Why start a cookie company? Food has always been an important part of my family life, with the kitchen being a gathering place for our family and friends. Growing up I spent many happy hours preparing, serving and enjoying meals with my mother, grandmother, family and friends. Desserts were my specialty. People knew that they would have selections of delicious, homemade treats made from scratch at the end of the meal.

I carried this tradition into my home as a wife and mother of three active children. I was known as the mom who baked everything from scratch, using all natural ingredients. My family, my kids and their friends always looked forward to my homemade baked goods.

So when I began getting sick after meals for no apparent reason it became difficult for me to enjoy cooking, baking or eating. Finally, after years of numerous doctor visits and tests I discovered that I had developed allergies to a wide range of common foods including wheat, gluten, peanuts, nuts, soy, milk, corn and shellfish. While I was relieved to finally have a diagnosis that could be resolved with a change in diet, I was devastated by all of my food restrictions. I completely changed my diet and learned to eat in a whole new, healthier way and thankfully my health improved. While my family and I benefited from this healthier diet, I am the only one in the family with food restrictions and we all missed my homemade goodies.

Many of the gluten-free, allergy-friendly products I purchased didn't have the flavor or texture we used to enjoy. And many of them were made with ingredients I could no longer eat. I did some research and learned that over 11 million Americans suffered from food allergies and intolerances, over 3 million people in the U.S. had been diagnosed with Celiac Disease and that an increasing number of parents of children with Autism, ADD, and ADHD were removing wheat from their children's diets. And those numbers were continuing to grow. That's when I decided to create delicious goodies using ingredients I could eat. My vision was to develop all natural baked goods that tasted just as good as the ones I used to bake, only without the allergens.

It took over six months and hundreds of recipes to create baked goods that were up to my standard of taste and texture. I used my baking experience and training at the Culinary Institute to perfect my recipes. I knew I was onto something when my kids and their friends finished off plates of cookies and asked for more. Many people with and without food restrictions sampled my baked goods. I began receiving calls and emails from people who wanted to purchase my products. Parents of kids with food allergies and restrictions. People with food allergies and intolerances. People with Celiac Disease. Parents of autistic children who wanted to eliminate wheat, gluten and milk from their children's diet. People looking for delicious, healthy cookies made without artificial ingredients.

From the beginning the feedback has been amazing! My cookies and pies have received awards from the CT Food Association for Outstanding Gluten-Free Products. I receive many phone calls and emails from adults and children who love my products, comments like:

"Gilbert's Goodies are delicious; you can't eat just one!"
"They taste like regular cookies! My kids love them."
"I couldn't tell that they don't have wheat in them."
"They are delicious."
"These cookies are fantastic!"
"My son finally has a snack to bring to school, just like the other kids."
"Now my daughter has something to eat at family parties and birthdays."
"The cookie dough is so good and so easy to use! My daughter and I made cookies for her party and her class. Everyone loved them!"
"I scooped the dough into my ice cream for a delicious treat!"
"I used the cookie dough to make a pie crust!"

Today I share my baked goods and ready-to-go cookie dough with you so that you too can enjoy great tasting cookies and goodies without artificial ingredients and most of the top allergens. I hope you enjoy them and I would love to hear from you!

Liz Gilbert
President
Gilbert's Gourmet Goodies