Monday, April 25, 2011

Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake - Gluten Free, Dairy Free, and Corn Free!

Over the weekend, I baked a Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake for the first time.  It was also dairy free and corn free and turned out to be quite delicious!

The ingredients that I used include:

  • 3 cups Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free All Purpose Flour
  • 1 tsp Baking Soda
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • 1 cup organic unsweetened applesauce
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 cups Enjoy Life Chocolate Chips
This recipe can be made fairly quickly by following these simple steps:
  1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit
  2. Mix gluten free flour, baking soda, and salt in a medium-sized bowl
  3. Blend applesauce, sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla extract in a large bowl.  Add in one egg at a time.
  4. Beat in flour mixture and add in chocolate chips.
  5. Spread evenly in a 15 x 10 - inch pan.
  6. Bake for approximately 20 minutes or until golden.
  7. Cool pan on wire rack.
  8. Enjoy!

Friday, April 15, 2011

Justice Is Served!

I know that many of you have been following the story of Paul Seelig and the accusations that he knowingly sold gluten-based products as "gluten-free."

However, for those of you unfamiliar let me provide you with some background information.

Paul Seelig owned a company known as Great Specialty Products that was based in Durham County, North Carolina.  He sold an assortment of baked goods that he claimed to be gluten free.  He told customers that the gluten free grains were grown on a farm that he owned and that the bread was tested weekly to make sure that it was free of gluten.

After many customers started to fall ill after consuming his products, inspectors tested his baked goods for gluten.  It was found that the products contained extremely high levels of gluten.

Many were wondering if Paul Seelig would face any consequences for his actions as there is currently no federal standard for what is considered gluten free and labeling is completely voluntary.

This is one of the many reasons why the 1in133 campaign is so important.  If you haven't already signed the petition to create a standard for gluten free labeling then please do so now.

In court, workers from Great Specialty Products testified that Paul Seelig bought bread from commercial bakers and simply repackaged it with his own gluten free labeling.  He then sold these baked goods at the state fair, street fairs, and via home delivery.

Paul Seelig insisted during the trial that his products were gluten free and that he got them from an Amish baker in Ohio.  However, this baker had no phone, no street and/or email address and he always only paid in cash, so there were no payment records.  Seelig was also asked to provide records of the tests that he supposedly conducted weekly to make sure his products were gluten free but he was unable to furnish any of these records.

At the close of the trial earlier this week, Paul Seelig was found guilty of 23 counts of obtaining property by false pretense in Wake Superior Court of North Carolina.  He was sentenced to at least 9 and as many as 11 years in prison.

Hopefully this case will send a message to food companies and restaurants about the seriousness of labeling a product gluten-free.

Monday, April 4, 2011

1 in 133

If you are an active member in the gluten free community, you may have heard about the 1 in 133 campaign.  But what does it mean?

Well, to start, studies show that approximately 1 in every 133 people have Celiac Disease.  Now for the campaign...

Four years ago, back in 2007, the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act (FALCPA) put pressure on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to finalize standards for gluten free labeling.

It is now 2011 and we still do not have a standard for gluten free labeling!  Essentially, gluten free consumers cannot rest assured that the "gluten free labeled" product they are buying is actually gluten free.

In order to call the FDA to action, members of the gluten free community are hosting the Gluten Free Food Labeling Summit.  This event will take place on May 4th, 2011 (during Celiac Disease Awareness Month) in Washington, D.C. and will bring together Capital Hill legislators, Celiac Disease researchers, food corporations and gluten free community leaders.  At the summit, the world's largest gluten-free cake will be displayed to symbolize the importance of accurate gluten free food labeling!

If you are wondering how you can help out with this cause, here are some ideas:

1) Donate!  The money donated for the 2011 Gluten-Free Food Labeling Summit will be used for the event and the remaining donations will be given to the American Celiac Disease Alliance.

2) Sign the Petition!

3) Send a letter to the FDA!

4) Spread the Word!  Tell everyone you know to take the above steps!

To stay up-to-date on the latest happenings regarding the 1 in 133 campaign, follow 1in133 on Twitter and join the cause on Facebook.

For more information, please visit the website www.1in133.org.

Sunday, April 3, 2011

March's Monthly Round-Up!

March came in like a lion and out like a lamb...or something along those lines.  In any case, spring is finally here!

If you happen to have missed any of our recent articles, I've included links to the ones posted this past month below:

Time to Bowl
Gluten-Free on a Shoestring Giveaway
Challenge Yourself!
Tomorrow is Macaron Day in NYC
Naked Pizza?
Peanut Butter!

I am also still writing for the Long Island Gluten Free Examiner.  This month I wrote the following articles:

Syosset Fundraiser to Benefit the Celiac Disease Center at Columbia University

The Olive Garden Introduces a Gluten Free Menu

If you haven't yet had the chance, it's time for you to check out Ms. Celiac's Market.  We have some absolutely delicious gluten free products to choose from including my personal favorites...

Dowd & Roger's Dutch Chocolate Cake Mix

Pamela's Products Hazelnut Cheesecake with Chocolate Crust

Bakery on Main's Nutty Cranberry Maple Granola

Glutino's Original Crackers

Nogii High Protein and Nogii Super Protein Bars (Our best selling products!)

Also, if you want to show everyone your gluten free pride than check out Ms. Celiac's Shop for an awesome selection of items including t-shirts and a tote bag!

We've got some great stuff coming up this month - so make sure to stay tuned to this site!  If you haven't already, please follow us on Twitter or "like" us on Facebook!

If you are a gluten free food company and would like to advertise with us, please contact me at MsCeliacSays@gmail.com for more information.

And as always, if you have any comments, suggestions, etc., please feel free to email me at MsCeliacSays@gmail.com.  I always look forward to hearing your feedback!

Enjoy the month!

~Paige