Gluten-Free Day is tomorrow, July 7th at the co-op!

Visit our demo kiosk for some yummy, gluten-free pizza!

• 1:00 p.m. – 3: 00 p.m. Our gluten-free instructors, Shawn Binkowski and Sandra Calcutt are cooking up some gluten-free pizza featured in their upcoming Gluten-Free Pizza & Flatbread: From Garden to Table  class on Wednesday, July 20th, 2011! Sign-up for this class by calling 852-891-1212 ext. 221. Save $3.00 off this class with this coupon! View the class description in the June-September 2011 Education Booklet.
• 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Gluten-Free day continues with our in-house tasting demo of a polenta pizza using Gluten-Free  Organicville pizza sauce. Save on Organicville pizza sauce and Andrew and Everett Gluten-Free Cheese with these coupons!

Be on the lookout for unbelievably good gluten-free products to start trickling on in to Valley Natural Foods! Our very own Down in the Valley Bakehouse sports a gleaming new, dedicated gluten-free kitchen (in Burnsville, off-site from the co-op). Delicious baked goods will be made in small batches to ensure great taste – just look for our new label!

Looking for a fabulous gluten-free cake for your graduate? Inquire at our deli area! Our deli staff will take your order and our bakehouse will bake you the best gluten-free cake you have ever tasted! We baked the first one in our new kitchen last week and it received rave reviews!

Valley Natural Foods now carries Toast It, an innovative product especially useful for people on a gluten-free diet. These reusable toaster bags are great for keeping your toaster crumb-free as well as reducing cross-contamination for gluten-free toast and grilled sandwiches. Learn more about Toast It by visiting www.nostik.com. Look for Toast It bags in trail no. 8 located with our other kitchen products.

Based out of Minneapolis, Lily Bloom’s Kitchen offers the tastiest gourmet chocolate macaroons in town! These locally-produced decadent chocolate confections are hand-crafted with the finest imported chocolates and natural flavorings. The macaroons are gluten-free too, but you certainly don’t have to be gluten-free to enjoy them! Stop by our deli department and look for the corner display offering a variety of gourmet treats, next to our deli service case.

To lern more about Lily Bloom’s Kitchen, visit: lilybloomskitchen.com.

Valley Natural Foods is dedicated to offering its customers many fun, great-tasting gluten-free products. One of our new yummy product lines is 1-2-3 Gluten-Free.

The company’s goal is to set a new standard in the taste of gluten-free baking mixes that are simple and easy to make. You don’t have to spend hours upon hours in the kitchen to have scrumptious food.

Valley Natural Foods carries 1-2-3 Gluten-Free biscuit, cornbread, roll, poundcake, pancake and pan bar mixes.

The story behind the product is even more interesting. 1-2-3 Gluten-Free is a mother-daughter team based in Ohio.

The daughter, Kimberlee, was diagnosed with celiac disease over ten years ago. She soon discovered that her niece and a nephew had celiac disease too. However, she didn’t want them growing up without the treats of childhood, such as cakes and yummy bars. Kimberlee insisted that her family only eat the best so off she went to experiment in her kitchen. Soon Kimberlee realized that children and adults alike (both celiac and non-celiac) enjoyed the foods she baked. The rest is history as shortly after she partnered with her mother and 1-2-3 Gluten-Free became a reality.

All 1-2-3 products are manufactured in a gluten-free kosher facility that is peanut, nut and allergen free. All products are free of gluten, nuts, wheat, and peanuts. They also do not include egg or dairy products and all but two are free of corn. All products expect for one are free of soy. Labels clearly indicate all product ingredients. Check out some of their recipes online.

Also, while you are in the store checking out all our 1-2-3 Gluten-Free products, don’t forget to register for  a Valley Natural Foods  Gluten-Free Holiday Class. The first class will be held on November 3rd and the second on December 8th.  Stop by the demo kiosk from 1pm-3pm on November 18th to preview some of the items featured in the class. Register for the classes to learn how to cook your favorite holiday dishes that taste just how mom used to make. You probably won’t even know the difference!

Be sure to check out our  blog next week for another feature on a  fabulous gluten-free product!

Opportunities for classes in September, October and November are coming up here at Valley Natural Foods! For those of you interested in gluten-free baking and cooking, sign-up for a class or two taught by Sandra Calcutt and Shawn Binkowski. You can find a listing of all classes on our Education at the Co-op flyer, available here at the store. Or,  click here for upcoming gluten-free demos and classes.

Make sure to stop by at our demo kiosk for a gluten-free promo demo, where you will have an opportunity to taste samples and talk to our instructors!

Dr. T watched over as Green Bakery developed a recipe that could not be matched. It is not only gluten-free it is also organic and free of common allergens such as corn, soy, eggs and dairy.  Dr. Adiel Tel-Oren, known as Dr. T, works with many different clients who have severe food allergies, so he wanted to develop an allergen-free bread. Together, with a consultant, he developed the recipes for Green Bakery.

Using ancient grains and legumes such as chickpea, sorghum, brown rice and millet a full-bodied, allergen-free bread is available to the public. 

Ann Woods, co-owner of Green Bakery states in a press release that they’re choosy about the quality of ingredients they use. “Why are we so choosy?” asks Woods,  “Because we want to provide breads that nourish you and make you feel good.

This local organic product is now available in the freezer at Valley Natural Foods. Green Bakery will also be at the demo kiosk to sample out their new bread during the following times:

Wednesday, June 16 2pm-6pm
Sunday, June 27 3pm-6pm
Thursday, July 15 11am-3pm
Tuesday, July 20 11am-3pm

Find more demos and events on the Co-op Calendar.

What a great day we have planned for this Thursday’s monthly Gluten-Free Day. Our grocery department scatters the store with gluten-free samples for you to try and the demo kiosk features gluten-free products and recipes all day.

Thursday May 20 at the Demo Kiosk:

11am-2pm | Beyond the Grain, gluten-free baking mixes and flours. This is a great local product first developed by Sheila Halbaier to feed both her son and herself . Come chat with her to learn more.

3pm-6pm  | Summer Salads with our grocery staff Sheryl. What a great way to prepare for summer by trying a new gluten-free recipe while dreaming up ways of sharing it in the coming warm and sunny months.

Watch our Co-op Calendar for Gluten-Free Day each month. Keep your eyes peeled for Gluten-Free Cooking/Baking classes this fall.