1. Call ahead, or check online for the times the trains come in.
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Free Family Fun
My son is obsessed with trains. Well, really, its transportation in general. Airplanes, cars, trucks, monster trucks, he'll take them all, but trains are his favorite. So recently my husband suggested an afternoon trip to the local Amtrak station to watch a train come in and leave, horn tooting and everything.
Some tips:
1. Call ahead, or check online for the times the trains come in.
2. Prepare for them to be late (like ours was)
3. Bring a snack! We stopped for coffee and doughnuts. The sugar made it that much more exciting!
4. Take pictures of their faces. It was priceless.
5. Have fun!!
For information on the Saratoga Amtrak, visit their website.
1. Call ahead, or check online for the times the trains come in.
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Prize Pack Details!
One lucky winner will get this prize pack! Be sure to check out this page for contest details.
This handmade zippered tote, with a scarf and tie-on headband inside, plus two coupons to use later!
This handmade zippered tote, with a scarf and tie-on headband inside, plus two coupons to use later!
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Contest Time!
May is a big month for Crooked By Design (May 27th is the 1st birthday!) so here's a contest giveaway. The rules are really very easy. Order anything from the shop from now, April 17 until May 31st will be entered to win a FREE gift pack from Crooked By Design. Details to come on what the free gifts will be. Here's the breakdown:
1. Order must be placed between April 17-May 31st.
2. You must "like" the Crooked By Design Facebook page to be entered.
3. Anyone who purchases from the shop will be entered to win, as long as you have also "liked" the Facebook page.
4. You CAN enter multiple times. For example, order two items, you get two entries and so on.
5. Don't forget to "like" the Facebook page, so you are eligible! And feel free to tell all your friends!
Drawing will be held on June 1st!
Stay tuned for details on the prize!
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Free Stuff at Crooked By Design!
There's lots of fun stuff coming up in my shop. May 27th is Crooked By Design's 1st Birthday and to show my appreciation for all your support, there will giveaways, contests and other fun things. But first, lets have a little fun now too!
If you want to keep up with all the discounts and deals going on and to see sneak peeks of new stuff, be sure to LIKE the Crooked By Design Facebook Page.
**UPDATE** 3 PRIZES LEFT! One lucky customer just won themselves a surprise coupon code!
The next four orders to be placed will get a FREE SURPRISE with their order! Two are free items and two are awesome coupon codes. Past free surprises have been these:
Monday, April 1, 2013
Hershey's Gluten-Free Candy (as stated by them)
Here's a helpful list of Hershey's gluten-free delights as well, straight from the company website http://www.thehersheycompany.com/brands/special-nutrition.aspx#/Gluten-Free:
Hershey is committed to providing products that meet your dietary needs, and many people today are interested in gluten-free foods.
A food bearing a gluten-free claim does not contain the protein from wheat, rye, barley, spelt, kamut, triticole, farina, vital gluten semolina, malt vinegar or protein derivatives of these foods.
For your convenience, the current products listed below have been fully evaluated and qualify as gluten-free using standards proposed by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Please note, this list is not all inclusive as we have other products that do not have gluten containing ingredients.
The best way to determine if our products contain a gluten ingredient is to read our product label. This label includes an accurate, current listing of the ingredients in our products. Because, on occasion, the list of ingredients can change, we strongly encourage you to check the ingredient label on the package each time before you make a purchase.
Hershey is committed to providing products that meet your dietary needs, and many people today are interested in gluten-free foods.
A food bearing a gluten-free claim does not contain the protein from wheat, rye, barley, spelt, kamut, triticole, farina, vital gluten semolina, malt vinegar or protein derivatives of these foods.
For your convenience, the current products listed below have been fully evaluated and qualify as gluten-free using standards proposed by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Please note, this list is not all inclusive as we have other products that do not have gluten containing ingredients.
The best way to determine if our products contain a gluten ingredient is to read our product label. This label includes an accurate, current listing of the ingredients in our products. Because, on occasion, the list of ingredients can change, we strongly encourage you to check the ingredient label on the package each time before you make a purchase.
Last updated March 15, 2013
GLUTEN-FREE PRODUCTS Gluten Free As Always
ALMOND JOY and MOUNDS Bars - ALL
HERSHEY'S - BAKING Chips
HERSHEY'S - Baking Bars
HERSHEY'S - Cocoa
DAGOBA Baking and Beverages - ALL
HEATH Bars - ALL
HERSHEY'S KISSES and NUGGETS
HERSHEY'S Milk Chocolate Bar
HERSHEY'S Syrup and REESE'S Toppings
REESE'S Peanut Butter Cups – ALL Except Seasonal Shaped Items
SCHARFFEN BERGER – ALL
SKOR
YORK Peppermint Pattie - ALL
GLUTEN-FREE BAKING Gluten Free As Always
Remember: Always read the label of ingredients before using in gluten-free recipes and make sure that the ingredients do not include components that are derived from wheat, rye, barley or triticale.
So there I was, staring at the bowl of Easter candy, overwhelming with potential delight. Then I remembered: those babies are potential gluten-filled stomach grenades. So here's a list I found to answer some questions (copied directly from About.com):
Here's the list, updated as of March 2013, of gluten-free Easter candy — as you'll see below, there are plenty of options you can use to make up a really nice gluten-free Easter basket.
Unless otherwise noted, these candies are considered by their manufacturers to contain less than 20 parts per million of gluten, which makes them "gluten-free" according to the currently accepted definition.
One note: there seems to be plenty of debate each year over whether Cadbury Creme Eggs are gluten-free or not. In the U.S., Cadbury Easter products are made by Hershey's, which does not consider them to be gluten-free due to the potential risk of gluten cross-contamination in manufacturing.
However, the eggs appear to contain no gluten ingredients (Hershey's will specify any gluten-containing ingredients on the label). So the bottom line is, use caution with Cadbury Creme Eggs, and eat them at your own risk — they may contain trace gluten due to shared manufacturing lines or facilities.
Here's the list of gluten-free Easter candy. If you're wondering about the gluten status of a candy product not on this list, you should be able to find information on it in my main candy article, Gluten-Free Candy. Happy Easter!
• Easter-themed M&Ms chocolate products (EXCEPT for pretzel M&Ms), including M&Ms solid milk chocolate Easter bunny, M&M candies in Easter colors, and egg-shaped M&M candies (again, always check the label, as I've occasionally seen M&M products with a "shared equipment" warning)
• Plain milk chocolate regular-sized Hershey's Kisses in Easter-themed foil wrappers (for more on the gluten status of Hershey's Kisses products, check out Are Hershey's Kisses Gluten-Free?)
• Jelly Belly jelly beans (INCLUDING licorice flavor jelly beans) and all Jelly Belly specially themed Easter packages
• Easter-themed Starburst candy, including jelly beans and special Easter candy packages
• Easter-themed Tootsie Roll candy, including Dubble Bubble Easter egg-shaped bubble gum, Tootsie Pops, Charms Blow Pops and Charms Candy Carnival products
• Necco Candy Eggs
• Peeps marshmallow treats by Just Born (check the label to make sure it states "gluten-free" below the list of ingredients — most do, but a few are made in shared facilities)
• Kraft Bunny Mallows and Egg Mallows (marshmallow Easter-themed treats) (Kraft will clearly disclose any gluten ingredients on the label)
Again, these candies are considered gluten-free to 20 parts per million. If you have any questions about a specific product, contact the manufacturer.
• Brach's Speckled Jelly Bird Eggs
• Cadbury Creme Eggs (see note above)
• Cadbury Mini-Eggs
• Cadbury Easter bunnies (all sizes and flavors)
• Frankford Easter bunnies (all sizes and flavors)
• Ghirardelli chocolate Easter eggs
• Hershey's Easter bunnies (all sizes and flavors)
• Hershey's Easter egg candies (all sizes and flavors)
• Jolly Ranchers jelly beans and other Easter-themed candy
• Lindt chocolate carrots
• Lindt Easter bunnies (all sizes and flavors)
• Mighty Malts Speckled Malted Milk Eggs
• Russell Stover Easter bunnies (all sizes and flavors)
• Sweetarts jelly beans and other Easter-themed candy
• Whoppers Robin Eggs and Mini Robin Eggs
• Zachary chocolate-covered marshmallow eggs
Here's the list, updated as of March 2013, of gluten-free Easter candy — as you'll see below, there are plenty of options you can use to make up a really nice gluten-free Easter basket.
