Have you been looking for gluten free cookies that are nutritious? Well Fabe’s All-Natural Bakery has you covered. Fabe’s uses quality  ingredients to achieve an their well known taste. If you aren’t totally satisfied with our delicious desserts and snacks, they will give you your money back. Now that is a company you can trust.

Fabe’s All-Natural Bakery products have no preservatives, artificial ingredients, refined cane sugar or juice, high fructose corn syrup, trans fat or GMO’s. In addition, they have a full line of gluten free products that meet everyones taste. Choose from the following cookie flavors:

• Cranberry Orange
• Ginger
• Dark Chocolate
• Coconut Macaroon

They also have the following on their gluten free product list:

• Homestyle Carrot Cake
• Chocolate Fudge Cake
• Dutch Apple Pie
• Pumpkin Pie
• Pie Crust
• Mini Fruit and Nut Cake
• Chocolate Fudge Cupcake

I just LOVE that Fabe’s has partnered nationwide with Chuck-E-Cheese to provide gluten free chocolate cupcakes to all of their stores so that children can enjoy a gluten free dessert safely as they are individually packaged. Read all about the partnership here.

So are you ready to win some Fabe’s All-Natural Bakery gluten free products all for yourself?! Enter below.

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*I was not paid or compensated for this feature. I was provided with free product however I was not required to write a positive feature. These are my opinions and my opinions alone.

My boys LOVE these!! A a mother, I like that I feel good about giving them these nutritious drops because they are doing their little tummy’s good. Tummy Drops by Enteral Health and Nutrition are great for kids and adults alike.

Peppermint- As most of you may already know, peppermint is a natural reliever of tummy pain. These peppermint tummy drops contain a special blend of oil, which may assist with occasional stomach upset & cramps, nausea, urgency, & bloating. We really enjoyed these and appreciate that they were developed by a gastroenterologist who understands our digestive and “tummy trouble” needs. These drops are easy to give the kiddos when they have an upset stomach because they taste so great that they think they are getting a treat. For adults, just sucking on the drop seemed to call me down.

Ginger- I get carsick and nausea so easily that having these on hand have been great! Plus ginger is just one of those things that make you feel better no matter what.  Each of these drops contains a special blend of ginger, which may assist with occasional stomach upset, nausea, morning sickness, & motion sickness. Again, these are easy to give the kiddos on a long car ride when they may be feeling  a little motion sickness. I imagine these would also be great during pregnancy.

These drops couldn’t be more convenient to take and truly taste great. They are gluten free, made in the USA and developed by award-winning gastroenterologists with their patients in mind.

So are you ready to win some Tummy Drops all for yourself?! Enter below.

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*I was not paid or compensated for this feature. I was provided with free product however I was not required to write a positive feature. These are my opinions and my opinions alone.

So you all know that I love to be the “granola” that I am with all kinds of great products like Kombucha and Redmond Clay, well here is another great product that I recently began taking and have enjoyed learning more about. Krill Oil from Everest Nutrition. I can see that this is a beneficial supplement for my body. It is an essential supplement for your body and something that could significantly improve it’s function. The company let’s you know more about their product better than I do so here is just a snippet but be sure to visit www.krilloil.com to learn more!

Everest Nutrition’s Krill Oil is extracted from Krill living deep within the waters surrounding the Antarctic. Krill are very small, shrimp like crustaceans found in open seas throughout the world. Research from the scientific and medical communities confirms the incredible effects this oil can have in promoting heart and joint health, lowered cholesterol, improved moods and comfort during menstruation.

When addressing holistic health, krill oil is literally a miraculous discovery within the Omega-3 industry!

It’s been amazing to me to learn that, according to Everest Nutrition, good quality Krill oil like this can do so many things for your body like:

• Increase HDL
• Improve your brain health
• Boost energy
• Reduce menacing heart inflammation
• Reduce early aging lines in the skin

and much more!

So are you ready to win a month’s worth of Everest Nutrition Krill Oil all for yourself?! Enter below.
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*I was not paid or compensated for this feature. I was provided with free product however I was not required to write a positive feature. These are my opinions and my opinions alone.

Oh my goodness, I have found a new favorite snack in our house! I had the great opportunity of trying the line of parmesan crisps from Kitchen Table Bakers and let me just tell you, they are phenomenal! They are full of flavor, crunchy, and low-carb which I like since we tend to get bombarded with high starchy gluten free snacks. These are great on their own or crumbled on top of a salad in place of traditional croutons. The four flavors were unique and exciting to try.

