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Cranberry Granola Bites – Simply (no baking) Recipe for a healthy breakfast staple!

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Cranberry Granola Bites

CRANBERRY (DARK CHOCOLATE) GRANOLA BITES

Gerbs Cranberry Granola Bites

 

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 cup Gerbs Rolled Oats

½ cup Gerbs 7 Seed Granola (any flavor works)

2/3 cup Gerbs 5 Seed Ground Meal

1/2 cup Sunflower Butter

½ Cup Gerbs Cranberries

1/2 cup Gerbs mini Dark Chocolate Chips (optional)

1/2 cup local Honey

1 tablespoon Gerbs Chia Seeds (optional)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

 

DIRECTIONS:

Stir all ingredients together in a medium bowl until thoroughly mixed. Cover and let chill in the refrigerator for half an hour.

Once chilled, roll into balls of whatever size you would like, we like to roll them onto the Cranberries or Dark Chocolate Chips for a better presentation. These are 1” but smaller are great for smaller fingers. Store in an airtight container and keep refrigerated for up to 1 week.

 

Makes about 20-25 balls.

Baked Granola Stuff Apples Recipe

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Baked Granola Stuff Apples Recipe

Gerbs Baked Granola Apples – perfect fall breakfast/dessert

Gerbs Granola Baked Apples

 

Ingredients

4 large apples, we love local McIntosh freshly picked

1 cup Gerbs 5 Seed Granola (any will work)

1/2 cup Gerbs Rolled Oats

½ cup Gerbs dried Cinnamon Apple Cubes

¼ cup Gerbs Bread Crumbs

1/2 cup Brown Sugar

2 tablespoons coconut sugar (unsalted butter sub)

4 tablespoons coconut oil – split in half

3/4 teaspoon Gerbs ground cinnamon

1 tsp. pure vanilla extract

1 tsp. sea salt

Powdered Sugar

1 cup apple cider – Fresh is best

Other Options:

Gerbs Dark Chocolate Chips – mini’s

Gerbs Jumbo Raisins (soak & re-hydrate)

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Scoop out inside of all 4 apples. Place the apples in a small baking dish. In a small bowl, mix together the granola, sugar, vanilla, salt, dried apple cubes, coconut oil and cinnamon. Spoon & stuff the granola mixture into the apples. In another small bowl, add rolled oats, bread crumbs, brown sugar, & oil (butter) mix together – top onto apples.

Pour the cider around the apples in the dish, loosely cover the dish with foil and bake, basting occasionally, until the apples are tender when pierced with a fork, about 45 minutes. Set aside to cool (15 minutes) coat with powder sugar (optional).

Level: Easy

Total: 1 hr.

Prep: 15 min

Cook: 45 min

Yield: 4 servings

Double Dark Chocolate Brownies Recipe – Lets Celebrate the Return of Chocolate

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Double Dark Chocolate Brownies Recipe

Gerbs Dark Chocolate Brownies

 

INGREDIENTS

3 tablespoons Gerbs Flax Meal

1 cup (148 grams) Gerbs All-Purpose Flour

1/2 cup (40 grams) Gerbs Cocoa Powder

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon Gerbs Himalayan Sea Salt

1/2 cup coconut oil at room temperature, plus more for the pan

5 ounces (140g) Gerbs Chocolate Chips chopped (any size will work)

1 1/2 cups (300 grams) organic pure cane sugar

1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract

 

METHOD

Heat the oven to 350°F and prepare the pan: Line an 8×8 square baking pan with parchment paper, and grease the parchment paper and pan with a little coconut oil. Prepare the flax “egg”: Combine the flax with 8 tablespoons of water in a small bowl. Let stand for 7 to 10 minutes to thicken. (This will be used as an egg replacer in this recipe.) Whisk dry ingredients: In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt. Melt the coconut oil and chocolate: In a small saucepan over low heat, warm the coconut oil and chopped chocolate, stirring until the chocolate is completely melted, about 2 minutes. Add the sugar and vanilla: Whisk the sugar and vanilla into the chocolate mixture, stirring vigorously until combined. The mixture will be a little grainy at this point, which is perfectly okay.

 

Make the batter: Pour the chocolate mixture into a large mixing bowl, scraping everything from the pan. Fold in the flax eggs. Add the dry ingredients and stir well with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula until well combined. The batter will be quite thick and will gather into a ball—it won’t be loose and thin like many traditional brownie batters. Scoop the batter into the prepared pan, and use a rubber spatula or the palm of your hand to press it into the pan in an even layer, top with more chips.

