Food Archives - Baton Rouge Moms

Fourth of July Celebrations in Baton Rouge and Beyond

June 22, 2017 by Baton Rouge Moms

Get out your red, white and blue and celebrate America’s Independence! Here is a guide to fireworks shows, parades and other Fourth of July Celebrations in Baton Rouge and beyond! Enjoy some family time at these family-friendly events to celebrate America’s Independence with food, fun, family, fireworks and most importantly, honoring those who have served and continue to serve.

Baton Rouge Moms will always bring you the best in Family Friendly events in and around the Baton Rouge area, we have gathered the latest list of Family Friendly events for 4th of July festivities, thanks to our sponsor, BASIS.ed!

Fourth of July Celebrations in Baton Rouge and Beyond:

Kenilworth Independence Day Parade
Monday, July 3^rd at 6:30 pm

The theme of this year’s parade is “LIVING IN AMERICA” – Grand Marshal – Mike Manning, President & CEO of the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank. This is one of the largest events in Louisiana celebrating our nation’s independence. The annual parade is a Baton Rouge tradition, and this year will mark the 45th time we gather to celebrate our great nation! The 2017 parade is scheduled to roll at 6:30 pm on Monday, July 3rd. It lasts about an hour and rolls as long as weather permits. The route begins and ends at Kenilworth Science & Technology School on Boone Drive.

USS KIDD’s 4th of July Spectacular!
Tuesday, July 4, 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM

The USS KIDD has been hosting a 4th of July celebration in the downtown Baton Rouge area for over two decades. In that time, it has developed into an incredible family event that celebrates our nation’s freedom. The evening culminates with WBRZ’s Fireworks on the Mississippi River sponsored by the USS KIDD!

Over the past five years, the KIDD’s 4th of July Spectacular has become synonymous with the patriotic activities that attract thousands of families from across Louisiana and the southern United States. According to the Downtown Development District, the Baton Rouge 4th of July Fireworks Celebration brings in between 75,000 – 100,000 visitors per year. The celebration is made possible in part by the USS KIDD Veterans Museum, WBRZ News 2, the City of Baton Rouge, community partners, area sponsors and volunteers.

We look forward to celebrating our nation’s independence with YOU, Tuesday, July 4, 2016 from 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM

West Baton Rouge Parish

4th Fest
Tuesday, July 4th 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM

The 4th Fest is great fun for the whole family from 4-11pm! There will be plenty of great food, kids activities, spacewalks, water slides, magic shows and face painting. With music by Geno Delafolse from 5-8pm and Foret Tradition from 8-11pm. And, of course, Fireworks on the River at 9pm! Sponsored by WBRZ and The Advocate.

Come enjoy this FREE 4th of July event on the Westside!

Walker

Old Fashioned Family Day Celebration:
Tuesday, July 4 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM

Floyd Brown Band will be performing at the Walker 4th of July celebration from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, July 4th at Sidney Hutchinson Park. All games, festivities and events are free, bring your own food and drinks (no alcoholic beverages allowed) or purchase refreshments at the park. Come Join the FUN, FOOD, & FESTIVITIES! FREE ADMISSION, FREE EVENTS, FREE RIDES!Don’t forget your lawn chairs, blankets, sunscreen and bug spray!!! No alcohol is permitted in the park.

Donaldsonville

July Fireworks:
Monday, July 3rd 2:00pm-10:00pm

Singing Competiton, 3-5pm Michael Foster Project,
5-7pm Hello McFly, 7-9pm Artemis, & 9:15pm – Fireworks, Fun, & Fun for Everyone

Iberville Parish

17th Annual July 4th Hometown Celebration:
Tuesday, July 4 – 3:00 pm to 9:00 pm

Bayou Plaquemine Waterfront Park. Plaquemine Lock SHS will be open for tours and demonstrations, free admission. Friends of the Lock will be sponsoring putt-putt boat rides beginning at noon. The Iberville Museum will also open at noon and admission is free. 3:00-9:00 p.m. Mouth watering food will be served from the Waterfront Park (please no ice chest, pets or tents). 3:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m. Veterans Boat Parade – theme decorated boats are welcome. 6:00 p.m. Dancin’ on the boardwalk until the Firework Display at 9:00 p.m.! Phone: 225-687-3116 Website: www.plaquemine.org

Pointe Coupee Parish

False River Annual 4th of July Boat Parade :
Monday, July 3rd 1:00pm to 10:00pm

New Roads Presents the 4th of July Boat Parade and Music Festival, July 3 For More Information Contact: (225) 638-5360

St. Mary Parish

Party in the Park – Morgan City’s Independence Day Celebration.
Tuesday, July 4th, 4:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Lawrence Park.

Join us for our July 4th Party in the Park! There will be live music by Driftwood & Groovy 7, BBQ dinners by the Tillman BBQ Team, fair hamburgers by X-Treme Sports, Immanuel Christian Church will have a soft drink and water booth and Morgan City Main Street will be selling beer on tap! Finish off the night with fireworks over the Atchafalaya River!
Please refrain from bringing ice chests to this event! Purchasing from these vendors supports this event and future events!

There’s something for everyone to celebrate this year’s Independence Day! We hope you have a fun, safe and Happy Fourth of July with your families!

*Dates and schedules subject to change. Please confirm with local convention and visitors bureaus before making your trip.

A big thanks to our sponsor, BASIS.ed!