Unless otherwise noted, these candies are considered by their manufacturers to contain less than 20 parts per million of gluten, which makes them "gluten-free" according to the currently accepted definition.
One note: there seems to be plenty of debate each year over whether Cadbury Creme Eggs are gluten-free or not. In the U.S., Cadbury Easter products are made by Hershey's, which does not consider them to be gluten-free due to the potential risk of gluten cross-contamination in manufacturing.
However, the eggs appear to contain no gluten ingredients (Hershey's will specify any gluten-containing ingredients on the label). So the bottom line is, use caution with Cadbury Creme Eggs, and eat them at your own risk — they may contain trace gluten due to shared manufacturing lines or facilities.
Here's the list of gluten-free Easter candy. If you're wondering about the gluten status of a candy product not on this list, you should be able to find information on it in my main candy article, Gluten-Free Candy. Happy Easter!
Gluten-Free Easter Candy
• Easter-themed Dove chocolate products, including Dove chocolate Easter bunnies, Dove egg-shaped candies and Easter-themed Dove bars (always check the label, as I've occasionally seen Dove chocolate products with "made on equipment shared with wheat" warnings)• Easter-themed M&Ms chocolate products (EXCEPT for pretzel M&Ms), including M&Ms solid milk chocolate Easter bunny, M&M candies in Easter colors, and egg-shaped M&M candies (again, always check the label, as I've occasionally seen M&M products with a "shared equipment" warning)
• Plain milk chocolate regular-sized Hershey's Kisses in Easter-themed foil wrappers (for more on the gluten status of Hershey's Kisses products, check out Are Hershey's Kisses Gluten-Free?)
• Jelly Belly jelly beans (INCLUDING licorice flavor jelly beans) and all Jelly Belly specially themed Easter packages
• Easter-themed Starburst candy, including jelly beans and special Easter candy packages
• Easter-themed Tootsie Roll candy, including Dubble Bubble Easter egg-shaped bubble gum, Tootsie Pops, Charms Blow Pops and Charms Candy Carnival products
• Necco Candy Eggs
• Peeps marshmallow treats by Just Born (check the label to make sure it states "gluten-free" below the list of ingredients — most do, but a few are made in shared facilities)
• Kraft Bunny Mallows and Egg Mallows (marshmallow Easter-themed treats) (Kraft will clearly disclose any gluten ingredients on the label)
Again, these candies are considered gluten-free to 20 parts per million. If you have any questions about a specific product, contact the manufacturer.
Easter Candy That's NOT Considered Gluten-Free
• Balmer Easter bunnies (all sizes and flavors)• Brach's Speckled Jelly Bird Eggs
• Cadbury Creme Eggs (see note above)
• Cadbury Mini-Eggs
• Cadbury Easter bunnies (all sizes and flavors)
• Frankford Easter bunnies (all sizes and flavors)
• Ghirardelli chocolate Easter eggs
• Hershey's Easter bunnies (all sizes and flavors)
• Hershey's Easter egg candies (all sizes and flavors)
• Jolly Ranchers jelly beans and other Easter-themed candy
• Lindt chocolate carrots
• Lindt Easter bunnies (all sizes and flavors)
• Mighty Malts Speckled Malted Milk Eggs
• Russell Stover Easter bunnies (all sizes and flavors)
• Sweetarts jelly beans and other Easter-themed candy
• Whoppers Robin Eggs and Mini Robin Eggs
• Zachary chocolate-covered marshmallow eggs
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Easiest Hummus Recipe Ever
I've never made hummus before. In fact, I don't even eat it much, but I recently decided that I wanted to make some. Naturally, I consulted my Betty Crocker cookbook that has just about ever staple you could imagine. This recipe took about 5 minutes to make and cost almost nothing. Also, hummus is a naturally gluten-free and dairy free!
Here's the recipe, including my changes, because I can't ever follow a recipe completely:
1 can chick peas
1/4 cup oil (olive or vegetable, I used vegetable because I had it handy)
1 clove garlic, cut in half (I used a teaspoon of minced garlic instead)
2 tbsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp salt
Chopped fresh parsley (I used 1/2 tsp of dried)
Whatever you want for dipping
What to do:
Drain the chick peas and toss everything into a blender, or food processor. I used the food processor. Blend it all together, mixing it occasionally to get everything well blended. Blend until creamy and enjoy!