 

Bake the brownies for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the edges are set and no longer jiggly. The tops of the brownies will still feel very soft and may even be bubbling a little; they’ll firm up as they cool. Cool: Let the brownies cool completely before slicing, 2 to 3 hours. Because these are so fudgy, they really will slice best if you allow them to fully cool. Slice, serve, and store: Using the parchment paper as a handle, lift the cooled brownies up out of the pan and onto a cutting board. Slice into a 4×4 grid (making 16 small squares). Leftover brownies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.

NEW DRIED FRUITS! Dried Raspberry, Peaches & Cinnamon Apples

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NEW DRIED FRUITS! YEAR ROUND TASTE OF SUMMER.

We are pleased to announce the latest additions to our Allergy Friendly Dried Fruit product line: Dried Sliced Summer Peaches, Dried Summer Raspberries, and Cubed Cinnamon Apples. Dried Fruits make excellent snacks. Allergy friendly safe, Gluten-free AND delicious.

DRIED SLICED SUMMER PEACHES

YEAR ROUND TASTE OF SUMMER WITH SLICED PEACHES
The weather will always be fresh & lovely with these delectable, sweet peach slice snacks. Peaches are also a nutritious choice. They contain 34% of your daily vitamin A needs, and 18% of daily iron recommendations, as well as being a good source of potassium, niacin and copper. Send some Summer to your college kids!.

NEW DRIED FRUITS - ALLERGY FRIENDLY SLICED SUMMER PEACHES

NATURE’S CANDY

Sweet and full-flavored, our dried peaches are packaged without the preservative sulfur dioxide, normally used to preserve the peaches’ color when drying. Dried fruits offers some advantages over fresh fruits: a longer shelf life and portability. Our Sliced Dried Summer Peaches are a rich source of many essential nutrients and carotenoid antioxidants, and are thought to be especially helpful in maintaining healthy eyes, skin, bones and teeth. They contain vitamin A, C, E, K, B1, B2, B3, B6, folate, calcium, potassium, magnesium, iron, manganese, phosphorus, zinc and copper.

 

DRIED NEW FRUIT – WHOLE SUMMER RASPBERRIES

Dried sweet whole raspberries also contain some of the highest antioxidants levels in fruit. Allergy friendly, soft in texture, and a rich source of health-promoting, plant-derived nutrients, minerals, and vitamins that are essential for optimum health. They are low in calories and saturated fats but are high in dietary fiber. You simply will not believe how delicious these are. 

NEW DRIED FRUITS - ALLERGY FRIENDLY RASPBERRIES FROM GERBS

 

DRIED CUBED CINNAMON APPLES

VERY AROMATIC. The irresistible taste and aroma of Cinnamon on cubed sugared apples. An allergy friendly  sweet treat right out of the bag. Excellent in Oatmeal or mixed into Muffin batter. Heat them up for a warm side dish for those chilly autumn nights. Traveling? Our NEW Dried Fruits are a great choice to bring along!

NEW DRIED FRUITS - ALLERGY FRIENDLY CINNAMON APPLE CUBES FROM GERBS

 

All of our raw ingredients are processed, packaged, handled, stored, and shipped by trained staff in our family owned & operated facility in Johnston, Rhode Island on dedicated non-GMO, Vegan, and Kosher Equipment. No Co-packers. No Co-manufacturers. For anyone with a mild to severe food allergy or a family with one, we wish to assure you that this is why Gerbs handles all aspects of production & operation, and we are among a handful of companies in the world who can state this.

Our goal is to give the Allergy Community relief in the battle of living with food allergies.

FREE SHIPPING for orders above $59.99! Stock up. Deliciousness awaits.

 

SAFE SNACKING – BACK TO SCHOOL TREATS

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SAFE SNACKING – BACK TO SCHOOL TREATS

Yep, it’s that time again. Back to school. As our readers already know, many of the allergy friendly foods here at Gerbs are suitable for snacking…….Dried Fruits, Seeds, Seed Mixes, and even the Granolas make excellent snacks. But were you aware that there is also a Healthy Snacks category? We’d like to highlight two in particular, as snack treats because they both contain dark chocolate. They are allergy friendly safe, Gluten-free AND delicious.

Our allergy friendly snacks have crunch in them because crunch is actually important.

