Adventures in Gluten (and Sugar) Freedom from a southern blogger chick!

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

New from Moondance Heavenly Desserts


I've raved with much love before about Moondance Heavenly Desserts, the wonderful food of the Gods by Shelley Ritchie.  I adore her brownies and her cheesecakes are amazing. Shelley's products were one of the first I ever reviewed, and I continue to adore her, and her work.

Well there's big news at Moondance. BIIG news.

Cookies. YUMMY cookies. Three flavors of yummy cookies.

Chocolate Chip Bars
Mexican Wedding Cookies
Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

I am here to say they ROCK and are the most delicious, delicate cookies I've eaten in a while. I thought I'd love the Mexican Wedding Cookies the best (a longtime favorite of mine) BUT Randy and I devoured the Chocolate Crinkle Cookies. And I'm not a chocolate person....seriously.

They're all good  FREAKING AWESOME DELICIOUS.  

If you're in the Whole Foods Mid Atlantic Region you're in luck. Shelley's cookies are on sale there now.  They're also at Earth Fare in the South (Augusta, here I come....)

Love love love them.  You will, too.

Check them out at Moondance Heavenly Desserts! 

Much love, and much admiration to you, Shelley!  (and thanks....)

Much love....
Ging

Monday, April 11, 2011

1in133 initiative tackles labeling law

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Jules Shepard John M. Forberger
Info@1in133.org Info@1in133.org

Long-Overdue FDA Labeling Regulations Could be the Icing on World’s Largest Gluten-Free Cake

WASHINGTON, D.C. – March 29, 2011 – Prominent members of the burgeoning gluten-free community announced today a collaborative “1in133” event on May 4 to bake the world’s largest gluten-free cake as part of an effort to draw attention to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) delay in finalizing standards for gluten-free food labeling. The name is derived from the fact that one in every 133 people in the U.S. suffers from celiac disease or a gluten intolerance issue.

To kick-off Celiac Awareness Month – globally recognized in May - the 1in133 event is being hosted at the Washington, D.C., Embassy Suites Convention Center on May 4 and will culminate with a V.I.P. reception for federal lawmakers, concerned members and friends of the gluten-free community and gluten-free food manufacturers. With pre-eminent guest speakers and information on a petition advocating for the FDA to take action on determining a gluten-free food-labeling standard, the 1in133 event will reinforce the need for such standards and pressure the FDA to take action.

“This is a very serious autoimmune disease,” cautions Dr. Alessio Fasano of the University of Maryland Center for Celiac Research. “It deserves equally serious food labeling laws.”

Fasano, one of the world’s leading researchers in celiac disease and a leading proponent of a federally mandated gluten-free standard, will attend as the 1in133 event’s guest speaker.

Seven years ago the FDA was tasked with developing and implementing such standards as part of the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act (FALCPA). The delay in implementation and lack of labeling rules has left millions of Americans with celiac disease and gluten intolerance at risk of illness from contaminated food.

Currently, U.S. food manufacturers can claim “gluten-free” on product labels without appropriately informing consumers if a product is truly free of all potentially harmful ingredients. As a burgeoning market -- $560 million in sales in 2004 and projected sales of approximately $2.6 billion in 2012 -- gluten-free food products have brought many newcomers to the space claiming gluten-free status on their labels while not necessarily removing all potential allergens. Other manufacturers are reluctant to label their products “gluten-free” because there is no accepted standard. This disparate situation leaves consumers who eat gluten-free to guess which products are actually safe for consumption.

FALCPA was passed to protect food-allergic and celiac patients from having to decipher ingredient labels through sometimes-harmful trial and error efforts. The law, which requires the top eight allergens to be clearly listed on ingredient statements, did not require disclosure of barley or rye, the other grains that are toxic to those with celiac disease and other gluten sensitivities. The 2004 mandate for the FDA to develop and implement gluten-free food labeling requirements would fill that void.

The 1in133 event is the brainchild of Jules Shepard, noted gluten-free author, baking expert and celiac community advocate, and John Forberger, a winning gluten-free triathlete and active blogger. Event sponsors include Whole Foods Market, The University of Maryland Center for Celiac Research, The University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center, the Gluten Intolerance Group of North America, Celiac Disease Center at Columbia University and others. Event coordination is contributed by Aaron E Flores, Executive Chef, Embassy Suites D.C. Convention Center.
For more information please visit http://www.1in133.org or contact info@1in133.org.

Also follow them on Twitter at @1in133

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Saturday April 9 is a big day for the gluten-free in Georgia

Two of the top names in gluten-free foods will be in Georgia this Satuday, thanks to two of our Georgia GIG groups.


Sadly, both are at the same time in locations two hours apart.  But if you can get to one, I hope you.


Chef Elizabeth Barbone at the Atlanta Metro Celiacs Meeting in Atlanta:


Elizabeth Barbone is the founder of GlutenFreeBaking.com Elizabeth is an alumna of theCulinary Institute of America, Hyde Park NY and Mount Mary College, Milwaukee, WI. With her solid professional baking background, Elizabeth is known for creating gluten-free recipes that taste "just like" their wheat counterparts.


Her first cookbook, Easy Gluten-Free Baking, features easy to prepare gluten-free recipes. The recipes, from breads to cakes to cookies, have won acclaim from gluten-free bakers all over the globe.

In addition to creating recipe for GlutenFreeBaking.com, Elizabeth travels the country speaking to celiac groups and teaching gluten-free baking classes.


For more information see her website www.glutenfreebaking.com
Directions to Children's Health Care
Children's Healthcare at Scottish Rite is located at 1001 Johnson Ferry Road, NE, Atlanta, GA 30342  

www.choa.org/About-Childrens/Locations-and-Directions/Childrens-Scottish-Rite



Dr. Cynthia Kupper at the Middle Georgia GIG meeting:
The Middle Georgia GIG will meet next Saturday, April 9th from 11 am - 1 pm.  The meeting will be held in the social hall of All Saints Episcopal Church, 1708 Watson Blvd., Warner Robins, GA 31093.  Cynthia Kupper, Executive Director of the Gluten Intolerance Group of North America will be our guest speaker.  Refreshments will be served.  You do not need to be a member to attend.


For more information, contact each group individually.


Much love,
Ging