Sesame- This was my favorite flavor as it had so much going on. It kind of reminded me of an everything bagel. Lots of great tastes going on with the nuttiness of the sesame really standing out.

Aged Parmesan- This was a traditional type crisp that my boys and hubby especially liked. It was mild and perfect for a light snack.

Rosemary- This robust cracker was full of flavor and reminiscent of Thanksgiving for me. I imagine it would make an excellent addition to our appetizer table on Thanksgiving!

Jalepeno- I like anything with a kick so this cheesy, spicy crisp was right up my alley. Topped with a cool cream cheese dollop and you are set to go…yum!

Kitchen Table Bakers also has other great flavors like Flax, Everything, Italian Herb and Garlic. This company makes high quality products using high quality ingredients. Their crisps are wheat, gluten, sugar and trans fat free which is great. If you are looking for a great alternative to your usual gluten free starchy cracker or just want a delicious snack, these are for you!

So are you ready to win some Kitchen Table Bakers products for yourself? Enter below.

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*I was not paid or compensated for this feature. I was provided with free product however I was not required to write a positive feature. These are my opinions and my opinions alone.

Chef David Hall

While breakfast is considered by most health professional as most important meal of the day, it is often the most skipped meal of the day.  There are several reasons (or excuses) for skipping breakfast, including getting more sleep, saving time, or eliminating a few calories in order to shed a few pounds.  While adults need a balanced breakfast in order to perform at peak performance at work, kids are significantly at greater physical, intellectual and behavior health risk when skipping breakfast.  Getting kids to learn good eating habits can make a huge difference in their development, learning, physical wellness as well as mental and educational development.

Kids and adults both need a wholesome, nutritious morning meal in order to recharge both body and mind.  By recharging the brain and body, you’ll be more efficient in just about everything you do.  Preparing a good breakfast need not take a huge investment of time.  The few minutes of sleep you might get is hardly a good trade for what you would benefit from a light and healthy breakfast.

My father, a school teacher, encouraged his 5^th and 6^th grade students to bring a piece of fruit or snacks to class to munch on throughout the day in class.  Sadly, many (if not most) schools do not trust kids to make good decisions and forbid bringing food into the classroom.  I am convinced that a piece of fruit or healthy protein energy bar in the backpack will make a difference in one’s ability to learn.  It is not rocket science that a hungry tummy prevents the mind from learning.

Further, skipping meals puts the body into a starvation response.  People who skip breakfast in an effort to lose weight are actually more likely to cause weight gain than weight loss.  The development of obesity is strongly linked inconsistent eating patterns.  Starting the day with a light breakfast and continuing “grazing” on healthy snacks not only is a great way to maintain healthy weight but also nourishes our children’s brains while in school and ours while at work.

It’s important for parents to teach their kids of the importance of the morning meal and the role it plays in maintaining good health and preventing obesity.  Skipping meals (especially breakfast) actually make weight control more difficult.  When we skip breakfast we are likely to eat more food than usual at the next meal to satiate our hunger.  Several studies suggest that people tend to accumulate more body fat when they eat fewer, larger meals than when they eat the same number of calories in smaller, more frequent meals.

Those who follow my writings know I prefer chewy steel cut oats over the mushy and slimy processed quick oats that have significantly less healthy fiber.  Yes, steel cut oats do take a while (30 to 40 minutes) to cook properly, but there is a simple trick to getting this extremely healthy breakfast food on the table in short order in about ten minutes.  The key is a little planning and cooking ahead.  Try this time-saving shortcut to a healthy high fiber breakfast that’s just plain yummy.

Quick Steel Cut Oats

1 cup steel cut oats

3 cups water (the night before)

½ to 1 teaspoon salt

1 more cup of water (at breakfast)

1. Bring three cups of water to a rolling boil.
2. Add the salt and oats and stir.
3. Return to a boil then turn off the heat and cover overnight.
4. The next morning, add the last cup of water, cook for 10 minutes and serve.
5. Top with dried fruit, or whatever.

Give it a try and see how little time it takes to get a good start on the day.  Join me next time to learn how to make a fast power drink as an alternative to traditional breakfasts, now that berries are in season.

Be blessed and be well,

Chef David Hall

Thyme for a Chef, LLC

One of our Platinum Sponsors, Goldbaums has come out with a NEW product! Pop Potato Chips in Onion and Garlic, Original and BBQ flavors. These light and airy chips are low in fat and full in flavor. I especially liked how crunchy they still were. Enjoy in a gluten free chip dip or on their own. Either way, you are sure to enjoy them. Remember tuna noodle casserole? Try making it gluten free using their noodles and crushed Pop Potato chips on top…yum!