The sound of crunchy food is as important when it comes to how much people enjoy eating as color and taste is, scientists say. Scientists at the University of Leeds found that people’s ‘enjoyment of biting’ increased with louder, crunchier foods. We also associate crunch with freshness.

Is snacking helpful? For many adults and children, the long hours between meals may be difficult. Snacks are important for the energy and nutrients needed throughout the day. For children who are active and growing, snacks also give them the energy they require to grow and play. Snacks actually help keep you from getting hungry and overeating at mealtime. First up.

CRUNCHY MONKEY SNACK MIX

As the name suggests, there are indeed bananas in this yummy snack. And not just any bananas. These are snappy little bites bursting with flavor and without added sugar. Unsulphured and they contain no added preservatives or nitrates.

Safe Snacks for Kids - Gerbs Crunchy Monkey

So what else is in Crunchy Monkey? Roasted sunflower seed kernels, dried banana chips, dark chocolate chips (evaporated cane juice, natural chocolate liquor, non-dairy cocoa butter), and roasted pumpkin seed kernels. No added salt. The dark chocolate is Gluten-free!

  • Sunflower seed kernels are high in polyunsaturated fats – specifically, linoleic acid, an essential fatty acid also known as Omega-6. This fat is considered “essential” because our bodies cannot synthesize it, we must get it from food sources. This healthful fat helps keep our heart healthy, cholesterol levels in check and contributes to healthy skin and hair.
  • Pumpkin seed kernels are of the best, most alkaline sources of nutrition you can eat. Pumpkin seeds are incredibly high in iron and magnesium, and contain a larger amount of protein than chia or flax per ounce, boasting a total of 5 grams per ounce. They’re also rich in B vitamins They even contain high amounts of anxiety-relieving trytophan, an essential amino acid, which helps improve serotonin levels. most helpful for school stress!

SWEET & SALTY SNACK MIX

This is safe snacking satisfaction on so many levels we can’t even begin to tell you. It usually produces a smile. Gluten free, Vegan and Kosher, this is a mix of dark chocolate, plain Gluten Free Bagel Chips, Pumpkin Seeds and Sunflower Seeds, and some Sea Salt. Nothing phony and no baloney.

Allergy Friendly Snacks - Gerbs Sweet & Salty Snack Mix

All of our raw snack ingredients are processed, packaged, handled, stored, and shipped by trained staff in our family owned & operated facility in Johnston, Rhode Island on dedicated non-GMO, Vegan, and Kosher Equipment. No Co-packers. No Co-manufacturers. For anyone with a mild to severe food allergy or a family with one, we wish to assure you that this is why Gerbs handles all aspects of production & operation, and we are among a handful of companies in the world who can state this.

Our goal is to give the Allergy Community relief in the battle of living with food allergies.

Take a look at all of our Healthy Snacks. FREE SHIPPING for orders above $59.99! Stock up. School is in session.

 

5 Reasons to Eat Sunflower Seeds Every Day!

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5 Reasons to Eat Sunflower Seeds Every Day!When you think of baseball season, you probably don’t think of nutritious foods- hot dogs, cracker jacks, ice cream, beer- there is no shortage of junk food at the ball park. But, there is one healthy, delicious, allergy-friendly food found in most dugouts across the country: sunflower seeds! Sunflower seeds became part of major league baseball tradition once we learned that chewing tobacco was unhealthy. Fast forward a few decades and now, sunflower seeds are a favorite of little leaguers, big leaguers and fans everywhere. And, if you’re looking for a healthy snack, sunflower seeds are perfect. So, what is it about these tiny kernels that makes them such a good choice? Here are 5 reasons to eat ‘em every day!

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that can protect us from cardiovascular disease and can reduce inflammation linked to many other diseases such as arthritis, cancer and asthma. Sunflower seeds are an excellent source of vitamin E-  a ¼ cup serving provides over 80% of your daily needs.

Portability

Sunflowers are the perfect on-the-go snack! They contain protein, fiber and healthy fats to help you feel full. They don’t require refrigeration and are allergy-friendly. Keep a bag of Gerbs in your car or travel bag for emergency snacking!

Trace Minerals

Trace minerals support many functions in the body. You don’t often hear about these nutrients, but they are incredibly important to your health. Trace minerals are involved in everything from cell function to hormone regulation. Sunflower seeds are a great source of several trace minerals, including copper, manganese, selenium, magnesium and iron.

