the other times of the year.

Yes. Those are the kind of traditions that are making the season for me.

And this Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free Cinnamon Bun Cake with an Eggnog Glaze plays a big role on these special holiday mornings for us. It actually looks like and tastes similar to a giant cinnamon bun, but it is yeast-free, gluten-free, dairy-free, corn-free, and easily egg-free.

Oh. And it is waaaay easier (and much faster) to make than real Cinnamon buns.

I place a layer of cinnamon bun filling (and a layer of raisins) on the bottom of my pan, then pour half of the batter in. Then, using a ziplock bag with a corner snipped off, pipe a swirl of the filling and add another layer of raisins. Then I place the remaining batter on top of this and pipe the remaining filling in that same spiral pattern. Because we love the filling so much, I have been known to double the filling recipe below for an extra dose of decadence.

The result when it is done baking? Does it not look like a giant cinnamon bun?

Oh, and then that dairy-free eggnog glaze is not so bad either.

Here we go… GIVEAWAY TIME! Enter to win:

Simply Gluten-Free Desserts, by Carol Kicinski and one bag of her Amazing All- Purpose Gluten-free Flour mix:

The Pure Kitchen, by Hallie Klecker

One Easy Eats Subscription to the all-digital food and lifestyle gluten-free magazine:

To enter the giveaway, please do one or all of the following three things:

Just remember that each entry brings you one step closer to winning that Vita-Mix!

1. Please leave a comment telling me what makes this season bright for you.
2. Share this giveaway on facebook and come back to tell me that you did.
3. Share this giveaway on twitter and come back to tell me that you did.

Note that you will have 48 hours to leave a comment here before it will be closed to entries on December 8th at 10am CST.

All of the comments you leave on this post and any other posts by the other bloggers participating will be entered into the Grand Prize Giveaways. The grand prize winners will be announced on Christmas.

And do not forget to go back and see the Gluten-Free Red Chile Enchiladas from Gluten Free For Good yesterday and then head on over to Lexie’s Kitchen tomorrow, for what I am sure will be an amazing treat.

NOTE: THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED.