truly safe gluten-free oats (and helping our farmer friends!)

I need your help, friends.

Well, I need your help to help our farmer friends.

I usually don’t ask for help. I’m not so good at that part. But this, this is important. And I can’t do this one myself, so we need to band together as a gluten-free tribe and do this one together. If there is one thing I pride myself on, it’s being part of THE most amazing gluten-free community and the way we come together when one of our own needs us.

We need to talk about OATS. Don’t freak out. I know there has been a LOT of talk lately about gluten-free oats. You’re probably getting sick of hearing about it. (me too) But until I can be sure that all of those big name packages labeled “gluten free” truly are gluten free and people are no longer getting sick from them, I’ll have to keep talking about it. It’s my job as a safety monitor. 😉

I won’t take up your entire day talking to this point, but will direct you to some recent postings with more in depth information:

• Tricia from Gluten Free Watch Dog is the go-to person to the most up to date information on all things gluten-free oats.
• Johnna started us off with this post earlier today and is behind this oat buying extravaganza campaign — her post is FULL of information stated so beautifully, that I won’t reinvent the wheel here — READ IT! (then go buy oats!)
• Gluten Dude explains the difference between purity protocol (clean, real-deal GF oats) grown oats compared to mechanically sorted (people are getting sick) oats.

So… you’ve heard me talk about GF Harvest’s certified gluten-free oats in the past. They are the only oats I use now. There was a time when I would buy Bob’s Red Mill oats, but a few people in our local group were (sensitive celiacs like me that tolerated gluten-free oats in the past just fine) getting very sick from them, so I stopped eating them and vowed to only buy from a company that not only has celiacs in their own family that runs the business, but cares about us enough to be absolutely sure through a very strict inspection and testing process that their oats are indeed gluten-free.

I was lucky enough to meet Forrest several years ago — his story impressed me. He started their company as an FFA project in high school. Yes, you read that right. A high school student, who just so happens to be a fellow celiac, started their company out of their home when he was in high school. They have grown as a company offering quite the selection of products, and like I mentioned earlier, are THE only oats I eat.

I recently shared this article on our local Gluten Free in Milwaukee Facebook page that Gluten Free Watch Dog had shared with her readers. It’s about our friends at GF Harvest. Then ones I want us to help — take a moment to read that article so we’re all on the same page.

When I read the article, I wanted to cry. It made me sick to my stomach. The idea that their 2016 crop may be put on hold because they are losing to the big companies who aren’t following purity protocols, the ones using mechanical sorting…that didn’t seem right.

Not fair. Not right. Not sure what I’d do without my GF Harvest oats! (let’s hope I never have to find out!)

My friend Johnna and I text often about all things gluten-free, bourbon, coffee, and donuts, so I wasn’t surprised to get a message from her shortly after. She was thinking the exact same things as me… but in her true Johnna fashion, had already rolled up her sleeves and was working on a plan!

That’s where you guys come in…

Let’s BUY ALL THE OATS! Cash mob style.

Our friends at GF Harvest have set up a starter pack that includes:

Three packages of their most popular products.

• 20 oz Traditional Gluten Free Oatmeal
• 20 oz Traditional Gluten Free Quick Oats
• 40 oz Traditional Steel Cut Oats

BONUS:  Order Now, and they will include YOUR CHOICE of either one of our trendy “I Make Gluten Free Look HOT!” shirts, or a GF Harvest plastic travel cup. (while supplies last)

All of that for just $29.95, shipping included!

I ordered mine this morning and already had an “your order has shipped!” email by this evening.

I shared this story at our Gluten Free Get Together dinner tonight and one of my favorites, the lovely Melissa said, “I don’t do oats really in general, but I will still buy some, you’ll just have to tell me what I can make with them.” (LOVE that she was already on board and ready to CLICK & BUY!)