A couple things about this:
I think you could reduce the garlic just a tad, because it is pretty powerful. Also, the recipe says to garnish with parsley, but I just tossed it into the mix. A great thing about this recipe is you can customize it so easily. Throw in some spices and create all sorts of yummy dips. As always, if you happen to create a delightful creation, please share it, so I can make some too!
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Gluten Free Mac 'n Cheese
I've made many, many mac 'n cheeses. Like, tons. I've been toying with my gluten free recipe for some time now. In my new years resolution inspired attempt at eating healthier, I set out to make a mac 'n cheese that was both delightful and less butter filled. Here's my first attempt, which I have to say, came out quite delicious.
Also, though it often pains me to think of you non-gluten-free-ers, you can very easily adapt this to be gluten-filled. Simply use your favorite pasta instead of the gluten free kind.
You will need:
3 tbsp butter (I can't part with my salted butter, but you can feel free to use unsalted)
2 tsp minced garlic
1/4 tsp thyme
1/2 tsp paprika
1 tbsp corn starch
1 c. reduced fat milk (I used 2%--it's what was in my fridge)
6 oz. plain Greek yogurt
2 c. part skim shredded mozzarella (I find Wal-Mart's is pretty good for being so inexpensive)
1/4 c. freshly grated sharp Cheddar (I use Cabot NY Sharp) + more for adding to top
a little bit of bread crumbs for the top
1 package gluten free pasta (personally, I favor corn pasta, but use what you like)
What to do:
Preheat the oven to 350 and lightly grease a baking dish. In a large sauce pan, melt the butter on med/high heat, and add in the garlic, thyme, and paprika. Stir occasionally until the butter is melted. Be sure not to burn it, or the whole dish will taste like it! Now, you're going to make a rue (don't you feel fancy?). Simply, add the corn starch to the melted butter and slowly stir it in on low heat. Be sure to break up any clumps (corn starch tends to clump) and simmer for about a minute, blending it well. Next, add the milk and Greek yogurt and cook on low/medium until creamy and blended. Add salt and pepper to taste, turn heat down low and add the cheese. Mozzarella will be quite stringy, but not to worry, it will melt more thoroughly in the oven. Heat and stir until creamy and pretty much melted, remove from heat, and add the cooked pasta. Mix well, coating the pasta and pour into the baking dish. Top with some bread crumbs and a little more freshly grated Cheddar. Pop it in the oven for about 25 minutes, or until the top cheese is melted. Enjoy!
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Oh, Hello 2013. Welcome.
Happy New Year, Friends! I hope you had a fabulous and eventful (or pleasantly uneventful) evening. There's something very special about the new year, and the new beginning we get at this time each year. Now, we are faced with the hard part: what will we do to make the most of our year? That said, what are some of your resolutions for the New Year? And more importantly, why is it your resolution? I think the one we most often hear is "I will lose weight this year!" but why do you want to lose weight? Perhaps if we had a great reason for our resolution, it would help us keep focused on our goal. So here's a few of mine:
1. Cut down on sugar so my poor teeth don't suffer. My goal is to achieve this by not adding sugar to my already coconut creamer filled brew, and to not indulge in candy just because its in front of me. I'm terrible about this.
2. Take time for ME. It has recently occurred to me that even when I'm sitting, I'm doing something. We all are. Our culture these days can't seem to just sit and do nothing (what a concept) and this fast paced lifestyle can wear us down! My goal is to take 5-10 minutes a day to something I want to do, rather than something I need to do. Sure, much of my day is spent working on orders for my Etsy shop, and I love doing this, but it's work none-the-less. Now, what will my 5-10 minutes be today?
3. My father suffered a heart attack a week ago, and it really made us stop and evaluate how we are treating our bodies. So one of my resolutions is to eat healthier (not for weight related reasons) in order to keep my body strong. And for crying out loud, we need to stop stressing over everything (I'm preaching to myself here)!
4. My husband inspired this one, when he said we need to embrace life and take the time to explore our areas of interest. He, for example, has always had an interest in woodworking, but has never gone anywhere with it. After attending a dinner party recently where the food was all native to Northern India, it inspired me to learn new cooking techniques and experiment with cooking.
