GILBERT’S GOURMET GOODIES FACEBOOK FREE COOKIE GIVEAWAY

Thanks to those of you who have become fans of Gilbert’s Gourmet Goodies Facebook Page – You Are Awesome!  We’ve already reached our goal of 400 facebook fans. Please read below for how to request your free cookie, the timing and what we’re going to do when we hit 500 fans.

To receive your free cookie, here’s what we need from you and what we’re asking you to do:

  • Send an email to liz@gilbertsgourmetgoodies.com with the words FREE COOKIE in the subject line.
  • Tell us your top 3 cookie choices.  Check out our website to review our 5 cookie flavors at http://www.gilbertsgourmetgoodies.com/giant-cookie.html.  We’ll do our best to send you your first choice; we can’t guarantee the flavor, but we can guarantee that whichever cookie you receive will taste great!   
  • In your email give us your full name and address.  Make sure your email will accept messages from us as we will send you an email confirmation within 3 business days.  If you don’t receive our message please check your spam box filter. If you still don’t see an email from us please send us another email.
  • When you receive your free cookie, take a picture of yourself and/or your friends and family with your cookie. It can be a serious picture or a goofy picture – you decide!
  • Post the picture on Gilbert’s Gourmet Goodies’ Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Gilberts-Gourmet-Goodies/256503803991?ref=tn_tnmn telling us which is your favorite cookie flavor(s).  We’d also love to know where you buy them (retailer name and location, internet, gift basket, stadium, conference center etc.).
  • We hope you’ll post the pictures on your Facebook page too and tag Gilbert’s Gourmet Goodies!
  • If you can’t post your picture on Facebook, send us an email with the picture and your comments and we will post it for you.

We plan to send out the cookies in early March.  Why in March?  Because we at Gilbert’s Gourmet Goodies have been working hard on a brand new look.  One that portrays how yummy our cookies are in bright and memorable packaging with our special qualities.  We’re currently sold out of most of our cookies, so we are waiting for our new labels before we bake more of our goodies.

If we reach 500 fans before early March we will send everyone who requested a free cookie 2 FREE COOKIES.  And we’ll RAFFLE off a GIFT BASKET full of cookies and brownies to someone who has requested a free cookie. 

So PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD about Gilbert’s Gourmet Goodies and our Facebook page and help us reach 500 fans.  We know we can do it with your support!

Thank you!

Liz

 

 

Gluten-Free Valentines Day Dinner

You can be Gluten-Free and have food allergies and still have a magnificent meal!  Many people go out for dinner on Valentine’s Day.  I actually prefer to eat at home where I can make a fabulous meal that is safe for me to eat at a fraction of the price we would pay at a restaurant.

We had a scrumptious Valentine’s Day Dinner last night.  We had Cornish Game Hens, Asparagus and Brown Rice.  Here is the recipe for anyone who is interested.

Cornish Game Hens

I prefer to buy fresh cornish game hens.  I had to ask the meat department of our grocery store for them as they were not out on the shelves, and I did not want to buy frozen hens.

  • Spray a casserole dish with cooking spray and put the hens in the dish on their breasts, with backs facing up.
  • Rub the hens with olive oil
  • Place hens on breasts and season with your favorite herbs.
  • Turn hens onto their backs and do the same.  Make sure you spread the seasoning onto the sides of the bird’s so that you cover their wings and legs with seasoning.
  • For seasoning I used: a little seasoned salt, a little paprika and herbes de provence (which is a mixture of herbs that includes rosemary, oregano, basil and thyme).
  • Cut up an onion and fill the cavities of the birds with the onion
  • Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes depending on your oven and the size of the hens.

Brown Rice – When the hens have approximately 45 minutes to go, start on the brown rice.

  • Put a cup of rice into a pot
  • Add in water to cover the rice approximately 1/2 inch.
  • Boil the water, then set the stovetop to simmer.
  • Cover the rice and simmer for about 40 minutes.
  • Check frequently and add enough water if needed to prevent burning.

Asparagus

Start the asparagus approximately 10 minutes before the meal is ready.

  • Wash and cut off ends of the asparagus.
  • Fill a pan with enough water to cover the asparagus.
  • Bring water to a boil and put the asparagus into the water.
  • Cover the pan and cook on medium heat for approximately 5 minutes.  Cook less for a more crunchy asparagus.
  • Drain and serve plain or with a little butter or margarine to taste.

You can spoon the drippings from the juice of the hens and the olive oil onto the birds, the rice and the asparagus.  So so delicious! I never eat the whole bird, so I am having the rest of it for lunch today.  Can’t wait!

Valentine's Day Dinner

DELICIOUS HOMEMADE VALENTINE’S DAY COOKIES – GLUTEN-FREE, PEANUT-FREE, ALLERGY-SENSITIVE

Here’s my very simple recipe for making your own Valentine’s Day cookies using my Sensational Sugar Cookie Dough.  Our cookie dough is mixed and ready to go.  You don’t have to measure anything out – no mixing, no mess, just great cookies!

What you’ll need:  Sensational Sugar Cookie Dough, gluten-free flour (I use rice flour), rolling pin, heart shaped cookie cutters, parchment paper, baking pan.

Step 1 – Thaw the cookie dough by taking it out of the freezer and putting it in the refrigerator for several hours, or putting it on the counter until soft enough to handle (generally about an hour).

Step 2 – Spread some rice flour onto a flat surface and roll the cookie dough in the flour.  I use a large cutting board.  Add a little more flour at a time as needed to prevent sticking. Don’t overdo the flour or the cookie dough will become too dry and hard to handle.

Step 3 – Roll out the cookie dough to your desired thickness.  I usually make it about 1/4 or 1/2 inch thick.

Step 4 – Take your cookie cutters and cut out your favorite shapes.

Step 5 – Place the cut out cookie dough onto a parchment-lined baking pan.

Step 6 – Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 10-15 minutes depending on the size of the cookies and how soft or crispy you would like them to be.  Less cooking time will result in softer cookies.

Step 7 – Let the cookies cool on a cooling rack.  Eat them plain for a delicious shortbread taste or decorate with your favorite (homemade) frosting and other edible decorations.

Notes:  There are so many creative ways to make your own cookies.  Here are a few ideas:

  • add food coloring to the dough itself before baking or to the frosting.
  • frost and decorate with sprinkles, colored sugar, etc.
  • melt chocolate and dip the cookies in chocolate.  refrigerate and eat.
  • make sandwich cookies – just put frosting on one cookie and top it with another cookie.  refrigerate and eat.
  • make ice cream sandwich cookies – scoop ice cream on one cookie and top it with another cookie. freeze and eat.

Create your own special cookies and send us your recipes so that we can share them with others!

Sensational Sugar Cookie Dough

 

Heart Shaped Cookie Cutter Cookies Ready Bake

Baked Heart Shaped Sugar Cookies