Versatility

Sunflower seeds can be added to a vast array of dishes. At breakfast, add some to your oatmeal or pancake batter, stir them into a yogurt or on top of a smoothie bowl. For lunch, throw a handful on a green salad or even in a chicken salad. At dinner, use sunflower seeds in place of almonds in green bean almondine.

Fat (the good kind!)

Sunflower seeds are high in polyunsaturated fats- specifically, linoleic acid, an essential fatty acid also known as Omega-6. This fat is considered “essential” because our bodies cannot synthesize it, we must get it from food sources. This healthful fat helps keep our heart healthy, cholesterol levels in check and contributes to healthy skin and hair.

There are many reasons to enjoy sunflower seeds- whether you’re at a ball game or in your office. Check out these fun, healthy recipes, featuring sunflower seeds! And, please tell us…how do you like to eat them?

Chicken Tortilla Soup

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It’s no secret that the Nutrition Moms are fairly obsessed with Gerbs Chipotle Pumpkin Seeds! They are so flavorful and tons of fun to play with in the kitchen.  After creating an AMAZING spin on guacamole, we started dreaming up new ways to cook with these tasty seeds. So, we challenged our talented nutrition intern, Ciara, with making an allergy-friendly tortilla soup featuring the pumpkin seeds. She did NOT disappoint! This delicious soup is quick, nutritious and can easily be made vegetarian by omitting the chicken and swapping in vegetable broth.
To our surprise, the pumpkin seeds not only added a great kick of spice but they also gave the soup a “creamy” thickness. It is incredibly satisfying! Pumpkin seeds are a great source of fiber, protein and healthy fats, which help us to stay full longer. This recipe is a winner!

Print Recipe
 Gerbs' Chicken Tortilla Soup
This delicious soup is easy, filling and nutritious!
Course Main Course
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Servings
people
Ingredients
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1/4 cup Gerbs Chipolte Seasoned Pumpkin Seeds
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1, 15oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1, 15oz can diced tomatoes, with juice
  • 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded rotisserie chicken works well!
  • 1 cup corn tortilla chips
  • 1 cup canned or frozen corn
  • 1 ripe avocado, sliced
  • 1 lime, cut into wedges
  • 6 cups chicken or vegetable broth
Course Main Course
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Servings
people
Ingredients
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1/4 cup Gerbs Chipolte Seasoned Pumpkin Seeds
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1, 15oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1, 15oz can diced tomatoes, with juice
  • 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded rotisserie chicken works well!
  • 1 cup corn tortilla chips
  • 1 cup canned or frozen corn
  • 1 ripe avocado, sliced
  • 1 lime, cut into wedges
  • 6 cups chicken or vegetable broth
Instructions
  1. Add pumpkin seeds to food processor (or blender) and blend until fine. Add 1 tbsp of water to the food processor and blend until it becomes a smooth paste. Set aside.
  2. Heat oil to a large heavy-bottom pot or dutch oven and sauté onions and garlic on low/ medium heat for about 5 minutes, stirring constantly.
  3. Add 1/2 cup of broth and pumpkin seed paste to the pot, sauté for another 5 minutes, continue to stir.
  4. Add tomatoes, chicken, beans, corn, and remaining chicken broth. Stir well, cover and let cook for 15-20 minutes on medium heat.
  5. Ladle soup into soups, serve with tortilla chips, lime wedges and sliced avocado.
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Gluten-Free Baking: Tips from Chloe

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Did you know that the Gerbs now offers gluten-free all-purpose flour? This incredible flour blend is perfect for everything from pancakes to brownies and as always, a high-quality, allergy-friendly product. If you’re one of the estimated three million Americans eating (and living!) gluten-free, you know avoiding wheat can be difficult and frustrating. It shows up everywhere, from sandwich bread to soy sauce and salad dressing! Baking, which relies more on chemistry and precision than other forms of cooking, can be especially disappointing if you don’t consider the role gluten plays in traditional recipes.

Gluten is a protein network that gives the right texture to bread, muffins, and cookies. Bakers use this structure differently, depending on their end goal. Bread flour, for example, is high in protein for that chewy, artisanal feel, while cake flour is low in protein for tenderness. But if you’re gluten-free, all that goes out the window! It can be difficult to navigate gluten-free baking, but understanding its science helps you pinpoint exactly why your cookies spread or your pie dough crumbles. Fortunately, the Gerbs Nutrition Moms are working with an intern, Chloe, who is gluten-free and LOVES to bake. So naturally, we asked her to help breakdown the science behind gluten-free baking. Here’s Chloe’s advice!