5. And last, but perhaps most important, I vow to SLOW DOWN this year. I was bred to always be moving and doing something. Flashback to me as a kid, summer vacation, lounging and enjoying my television programming only to have my dad tell me to get outside and "find something to do." (Didn't he know that I HAD to watch Saved By the Bell?) But this year, we all need to slow down and not multi task with a hundred things at once.
1. Cut down on sugar so my poor teeth don't suffer. My goal is to achieve this by not adding sugar to my already coconut creamer filled brew, and to not indulge in candy just because its in front of me. I'm terrible about this.
2. Take time for ME. It has recently occurred to me that even when I'm sitting, I'm doing something. We all are. Our culture these days can't seem to just sit and do nothing (what a concept) and this fast paced lifestyle can wear us down! My goal is to take 5-10 minutes a day to something I want to do, rather than something I need to do. Sure, much of my day is spent working on orders for my Etsy shop, and I love doing this, but it's work none-the-less. Now, what will my 5-10 minutes be today?
3. My father suffered a heart attack a week ago, and it really made us stop and evaluate how we are treating our bodies. So one of my resolutions is to eat healthier (not for weight related reasons) in order to keep my body strong. And for crying out loud, we need to stop stressing over everything (I'm preaching to myself here)!
4. My husband inspired this one, when he said we need to embrace life and take the time to explore our areas of interest. He, for example, has always had an interest in woodworking, but has never gone anywhere with it. After attending a dinner party recently where the food was all native to Northern India, it inspired me to learn new cooking techniques and experiment with cooking.
5. And last, but perhaps most important, I vow to SLOW DOWN this year. I was bred to always be moving and doing something. Flashback to me as a kid, summer vacation, lounging and enjoying my television programming only to have my dad tell me to get outside and "find something to do." (Didn't he know that I HAD to watch Saved By the Bell?) But this year, we all need to slow down and not multi task with a hundred things at once.
Sunday, December 9, 2012
Chuck E. Cheese's New Gluten-Free Menu
This just in: Chuck E. Cheese, our favorite arcade and pizza palace of our youth, has jumped on the Chucky E.-Cheese-band-wagon and added a gluten-free menu. I can recall childhood birthdays chasing around that giant (somewhat creepy) mouse, and I'm so happy for anyone with a gluten-free child that they can now enjoy a birthday party like the no-diet-restrictions kids. So here's the scoop, taken right from their website:
Gluten-free Menu FAQs
How many Chuck E. Cheese’s locations offer a gluten-free menu?
Chuck E. Cheese’s offers gluten-free menu items at more than 500 locations in the U.S. and Canada.
When will the gluten-free menu be available at all Chuck E. Cheese’s?
The gluten-free menu is available at more than 500 Chuck E. Cheese’s locations beginning Nov. 13.
How can I find out if my local Chuck E. Cheese’s offers the gluten-free menu?
Guests can inquire about their local restaurant’s gluten-free menu by contacting guest relations at 1-888-778-7193 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 1-888-778-7193 end_of_the_skype_highlighting.
What items are on the gluten-free menu?
Chuck E. Cheese’s gluten-free menu includes a personal-size cheese pizza and an individual chocolate cupcake.
Did Chuck E. Cheese’s do any market testing of the gluten-free menu before rolling it out nationally?
Chuck E. Cheese’s tested offering a gluten-free menu in Minnesota and Iowa.
How much will the gluten-free menu items cost?
Chuck E. Cheese’s personal-size gluten-free pizza costs $5.99 at most locations in the U.S. The chocolate cupcake costs $2.99 in the U.S. or C$3.49 in Canada. Prices may vary slightly at some locations.
Why did Chuck E. Cheese’s decide to add gluten-free items to its menu?
Chuck E. Cheese’s wants every child to experience the unleashed joy of a fun day at one of their stores, but feedback from guests indicated that many of them were missing out on a classic experience with their friends due to gluten restrictions. Researching and developing a gluten-free menu that moms and dads could trust was the best way to ensure that children with gluten sensitivities have the same experience as those without.
While there are still more food allergies to address, gluten-free was one that we felt we could address at this time.
