As soon as cooler September afternoons and nights hit, there’s no better way to enjoy a crisp ‘fall’ day than in the kitchen with the kiddo’s, than baking up a fresh & food allergy friendly batch of Gerbs dark chocolate pumpkin cookies. Adding our flavor packed (new) pumpkin seed butter, fresh pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie spice to this basic chocolate chip cookie dough makes for an amazing fall treat. These will be a hit at any school bake sale or dinner party.

INGREDIENTS

• 2 1/4 c. Gerbs all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
• 1 c. (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 3/4 c. brown sugar
• 1/2 c. granulated sugar
• 3/4 c. pumpkin purée
• 3/4 c. Gerbs Salted Pumpkin Butter
• 1 large egg
• 2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
• 2 c. Gerbs traditional semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1/4 c. Gerbs raw pumpkin seed kernels (optional)

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 375° and line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.

In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and pumpkin spice.

In a large bowl using a hand mixer, cream together butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in pumpkin puree, Gerbs pumpkin butter, egg, and vanilla extract until combined, then add flour mixture. Beat on low until no raw flour appears, then fold in Gerbs chocolate chips. Refrigerate dough for 30 minutes.

Scoop 1” balls onto prepared baking sheets, press several pumpkin seeds onto top raw balls (optional, not in picture), 2 inches apart, and bake until puffed up and golden around edges, about 12-14 minutes. Set aside 2-3 minutes, then cool on baking rack.

Coming Soon! We will be giving away a free Gerbs ‘Safe Snacks’ Wrist Band with each qualifying order (while supplies last) Watch our Website, Facebook & Instagram Page for rules & updates !

About the Teal Pumpkin Project

The Teal Pumpkin Project is a movement to raise awareness of food allergies and to create a safer, more inclusive Halloween for all trick-or-treaters. Putting a teal pumpkin on your doorstep will let trick-or-treaters know that your house is food allergy-friendly. This can mean that you offer non-food treats or trinkets, such as glow sticks or small toys, and/or that you have allergy-friendly candy which is free of the top 9 allergens (including sesame). This simple act allows kids to enjoy the same allergy-friendly trinkets or treats whether they have food allergies or not. Teal is the new orange, and we hope you will join us in painting Halloween teal. Getting started is easy:

1. Provide non-food treats and/or allergy-friendly candy (free of the top 9 allergens, including sesame) for trick-or-treaters
2. Place a teal pumpkin in front of your home to alert trick-or-treaters that you have a food-allergy friendly home
3. Add your home to the Teal Pumpkin Project map
4. Spread the word! Share the Teal Pumpkin Project with your friends and family

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!

Parenting during the holidays is never easy. Everywhere you turn, there are sugar-laden treats tempting your little ones and undermining your efforts. With Easter and Passover just around the corner, it’s a good time to share some tips for teaching your children how to indulge wisely. As a dietitian and mom, I believe that the key to raising healthy eaters is moderation. Here is how my family practices moderation, so we can indulge in occasional treats (like the Spring Sunflower Cups, below!) without worry.

Everyday foods are healthy foods.

Making the healthy choice an easy choice is important- for kids and parents! In my house, this starts with meal planning and keeping plenty of nutritious options on hand. We stock our refrigerator with washed, sliced fruits and vegetables that the whole family can easily enjoy. The pantry is filled with snack-sized portions of dried fruit, pumpkin or sunflower seeds and whole-grain crackers.

Avoid using food as a reward or punishment.

It can be tempting to use food to encourage or discourage behavior but it’s not a great idea. Rewarding with treat foods simply puts that food on a pedestal and increases your child’s desire for it. Keeping a neutral attitude about all foods will help kids learn moderation and decrease the chances that they will become adults who are constantly “rewarding” themselves with food.

Be a good role model.

What happens when YOU overeat? As parents, our actions speak louder than our words. Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet and try not to show signs of guilt or make a big deal out of your own indulgences. We are all human and food is something to be enjoyed, not vilified.

When it’s time to indulge- choose wisely! 

When it is time for a little treat, be sure it is something truly delicious! These simple, allergen-friendly Spring Sunflower Cups are the perfect addition to your springtime celebrations.  Naturally portion-controlled and made with high-quality Gerbs Dark Chocolate and Homemade (or store bought) Sunflower butter, they are worth the splurge!