Ideas for your new GF Harvest oats when they arrive:

• Grandma G’s Monster Cookies  (or Monster Bars!)
• Overnight Oats
• Oatmeal Raisin Breakfast Bars
• Banana Nut Oatmeal Bites (breakfast cookies!) 
• Pumpkin Spice Granola
• Cherry Crisp 

Buy for you. Buy for your gluten-free friends. Buy up these oats so they can get started on their next crop! Then ASK FOR THESE OATS at your local grocery story — just take this form to the store and ask nicely.

(By the time I had finished the story tonight at our event, there were cheers of, “SAVE OUR FARMER FRIENDS!” followed up by, “SAVE FORREST!”)

They need our help, friends. Please help me help them. Help me SAVE FORREST! 😉

 

GF Harvest didn’t ask us to do this — this is the generous work of my girl Johnna reaching out to a company we love and want to support and asking what WE could do for THEM. I’m not getting compensated. There are no affiliate links here. I just want to do the right thing and need your help to do so. THANK YOU in advance! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

oatmeal raisin breakfast bars

If you follow along on Instagram — and I hope you do, I’m actively posting food photos daily — you know I’ve been participating in the #alittletoofluffy challenge with 74 other Instagram ladies.

At the end of December, I hit bottom. On a few different levels, including kicking and screaming my way into a new year that placed me not quite where I thought I would be entering 2014.

And the husband gave me a new coat for Christmas (a size larger than the one I have of the same brand) that didn’t quite zip. Eeeeeeek. 😦

But instead of exchanging it, I decided to keep it and get moving — that same week, I saw Danielle and Carina posting about the #alittletoofluffy challenge, it was perfect timing. It’s basically doing what you can do for YOU to be active, make healthy food choices, and rally with a group of supportive women, all at different stages in their weight loss/health journeys for a total of six weeks. Perfect, right!?

We’re half way through the challenge and I’m happy to report I’ve been wearing my new down coat all weekend! I won’t lie, it’s a little more snug than I’d like it to be in a couple spots, but I’m well on my way… and I’m currently in 7th place out of 75 women as of yesterday, so please keep your fingers and toes crossed!

Eggs have been my breakfast of choice.

Eggs and smoothies.

But I needed some other on-the-go options, so I adapted my Banana Nut Breakfast Bites into these little breakfast bars.

Oatmeal Raisin Breakfast Bars

(gluten-free, no sugar added, dairy-free)

2 cups certified gluten-free oats (GF Harvest is my go-to brand)

2 small overripe bananas (keep them in the freezer!) 

1 cup unsweetened applesauce

½ cup raisins

1 egg, beaten

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon baking soda

3 tablespoons coconut flour

 

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees and lightly grease pan.

In a large bowl, add all ingredients and stir to combine. Let it sit for a few minutes, then stir again — the coconut flour soaks up liquid quickly. Using a cookie scoop or spoon, scoop batter into pan squares and pat down to evenly distribute.

Bake at 350 for 14-16 minutes, until they start to brown on the top and edges. Allow to rest for a few minutes in the pan, then remove and cool completely. (or eat one warm like I did)

EnJOY!

Makes 12 servings, 100 calories each serving. 

Sarah’s Baking Notes: 

• That fun pan is the Pampered Chef Brownie Pan, my sister-in-law gave it to me as a gift and she’s a consultant if you need anything, just shoot her a message via her PC page. 
• Like the other breakfast cookies, these aren’t super sweet (just they way I like them) so if you prefer more of a treat, you could add honey, coconut sugar, or sugar of your choice.
• Non-GF friends can use regular oats, and I bet regular AP flour would work too.
• If you don’t have the pan, you can make them in an 8×8 baking dish and slice them up, they will take longer to bake though.
• I kept the raisin amount pretty low for calories sake, but feel free to add more raisins, nuts, other dried fruits, go wild! 😉
• Wisconsin dark winters win for lighting every single time — and I’ve decided that from now on, I’m just going to post the photos from my iPhone and not put off posting something to wait for the perfect lighting in the morning and freeze my fanny off out on the balcony to get a shot. It is what it is and I’d rather share more real life recipes!