Please Send Amber a Card of Encourgagement!

I just received this message from Jackie Russo of Pennsylvania's Perfect Pageant system. 

A dear friend of her, Christina, gave her this message. Her niece Amber is 13 years old. She has been fighting a severe brain disease for the past 12 years. Amber has been life flighted 110 times and has been in 17 commas. She is coming to the end of the road. There is nothing more they can do for her. They are now saying that she probably won't make it until next Christmas. One of her favorite things is getting mail. Christina and Ambers mother are trying to spread the word to see how many cards or letters Amber can get from different states and countries.. To read more about her please visit http://prayernet.geisinger.org/ name code damo56..


Please if you have just a moment in your day...send her a card of encouragement. And the little time it took you to read this email you could in return send this letter to everyone you know. Her address is Amber Dougherty, 2766 Bald Eagle Pike, Tyrone, Pa., 16686.

If this were your child or family member I'm sure you would encourage this as much as you were able. I do not personally know Amber but i think that every ounce of encouragement and happiness we can bring to Amber will help her with the time she has left on this earth.
Please pass this along. Thank you.

Making Gluten Free Pizza on a Grill

Alright I know it's cold outside, but I have to share this AMAZING recipe with you!  It tastes exactly like brick oven pizza -- and it's 100% gluten free!

Ingredients:
Chebe Cheesy Gluten-Free Bread Mix
GF Tomato Sauce of Your Choice (I really like Bertolli's Organic Sauce!)
Provolone Cheese (1 Pack)
1 Organic Green Pepper
Boar's Head Pepperoni
(Feel free to use any toppings of your choice!)

Preparation:
First, prepare the pizza dough as listed on the Chebe Bread Package. (I've noticed that I like making Pizza with the Bread, but Chebe also has a Chebe Gluten-Free Pizza Crust Mix.)

Spread the pizza dough out on a large piece of aluminum foil until it is in your desired shape (round, square, oval...or be creative!)

Then, place the pizza dough upside down on the grill, so the top side of the pizza gets nice and toasty.  (Make sure to move the pizza around the grill, so it does not stick.) After about 10 minutes, flip the pizza over and add your chosen pizza sauce.  Next, add cheese slices equally around the pizza dough and follow with other various toppings.  Cook the pizza approximately 15-20 minutes, depending on the heat of your grill. 

Remove the tin foil, and enjoy you're wonderful pizza!

**Tip: Make sure to oil the foil before spreading out the dough, so it doesn't stick!

October Celiac Awareness Dinner Success

This post has been a long time in the making! First of all, I would like to thank all of you who came out to Benjamin's Restaurant to be an advocate for Celiac Awareness! We wouldn't have raised the funds needed for a certified Gluten-Free restaurant without you! I would like to give another very special thank you to Patty and Julie Anne of Sisters Three Gluten Free (www.SistersThreeGlutenFree.com)for providing delicious gluten free bread for our meal! Finally, I would like to thank Chef Regis McGill for taking care of our gluten free needs and preparing a wonderful meal!

Our meal began with a fresh greens salad. Attendees had a choice of three gluten free dinner entrees: Cedar Plank Salmon, Chicken Lafayette, and Pork Othello. I choose the Chicken Lafayette which practically melted in my mouth! Following dinner we enjoyed a dish of mocha gelato -- the perfect ending to our gluten free dinner!

As a thank you, attendees received a "gluten free swag bag" full of gluten free goodies. The Pamela's chocolate cookies were definitely my favorite!

Check back very soon for more information on the first restaurant earning Gluten Free Certification in Indiana!! :)

Celiac Awareness Day with the Pittsburgh Pirates!

Great Seats!


Gluten-Free Burger (& Bun!!!)


A special thank you to Steve at Aramark for putting together a Gluten Free Concession Stand for the Celiac Awareness Day!



John Russell, the Pirates Manager




Meeting Donnie Veal



Me celebrating the first Celiac Awareness Day at PNC Park!

Just Announced: Pirates to have Gluten-Free Portable Stand!!