Cut back on butter and oil. 

Gluten-free flours don’t absorb fat as well as wheat flour, so cut out a few tablespoons of butter or oil. This will help you avoid the greasiness that often plagues gluten-free concoctions, and will also prevent pie crust from losing its shape and cookies from spreading out into puddles on their sheet.

Use a binder for structure.

A good binder is absolutely essential to keeping the structure of gluten-free goods. There are a few different ones on the market, but the most multi-purpose is xanthan gum. Buying a gluten-free flour that already contains xanthan gum, such as Gerbs’ blend, will save you the high expense of a separate bag.

Increase the leavener. 

Dough and batter made from gluten-free flour, which has less protein, don’t hold onto air bubbles as well as those made with traditional recipes. If your gluten-free muffins or breads feel dense, add a smidge more baking powder, baking soda, or yeast.

Add more liquid. 

The low protein of gluten-free flour means high starch, which gives baked goods a gritty texture. Add more liquid than you think to hydrate the dough or batter properly, and let the mixture rest for half an hour before baking. To compensate, you’ll also have to leave your creation in the oven longer.

Gluten-free baking takes some practice but thankfully, there are many online resources to help. Here are some websites that we think are worth a visit:

1.) America’s Test Kitchen: this article walks through helpful gluten-free tricks, including measuring gluten-free flours, mixing batters, etc.

2.) Naturally Savvy: 20 Tips and Tricks for Gluten-Free Baking. Self explanatory!

3.) Gluten-Free on a Shoestring: this is a breakdown of some of the biggest mistakes people make when baking without gluten.

HAPPY BAKING! Please share any of your favorite gluten-free baking tips!

 

 

The Delicious Way to Prevent Colds and Flu

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Here we are. It’s January and we are at the height of cold and flu season. Not fun! In my house, it feels like someone has a new sniffle or cough every week! So, how do we ward off illness and prevent colds and flu during these long winter months?

The traditional everything-your-mother-told-you advice – wash your hands, get plenty of rest, drink lots of fluids – is helpful but what you might not know is that there are easy and delicious ways to prevent illness and recover from colds through the foods you eat.

In particular, certain nutrients can boost our immune systems making us less likely to fall ill and better equipped to fight off illness if we do catch something. Here’s a breakdown of some important immune-building nutrients and some healthy and delicious ways to enjoy them!

  • Zinc—Gerbs takes great pride in having found its beginnings through our delicious roasted pumpkin seeds. Pumpkin seeds are a fantastic source of plenty of vitamins and minerals. In particular, they contain tons of Zinc. This mineral is indispensable in maintaining strong immunity, as well as in healing and recovery. Enjoying a one-ounce serving of pumpkin seeds, provides nearly 29% of your daily Zinc needs.
  • Vitamin A—Vitamin A is found in meat and is fortified in many dairy products. There are some plant sources that are allergy and vegan-friendly though, including orange and red fruits and vegetables. Try our no sugar added dried apricots as a great source.
  • Vitamin B6—This vitamin can be difficult to find in our diets when avoiding dairy and eggs. It is primarily found in animal products. One other place to find it, though, is in seeds; this is especially true of sunflower seeds. On our site we carry a variety of sunflower and pumpkin seed mixes. Try the lightly salted bag for extra flavor, as well as a bonus immune-boosting mineral: Iodine.
  • Vitamin C—Rather than taking an Emergen-C when you feel a cold coming on, ward it off by eating plenty of Vitamin C year-round through citrus fruits and berries. Our Super-5 dried fruit mix is a perfect way to enjoy multiple tasty sources of Vitamin C in one convenient snack.
  • Vitamin E—Commonly found in plant oils, this vitamin and antioxidant is abundant in nuts and seeds. If you’re looking for a sweet way to nosh on this vitamin, our dried papaya strips should be a satisfying choice.
  • Selenium—Guarding one’s immune system is a 24-hour job. Get plenty of sleep then enjoy a hearty bowl of oatmeal for breakfast. Oats are a fantastic source of selenium, a mineral that is essential for optimal immunity. Doesn’t a bowl of warm oatmeal hit the spot on cold mornings?!

We would love to hear your tricks to prevent colds (or make sure they don’t linger!)- please share in the comments or on our Facebook page!

We wish you a happy, HEALTHY winter! Stay warm!