What makes Chuck E. Cheese’s gluten-free pizza different from other chains offering gluten-free pizza?
Chuck E. Cheese’s utilizes an innovative and unique process from kitchen to table that reduces the gluten-free pizza’s chances of encountering any sort of particle that might cross-contaminate the product and make it unsafe for a guest with strict gluten intolerance. Additionally, Chuck E. Cheese’s gluten-free cheese pizza is sold for the same price as its personal-size pizza with traditional crust.
Does Chuck E. Cheese’s work with any gluten-free product partners on either the pizza or the cupcake?
Chuck E. Cheese’s gluten-free pizza is manufactured and delivered to store locations by Conte’s Pasta and the chocolate cupcake is produced by Fabe’s All Natural Bakery. More information about Conte’s Pasta at http://www.contespasta.com/ and Fabe’s All Natural Bakery at http://www.fabesnatural.com/.
How were the partners evaluated and selected?
Chuck E. Cheese’s looked for partners who could work with the company to implement safeguards that significantly reduced the chances for cross-contamination in their gluten-free products. Those who could were then evaluated on taste to arrive at the final product partners.
Where is the gluten-free pizza made?
The gluten-free pizza is manufactured in Conte’s Pasta’s gluten-free certified facility in New Jersey.
How does the gluten-free pizza get from the kitchen to the guest’s table?
The gluten-free pizza arrives at Chuck E. Cheese’s locations from Conte’s Pasta’s dedicated, certified gluten-free facilities in frozen, pre-sealed packaging. The bake-in-bag pizza remains sealed while cooked and delivered, until it is opened and served with a personal pizza cutter at families’ tables by the adult in charge.
Under the same procedure, gluten-free chocolate fudge cupcakes from Fabe’s All Natural Bakery will remain in pre-sealed, single-serve packaging through preparation until opened and served at the table.
Are Chuck E. Cheese’s gluten-free menu options appropriate for children and adults with celiac disease?
Yes, Chuck E. Cheese’s gluten-free menu items are manufactured in dedicated gluten-free certified facilities and kept sealed from delivery to kitchen to table to prevent possible cross-contamination from outside particles.
Are Chuck E. Cheese’s gluten-free menu items endorsed by any nationally recognized organization dedicated to raising awareness about celiac disease?
Chuck E. Cheese’s pizza partner Conte’s Pasta is Certified Gluten-free by the Gluten-free Certification Organization (GFCO). Fabe’s All Natural Bakery’s products also proudly wear a Certified Gluten-free logo established by the Gluten Intolerance Group (GIG).
Does Chuck E. Cheese’s offer gluten-free birthday parties?
Chuck E. Cheese’s doesn’t currently offer a gluten-free birthday party package, but guests are encouraged to add gluten-free options to existing birthday party packages by working with one of our representatives in-store, by calling 1-888-778-7193 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 1-888-778-7193 end_of_the_skype_highlighting or selecting the options as additions when reserving a birthday party online.
What is the nutritional content of the items on the gluten-free menu?
The gluten-free pizza is 370 calories per serving and the gluten-free chocolate cupcake is 380 calories per serving.
Gluten-free Menu FAQs
How many Chuck E. Cheese’s locations offer a gluten-free menu?
Chuck E. Cheese’s offers gluten-free menu items at more than 500 locations in the U.S. and Canada.
When will the gluten-free menu be available at all Chuck E. Cheese’s?
The gluten-free menu is available at more than 500 Chuck E. Cheese’s locations beginning Nov. 13.
How can I find out if my local Chuck E. Cheese’s offers the gluten-free menu?
Guests can inquire about their local restaurant’s gluten-free menu by contacting guest relations at 1-888-778-7193 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 1-888-778-7193 end_of_the_skype_highlighting.
What items are on the gluten-free menu?
Chuck E. Cheese’s gluten-free menu includes a personal-size cheese pizza and an individual chocolate cupcake.
Did Chuck E. Cheese’s do any market testing of the gluten-free menu before rolling it out nationally?
Chuck E. Cheese’s tested offering a gluten-free menu in Minnesota and Iowa.
How much will the gluten-free menu items cost?
Chuck E. Cheese’s personal-size gluten-free pizza costs $5.99 at most locations in the U.S. The chocolate cupcake costs $2.99 in the U.S. or C$3.49 in Canada. Prices may vary slightly at some locations.