In honor of Celiac Awareness Day on Sunday, September 27, 2009, the Pittsburgh Pirates and Aramark will have a Gluten-Free Concession Stand available!

The Gluten-Free Concession Stand will be Federal Street Grill Portable at 117.

We will be serving the following menu items:

Hot Dog and gluten free bun-(Still working on buns.)
Lays potato chips
Salads with Italian dressing
Nachos with Salsa Only
Fruiticanna Fruit Smoothies
Peanuts
Soda
Redbridge beer

Tickets are still available for purchase. To be considered part of the Celiac Awareness Event, you must purchase your tickets through Chaz Kellem at 412.325.4731 or chaz.kellem@pirates.com

Outfield Box: $20.00 ($5.00 Donated)
L/R Grandstand: $12.00 ($2.00 Donated)

The game begins at 1:35 p.m. Sunday, September 27 will also be Fan Appreciation Day at PNC Park

Help an Indiana Chef be certified Gluten-Free!

The National Culinary Institute's Can Gluten-Free Heat Up Your Business? by Ginny Marcin digs into the un-met need for more Gluten-Free Friendly dinning options.

This is a must read for restaurant owners and Celiacs! Click here to read the article!

In the article, they feature a Gluten-Free Food Service Training by the National Foundation of Celiac Awareness. On Saturday, October 17, I am hosting a Gluten-Free Benefit dinner at Benjamin's Restaurant (458 Philadelphia St., Indiana, PA 15701) which will raise money to train a chef from Indiana with the NFCA's Food Service Training. Tickets will be $48 which will include a non-alcoholic beverage, salad, entree, and dessert. All guests will recieve a "Gluten-Free Swag Bag" currently valued over $10 (with the goal to be over $20 worth of Gluten-Free products). If you are a company looking to expand your gluten-free product, please contact me to be included!

Here is a copy of the menu:

Mixed Greens Salad
Crisp Romaine, Iceberg, and field greens tossed with onions, cucumbers, grape tomatoes, & garbanzo beans in your choice of balsamic vinaigrette or ranch dressing
Entrées
Chicken Lafayette
Pan seared chicken tossed in a white wine sauce with artichoke hearts, asparagus, mushrooms, tomatoes & Romano cheese
Pork Othello
Seared pork medallions encrusted in rice bread crumbs with grilled eggplant in a sundried tomato butter, topped with mozzarella cheese
Cedar Plank Salmon
Fresh salmon rubbed with assorted herbs and spices in sweetened plum butter; topped with a lemon-Romano pesto & pine nuts
Dessert
Assorted flavors of Gelato

Menu design provided by 360 Design Co (http://www.360designco.com)

To reserve your seat, please print out the form below and return with check to Jenna Drew, 74 Merrick Street, Indiana, PA 15701. If you are having problems printing out the form or have any questions, please e-mail me at missindianainternational2010@gmail.com!

Get Your Tickets Now for the Inaugural Celiac Awareness Day at PNC Park!

Date: Sunday, September 27
Where: PNC Park
When: 1:35 p.m.

To order tickets, call Chaz Kellem at 412.325.4731 or e-mail at chaz.kellem@pirates.com.

Send the flyer by mail or fax:

Chaz Kellem
Celiac Awareness Day
PNC Park at North Shore
115 Federal Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15212

Fax: 412.325.4410

The game is on Fan Appreciation Day and a Kids Day, so there will be plenty of fun during the game!

Before the game, I will be hosting a gluten-free tailgate. More information on the location and gluten-free options will be available very soon!

More information on Kids Day and Fan Appreciation Day from Pirates.com:

Kids Day

Sunday home Pirates games are Kids Days! From the Kids Fun Zone on Federal Street before the game to after the final pitch when all kids are invited to Run the Bases right down on the field, Sundays are for the youngest Pirates fans. (Pre and post-game activities are subject to schedule and weather.)

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Fan Appreciation Day

To show appreciation for the support of Pirates fans, random seat locations will be drawn and great prizes will be given away fans after each half-inning.