In addition to the new Pop Potato chips, Goldbaums has a tasty line of brown rice pasta, sugar and traditional type gluten free ice cream cones, wonder meals and even gluten free chow mein noodles. That’s right, you have finally found them! Check out the feature I did here on those.

So are you ready to win some Goldbaums gluten free products all for yourself? Enter below.

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*I was not paid or compensated for this feature. I was provided with free product however I was not required to write a positive feature. These are my opinions and my opinions alone.

By Chef David Hall

You may have noticed I did not post an article in the last couple weeks.  Debbie, my wife, and I were having fun with hurricane Sandy and had little to no means of communication with the outside world.  Thankfully we have returned home to dry weather where I could have my 2^nd hernia surgery.  Now recovering it’s time to get this next article out.

Simply stated, sharp knives are safe knives.  It is a misconception that using a dull blade will somehow cause less injury if you happen to cut yourself.  The reality is sharp knives are easier to control because you do not have to use as much force or strength to cut through things.  Injuries frequently occur when one tries to force a dull knife through food; then suddenly the food gives way to the knife, the knife slips and then next thing you know you have blood on your cutting board and food.  I know; this has happened to me more times than I like to admit whether in the kitchen or the wood shop.

Preventable Injuries to you and your knives – Other causes of preventable injuries include knives being randomly tossed in a draw with other cooking utensils.  You go to grab a ladle and the edge of a knife meets with your skin with predictable results.  If you store knives in drawers, they should be safely contained in either sheaths or in the slots of a drawer knife block and not mixed amongst your other utensils.  Having your knives bounce around a in drawer with other utensils is also very hard on the cutting edge causing nicks and gouges in what is supposed to be a fine cutting edge.

Another hazardous thing to do with your knives and hazardous is placing them in a sink of sudsy water with other things that need to be washed.  Again, having the blade bang against other pot, pans, dishes, etc. is very damaging to the cutting edge, not to mention causing unnecessary injuries to hands when blindly reaching through the suds to retrieve those things that need washing.  Leave your knives on the countertop until you are ready to clean them.  My habit is to immediately wash and dry my knives when I am done using them, making sure they are bone dry before I place them securely in my knife block for chef’s knife kit.  They are both clean and ready for the next use without having to carefully probe through murky soapy water.

Washing – When washing your knives, use gentle dish soap.  Wash, rinse and immediately dry.  This not only prevents mineral spots and staining your expensive knives, but also reduces the risk of bacterial growth.  Don’t use your dish washer to clean your knives, especially if your knives have natural wood handles, such as Chicago Cutlery.  The harsh detergent not only strips the natural oil from the handles causing them to split or delaminate, but the strong basic detergent will cause damage by actually etching the grain boundaries of the steel, weakening both the edge and the blade itself.

The Steel – You know that steel rod with a handle that came with your set of knives?  It is called just that, “The Steel.”  Some erroneously refer to it as a “sharpening” stick or steel, however it does not actually sharpen but rather hones the edge of a sharp blade.  If your knives are dull, the steel will be of no benefit to you.  The steel is used to maintain the edge.  Every time I pick up my knives to prepare a meal, I run my knives over the steel.  Doing so means I do not need to sharpen my knives to restore the factory edge nearly as frequently as I would have had I not used the steel.  Remember, sharpening actually removes metal in the grinding process, whereas the steel merely realigns the microscopic artifacts that constitute the fine edge of the blade.  Frequent use of the steel translates to an infrequent need for sharpening or restoring the factory edge.

Sharpening – Eventually all knives need to be sharpened to maintain a good working edge.  The best tools for sharpening are either water stones, oil stone or fine grinders specifically designed for cutlery.  Those carbide v-shaped things that you drag a knife through may provide you with a temporary cutting edge, but at the expense of the life of your knife.  Some of these cheap products are too aggressive and remove too much metal from the blade, thereby shortening the life of your knives.  Spend the money needed to purchase good sharpening equipment.  If you use quality tools to maintain your quality knives, you will not need to purchase knives again.  Knives should last your lifetime.

One sharpening system I recommend is the Work Sharp Knife and Tool sharpening system.  I have seen the best price on Amazon and while it costs less than most sharpening machines you find at stores, it does the best job.  If you prefer to go “old-school” I recommend considering higher quality diamond water stones, but you will need multiple grits for sharpening as well as honing, not to mention the know-how to sharpen, which is an art.  One benefit of the Work Sharp system is that fixturing is included that enables you to hold knives at the appropriate and critical angles for sharpening.  All the guess-work is taken out, yielding great results.  Regardless of the route you choose, keep those knives sharp and you will avoid injuries.