Why did Chuck E. Cheese’s decide to add gluten-free items to its menu?
Chuck E. Cheese’s wants every child to experience the unleashed joy of a fun day at one of their stores, but feedback from guests indicated that many of them were missing out on a classic experience with their friends due to gluten restrictions. Researching and developing a gluten-free menu that moms and dads could trust was the best way to ensure that children with gluten sensitivities have the same experience as those without.
While there are still more food allergies to address, gluten-free was one that we felt we could address at this time.
What makes Chuck E. Cheese’s gluten-free pizza different from other chains offering gluten-free pizza?
Chuck E. Cheese’s utilizes an innovative and unique process from kitchen to table that reduces the gluten-free pizza’s chances of encountering any sort of particle that might cross-contaminate the product and make it unsafe for a guest with strict gluten intolerance. Additionally, Chuck E. Cheese’s gluten-free cheese pizza is sold for the same price as its personal-size pizza with traditional crust.
Does Chuck E. Cheese’s work with any gluten-free product partners on either the pizza or the cupcake?
Chuck E. Cheese’s gluten-free pizza is manufactured and delivered to store locations by Conte’s Pasta and the chocolate cupcake is produced by Fabe’s All Natural Bakery. More information about Conte’s Pasta at http://www.contespasta.com/ and Fabe’s All Natural Bakery at http://www.fabesnatural.com/.
How were the partners evaluated and selected?
Chuck E. Cheese’s looked for partners who could work with the company to implement safeguards that significantly reduced the chances for cross-contamination in their gluten-free products. Those who could were then evaluated on taste to arrive at the final product partners.
Where is the gluten-free pizza made?
The gluten-free pizza is manufactured in Conte’s Pasta’s gluten-free certified facility in New Jersey.
How does the gluten-free pizza get from the kitchen to the guest’s table?
The gluten-free pizza arrives at Chuck E. Cheese’s locations from Conte’s Pasta’s dedicated, certified gluten-free facilities in frozen, pre-sealed packaging. The bake-in-bag pizza remains sealed while cooked and delivered, until it is opened and served with a personal pizza cutter at families’ tables by the adult in charge.
Under the same procedure, gluten-free chocolate fudge cupcakes from Fabe’s All Natural Bakery will remain in pre-sealed, single-serve packaging through preparation until opened and served at the table.
Are Chuck E. Cheese’s gluten-free menu options appropriate for children and adults with celiac disease?
Yes, Chuck E. Cheese’s gluten-free menu items are manufactured in dedicated gluten-free certified facilities and kept sealed from delivery to kitchen to table to prevent possible cross-contamination from outside particles.
Are Chuck E. Cheese’s gluten-free menu items endorsed by any nationally recognized organization dedicated to raising awareness about celiac disease?
Chuck E. Cheese’s pizza partner Conte’s Pasta is Certified Gluten-free by the Gluten-free Certification Organization (GFCO). Fabe’s All Natural Bakery’s products also proudly wear a Certified Gluten-free logo established by the Gluten Intolerance Group (GIG).
Does Chuck E. Cheese’s offer gluten-free birthday parties?
Chuck E. Cheese’s doesn’t currently offer a gluten-free birthday party package, but guests are encouraged to add gluten-free options to existing birthday party packages by working with one of our representatives in-store, by calling 1-888-778-7193 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 1-888-778-7193 end_of_the_skype_highlighting or selecting the options as additions when reserving a birthday party online.
What is the nutritional content of the items on the gluten-free menu?
The gluten-free pizza is 370 calories per serving and the gluten-free chocolate cupcake is 380 calories per serving.
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Tips For Keeping Your House Clean Over the Holidays
The holidays are upon us, and with them usually brings company, parties, dinners, and a busy schedule in general. Who has time to clean? So, I've put together a few tips to help your house stay clean (or look like it is!) so that you have time to do the things you want to be doing.
1. To reduce clutter, I like to put decorative bowls all over my house. I switch them out to keep it interesting. My husband has a habit of leaving his wallet, watch and keys in one spot, so rather than just look at it, I put a bowl there so at least it's organized chaos. Go around your house, and as you're picking up, take note of where you or family leaves things and put a bowl. This also helps when you're putting things away, as you can just take the bowl to room to room and empty it. I put a bin at the door for shoes too, so I can do the same.