Print Recipe

Spring Sunflower Cups

These delicious, no-bake, allergen-friendly treats are the perfect addition to your spring celebrations! The key to this recipe is creating a "piping bag" using 2 gallon-size plastic bags. Check out our no-fuss tips for clean piping!

Course

Dessert

Prep Time

10 minutes

Servings

Sunflower Cups

Ingredients

• 2.5 cups Gerbs Dark Chocolate Chips 2.5 cups = 1 lb bag Gerbs' chocolate chips
• 1 cup Sunflower Seed Butter
• 1/4 cup Gerbs Sunflower Seeds (for garnish)

Materials

• 2 gallon-size plastic bags
• 40 mini cupcake liners

Course Dessert Prep Time 10 minutes Servings Sunflower Cups Ingredients 2.5 cups Gerbs Dark Chocolate Chips 2.5 cups = 1 lb bag Gerbs' chocolate chips 1 cup Sunflower Seed Butter 1/4 cup Gerbs Sunflower Seeds (for garnish) Materials 2 gallon-size plastic bags 40 mini cupcake liners

Instructions

1. Heat chocolate in microwave-safe bowl for 2 minutes or until melted smooth. Let cool slightly.
2. Place cupcake liners on a cookie sheet.
3. Line two tall glasses with a gallon-size plastic bag. Scoop all of sunflower butter into one bag and 1/2 of the melted chocolate into the other. Remove liner from glass and twist bag to secure closed. To begin piping, cut a small hole in one edge of each bag.

   
4. Pipe enough chocolate to cover the bottom of each cupcake liner.
5. Pipe a layer of sunflower butter on top of the chocolate layer.
6. Refill the chocolate bag with remaining melted chocolate and pipe over the sunflower butter. Smooth tops of each cup using the back of a small spoon, if necessary.
7. Garnish each cup with a few sunflower kernels and cool in the refrigerator.

   

Recipe Notes

SHOP: Gerbs Dark Chocolate Chips- Miniatures

Use HOMEMADE SUNFLOWER BUTTER in this recipe!

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Pumpkin Seed Stuffing with Mushroom & Kale using Gerbs Pumpkin Seeds

Tasty vegetarian alternative to traditional turkey stuffing.

Please note that this recipe is not free from the top 12 allergens.

This recipe contains the following allergens: gluten and eggs. If you are living with an allergy to gluten, consider substituting the bread with a gluten free variety. If you are allergic to eggs, please refer to this resource on egg substitutions. As always, please consult with your allergist and or registered dietitian about how to manage your specific allergy. 

This Pumpkin Seed Stuffing with Kale & Mushroom and Seeded Rye bread (you can use any bread you wish but it should be bread with character! Seeded multigrains, crusty Sourdough French etc) can either stuff your turkey, tofu turkey or be used as a side dish. This Recipe uses GERBS RAW PUMPKIN SEED PEPITAS (there are seasoned varieties too) & GERBS HIMALAYAN SALT.

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Roasted Maple Sea Salted Pumpkin Seeds uses Gerbs Himalayan Sea Salt

Gobble, Gobble! Don’t toss your pumpkin guts!

You won’t be able to resist these EASY, QUICK & inexpensive Sea Salty Maple treats. Your home will transform into the splendid aromas of Autumn. From carving to roasting, this is a wonderful experience to share with your family or friends. Get yourself a big, plump & healthy pumpkin. This recipe comes from jerryjamesstone.com and it includes a video to show you how to do everything. Come on…it’s fun!

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Grandmothers Dark Chocolate Pumpkin Sweet Bread

This Allergen Friendly Dark Chocolate Pumpkin Sweet Bread comes straight from Gerbs Grandmother Lorraine’s kitchen.

The Gerbs kids LOVE it especially in Fall after collecting pumpkins. It uses 3 Gerbs products and you can buy them all on the Gerbs website:

1. PUMPKIN SEED MEAL (flour)
2. DARK CHOCOLATE CHIPS
3. RAW PUMPKIN SEED KERNELS
This recipe contains the following allergen: eggs. If you or a loved one is living with an egg allergy, please refer to this resource on egg substitutions. As always, please check with your allergist or registered dietitian about how to manage your specific food allergy/allergies.
 
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This Recipe uses Gerbs Allergy Friendly Pumpkin Seeds and Pumpkin Seed Meal

This is a Paleo Foundation Recipe by Angela Privin that uses Gerbs Allergy Friendly Pumpkin Seeds and Pumpkin Seed Meal.