Until next time, keep those knives sharp and working.

Happy chopping and slicing,

Chef David Hall

(Not just a hot dog joint)

By Chef David Hall

I try to eat healthy most of the time.  Well, some of the time.  OK, I try to eat healthy when forced to do so by the bathroom scale.  I do however, try to avoid fried foods unless they are Mexican food, southern fried chicken and waffles and of course my herbed wiener schnitzel (aka vienerschnitzel); and no I am not referring to overpriced hotdogs from some franchise in an A-framed building.  I am referring to the crunchy and juicy delight from Austria.

Wiener schnitzel can be made or pork, veal and even chicken.  My favorite is made of pork tenderloin.  The final product is crunchy, juicy and savory and no “chicken tender” can compare to my schnitzel.  Originally from Austrian Viennese cuisine, this dish is extremely adaptable to many different flavor profiles from bland to spicy.  Adding few drops of fresh lemon juice, a side potato salad and garden salad makes for a satisfying culinary experience.  I adapted the recipe for those who must adhere to a gluten-free diet.

1 pork tenderloin, trimmed and sliced into ½” slices

½ cup gluten-free all-purpose flour

½ teaspoon salt

3 cups Rice Chex cereal finely ground in a food processor (as a bread crumb substitute)

1 teaspoon dried parsley

½ teaspoon dried oregano

½ teaspoon dried thyme

2 eggs

Pepper

Lemon Slices

Oil for frying (lard is traditional)

1. Place the cutlets between sheets of plastic wrap with a few drops of water between the meat and the plastic.  Using the flat side of a meat tenderizing mallet or the back of a pan, pound the meat evenly to ¼” thick.
2. Set up a small assembly line of 3 shallow dishes. Place the flour and 1/2 teaspoon salt in the first one, well beaten eggs in the second and the breadcrumbs and herbs mixed in the third bowl.
3. Working one at a time, dredge a flattened cutlet first in flour until the surface is completely dry. Dip in egg to coat, allowing the excess to drip off for a few seconds then toss in the breadcrumbs and coat both sides.  Set aside on a sheet pan until all cutlets are done.  Do not press breadcrumbs into the meat.
4. Heat at least 1/4 inch of oil in the pan to 350°F.
5. Place a few cutlets in the pan of hot oil.  Fry the schnitzel for 3 minutes on one side, turning them over once and frying them until both sides are golden brown and crunchy.
6. Remove from pan and allow excess oil to drain off.  Plate with lemon slices and potato salad or green salad and serve.

Consider heavily seasoning the flour with spicy Cajun seasoning for a unique twist, served with waffle cut fries.  Try either version and let me know what you think of it.

Be well and be blessed,

Chef David Hall

I stayed at the Sheraton Downtown Hotel on Olive street and it turned out to be a fabulous place for accommodating the celiac diet. The kitchen was understanding of my dietary needs. I wanted to enjoy the breakfast bar since the breakfast meats, potatoes and eggs were gluten free. The corn grits were also gluten free and SO delicious!! I topped mine with brown sugar and raisins and enjoyed two bowls! Since a large portion of the breakfast bar (in separate containers) were danishes and pastries, they were so kind to make me gluten free flan and flourless, gluten free chocolate cake in place. Yeah, I enjoyed dessert for breakfast, why not? It was all amazing and I literally had to roll myself out of the restaurant. The guest services and namely Kim Huff, a front office supervisor and Sara Cottles who worked in the restaurant, when completely out of their way to make me feel more than welcome, safe and happy.

The Celiac Awareness Night with the Dallas Mavs that was organized by Gluten Free Calendar was a fun filled evening with the team going into overtime and money being fundraised for celiac disease and gluten sensitivity research.

Finally, I got to enjoy the local famous gluten free bakery that is Tulu’s Bakery. I met the owner who was as adorable as can be. She was so sweet and fun to talk too. I learned how much she genuinely cares about the celiac and gluten sensitive communities. She works tirelessly to provide the community with great tasting and safe gluten free baked goods. Her mom was also at the event and such a kind woman. I was so impressed with Tulu’s Bakery product presentation first off but then after tasting the products I continued to be impressed. I really enjoyed the muffins. I thought they were moist, full of flavor and gorgeous. I also really liked the peanut butter toffee bars. Again, they were moist and full of flavor. With locations in NYC and two in Dallas you can see how driven those behind this company are. Be sure to check them out when you are able!