2. I love trying new cleaning products, and I find that when I get one that I love, I tend to use it more. I like them most when they work of course, but also for the smells. If it has a wonderful smell, it makes me feel like I've done a little extra to make my house clean. I recently tried the Gain Mr. Clean All Purpose Cleaner, mostly in my kitchen and bathrooms and it smells wonderful, and works great. My all time favorite, a little more expensive, but so worth it, is Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day products. Check out there website for a full list of products, and you can usually find some at Wal-Mart, Target and Hannaford. They are all natural, so you can feel good about not putting chemicals all over your house (especially if you have pets or children) and they smell like natural things like basil, lemon, and lavender. If you're not sure about a scent, email them and they'll send you a sample. (I have!)
3. Give everyone in your family a chore, to reduce the load of one person. My son is 2 and he does things to help around the house, and he thinks it's fun. One of his favorites is putting shoes in the shoe bin and books on the shelves. His all time favorite is dusting (I had to switch to giving him a bottle of water to spray, since he was going a little overboard...), as you can see here:
1. To reduce clutter, I like to put decorative bowls all over my house. I switch them out to keep it interesting. My husband has a habit of leaving his wallet, watch and keys in one spot, so rather than just look at it, I put a bowl there so at least it's organized chaos. Go around your house, and as you're picking up, take note of where you or family leaves things and put a bowl. This also helps when you're putting things away, as you can just take the bowl to room to room and empty it. I put a bin at the door for shoes too, so I can do the same.
2. I love trying new cleaning products, and I find that when I get one that I love, I tend to use it more. I like them most when they work of course, but also for the smells. If it has a wonderful smell, it makes me feel like I've done a little extra to make my house clean. I recently tried the Gain Mr. Clean All Purpose Cleaner, mostly in my kitchen and bathrooms and it smells wonderful, and works great. My all time favorite, a little more expensive, but so worth it, is Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day products. Check out there website for a full list of products, and you can usually find some at Wal-Mart, Target and Hannaford. They are all natural, so you can feel good about not putting chemicals all over your house (especially if you have pets or children) and they smell like natural things like basil, lemon, and lavender. If you're not sure about a scent, email them and they'll send you a sample. (I have!)
3. Give everyone in your family a chore, to reduce the load of one person. My son is 2 and he does things to help around the house, and he thinks it's fun. One of his favorites is putting shoes in the shoe bin and books on the shelves. His all time favorite is dusting (I had to switch to giving him a bottle of water to spray, since he was going a little overboard...), as you can see here:
4. De-clutter and donate anything you don't want or need anymore, to clean out for the holidays. In my house, we try to this every year. Even it means putting it in the garage or attic until yard sale time, get it out of your house so you have less to pick up. Put your children's toys in storage if it's things they want to keep, but don't play with a lot ( or if you're like us and saving things for future babies) and donate what they don't use. If it's broken, get rid of it (are you really going to fix it, if you haven't already?). Clean out closets and pantries too and donate, donate, donate! You'll feel good about, and you're house will be more organized.
5. In your kitchen, if you don't use it everyday, don't have it on your counters. It will save you time not having to clean under a bunch of stuff, and make it look less cluttered. You'll probably be baking more, but when you're finished with the mixer, put it away. You'll be happy you did when someone stops by unexpected!
6. Once every couple of days, take a minute and wipe down every surface you walk by. I do this almost daily in spots that get really dusty (like the television area). It really doesn't take more than a couple minutes, and gives your house the instant "clean" feeling you're looking for. Doing these small, quick things will greatly reduce the overall time you spend cleaning this holiday season.
7. Go through your mail immediately when you get it from the box. If it's trash, throw it away. A card? Display it with the others. But whatever you do: DO NOT LET IT PILE UP! Save yourself the time of going through a pile and potentially being late on a bill.
8. Reward yourself by having a small ritual for when you're house is in order and you move onto other things. Have a cup of coffee, take a few minutes to read that magazine you've been looking forward to. When I'm finished picking up, I like to light a yummy scented candle, making my house smell great and feel cozy and relaxing. The Glade holiday ones are wonderful and cheap.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