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Allergy Friendly Fruity Fruit & Chocolate Chip Granola Bars

An epic snack from breakfast to dinner, adapted from the What’s Gaby Cooking Blog.

This recipe is not allergen-free. It contains the following allergens: butter. If you or a loved one is living with a milk allergy, please refer to this resource on using milk substitutions.

“Lately I’ve been making these homemade Granola Bars with chocolate chips, dried fruit and chia seeds. They’re stuffed with dried cranberries, raisins and plenty of chocolate chips. I’ve been known to throw in dried cherries or apricots if those are on hand too. You can mix and match all kinds of dried fruit, just keep the proportions the same so the granola bars stick together properly and hold up when cut. You can serve these right away or cut them up and wrap each bar in a bit of parchment paper and refrigerate them until ready to eat.”

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This No Mayo Cole Slaw Recipe uses Gerbs Allergy Friendly Chia & Hemp Seed Mix

Chilled, this is a crisp, fast, easy vinaigrette-based recipe that uses Gerbs Chia & Hemp Seed Mix. Perfect to accompany virtually anything and no worries about mayonnaise spoilage in Summer.

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Pumpkin Nutrition facts: 180 calories, 14g fat (4g sat fat), 10g protein. Pumpkin seeds pack more omega-6 fatty acids than omega-3s.

You can make a “butter” from any of our seeds! This superfood still makes an awesome snack in any form. Its best benefits include a ton of protein (more than peanut butter), fiber, potassium, and beta-carotene, a nutrient associated with boosting the immune system. Spoon a dollop of pumpkin butter in a bowl of oatmeal!

Benefits of Pumpkin Seeds:

Anti-inflammatory
High in Zinc…protects against osteoporosis
High in Magnesium…supports relaxation
Contains phytosterols… reduces levels of LDL cholesterol.
contain L-tryptophan… effective against depression.

Print Recipe

Gerbs Pumpkin Seed Butter

Remember that you can make this any consistency you like (creamy, chunky, etc) and you can add cinnammon or maple syrup!

Course

Snack

Cuisine

American

Prep Time

5 min

Cook Time

5 min

Servings

servings

Ingredients

• 1 cup Gerbs Pumpkin Seeds Roasted (more flavor) but Raw or any other flavor of Pumpkin Seed can be used
• 1 tablespoon olive oil extra virgin
• 2 teaspoons raw honey
• 1 pinch of sea salt

Course Snack Cuisine American Prep Time 5 min Cook Time 5 min Servings servings Ingredients 1 cup Gerbs Pumpkin Seeds Roasted (more flavor) but Raw or any other flavor of Pumpkin Seed can be used 1 tablespoon olive oil extra virgin 2 teaspoons raw honey 1 pinch of sea salt

Recipe Notes

• Grind Gerbs Pumpkin Roasted or Raw (or any seed flavor you prefer) Seeds into a fine powder in a food processor or a blender.
• Drizzle olive oil in slowly as you process the Pumpkin Seed powder. You can make your Pumpkin Seed Butter as creamy as you want by adding more oil.
• Add honey and sea salt.
• Mix until thoroughly blended.

Share this Recipe

Print Recipe

Gerbs Pumpkin Seed Butter

Remember that you can make this any consistency you like (creamy, chunky, etc) and you can add cinnammon or maple syrup!

Course

Snack

Cuisine

American

Prep Time

5 min

Cook Time

5 min

Servings

servings

Ingredients

• 1 cup Gerbs Pumpkin Seeds Roasted (more flavor) but Raw or any other flavor of Pumpkin Seed can be used
• 1 tablespoon olive oil extra virgin
• 2 teaspoons raw honey
• 1 pinch of sea salt

Course Snack Cuisine American Prep Time 5 min Cook Time 5 min Servings servings Ingredients 1 cup Gerbs Pumpkin Seeds Roasted (more flavor) but Raw or any other flavor of Pumpkin Seed can be used 1 tablespoon olive oil extra virgin 2 teaspoons raw honey 1 pinch of sea salt

Recipe Notes

• Grind Gerbs Pumpkin Roasted or Raw (or any seed flavor you prefer) Seeds into a fine powder in a food processor or a blender.
• Drizzle olive oil in slowly as you process the Pumpkin Seed powder. You can make your Pumpkin Seed Butter as creamy as you want by adding more oil.
• Add honey and sea salt.
• Mix until thoroughly blended.

Share this Recipe