BASIS Baton Rouge is opening in Fall 2018! They look forward to providing Baton Rouge families with the opportunity to experience a truly world-class education. We are proud to partner with Woman’s Hospital for this first BASIS campus in Baton Rouge. Interested in learning more about what a BASIS school will offer your student? Join them for an information session to learn from experienced BASIS school leaders about our academic model and get details on how to apply! http://basisschools.org/batonrouge

Blueberry picking near Baton Rouge & Beyond – Blueberry Farms, Orchards and U-Picks Guide

June 6, 2017 by Tiany Davis

Berry picking can be a fun, delicious and educational outing with kids. Nothing compares to picking ones own food and seeing where our food comes from. In Louisiana, the picking season usually starts earlier than other parts of the country, we’re blessed to have a number of options for blueberry picking near Baton Rouge. Berry picking is a great way to get outdoors while supporting our local farms!

We’ve listed a number of fruit picking farms below, while some of these Berry Farms are not close they are within an hour or two and would make a fun day trip with a new city to explore. Time to get some dirt on your hands and fresh fruit in your buckets!

Good to Know Before You Go: Please be sure to call the farm before heading out, so many variables can effect your outing. Berry ripening, Weather, Berry availability, etc.

What to Bring: Prepare for a trip to the farm like you would a day at the park. With very little shade in the berry patches, you’ll want to bring hats and sunscreen. Wear full feet covering shoes, no flip-flops or the sort, those pesky Louisiana ants will get you every time! Bring baby wipes and a change of clothes for the littles, you never know what blueberry shenanigans the kids will get into.

Photo Credit: Patty Mcgrath @ Blueberry Ridge Orchard

Blueberry picking near Baton Rouge & Beyond – Blueberry Farms, Orchards and U-Pick Guide

Blueberry Ridge Orchard: The orchard will be open for u-pick beginning on June 3rd, 2016. $1.50/pound. Cash only. Hours are: Sunrise to sunset. Please bring your own containers to carry berries home. We will have belts and milk jugs to pick with. Please leave them when you are finished.
Jackson, LA
Connect: Online | Facebook |(225) 629-5311

Berry Sweet Orchards: the first organic “you-pick” blueberry orchard to be certified by the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry as an organic producer under the standards of the National Organic Program (NOP). Since 2015, we follow all NOP standards but are not certified by them anymore. Only NOP certified all-natural fertilizers and soil builders are used on our blueberry crop. No synthetic pesticides or herbicides have been used on or near our blueberries or in the orchard.
5110 Brown Road, Ethel, Louisiana 70730
Connect: Online | Facebook | (225) 683-1001

Hillcrest Blueberry Farm: Hillcrest Blueberry Farm is the largest blueberry farm in all of Louisiana! Located in DeSoto Parish just a mile south of Gloster, we are a family owned farm specializing in fresh fruit sales. We have 139 acres of blueberries and two acres of blackberries.
634 Ferguson Road, Gloster, LA 71030
Connect: Online | Facebook | (318) 617-7497

Blue Harvest Farms: Blue Harvest Farms is the largest U-Pick Blueberry Farm in St. Tammany parish, located on the Covington/Bush border (Waldheim)
78495 HWY 21, Bush, LA 70431
Connect: Online | Facebook | blueharvestfarms@gmail.com

EquiTerra Farm: EquiTerra Farm is a certified organic horse powered farm. We have a goal here on the farm to provide the highest quality food possible to our customers. We believe that a healthy body starts with healthy food. We are currently going through the new LA organic application process; but, we have been organic since we began farming. We provide organic blueberries, figs, blackberries, muscadines, and vegetables. We also have wonderful big brown free-range eggs and free-range broilers.
12798 Muse Lane, Clinton, LA 70722
Connect: 225-683-8406 | pldavidson@aol.com

Loblolly Ridge Farm: Located in the northern section of Tangipahoa Parish, Amite, Louisiana. Loblolly Ridge Farm is a U-Pick Blueberry farm. The farm consist of 2 acres of blueberries (approximately 1200 bushes consisting of 6 varieties of hybrid blueberries). Picking starts June 2nd and ends July 2nd, depending on weather conditions.
1000 Andrew Bankston Road, Amite, LA 70422
Connect: Online | (985) 748-6843

Ridemore Ranch and Berry Farm: Ridemore Berry Farm is a U-pick berry farm located near Covington, LA. We provide a family environment where you can come out and pick ripe berries right off the bush. You can even taste the berries as you pick them to make sure that they are the best you have ever had.
22154 John T Prats Rd, Covington, LA 70435
Connect: Online | Facebook |( 985) 875-1965

Shuqualak Farms: Shuqualak Farms is small and inviting, with six acres of blueberries and four acres of blackberries. Open from early June to mid July, visitors are provided with a 5-quart bucket and strap for collecting their harvest. Berries are packaged in freezer-safe bags and children are given 1-quart take-home buckets.
232 Shuqualak Farms Rd, Frierson, LA
Connect: Online | Facebook | (318) 797-8273

3D Blueberry Farm: Pick Your Own Blueberry Farm: OPENING: Wed. June 1st 2016 Normal hours are 7am–Noon & 4pm-7pm
41031 Highway 1056 Franklinton, LA
Connect: Online | Facebook | (703) 618-3782

Sunhillow Berry Farm: Locally owned and operated. This farm has been in operation since 1993. We operate on the “honor” system. Come on out and pick your own!
33510 Magee-Mahner Rd Pearl River, LA
Connect: Online | Facebook | (985) 867-9737

Photocred: LucketFarms

Lucket Farms: Not berries but we thought you all would enjoy learning about this amazing local farm too. Luckett Farms is located in Central and Pride Louisiana. They are a local Family Farm working 7 days a week to provide customers in the Greater Baton Rouge area with local, quality, home grown produce for affordable pricing. They currently sell produce direct to the consumer either through our CSA Program or seasonally at the Red Stick Farmer’s Market and at a stand at their home n Central. They are passionate about teaching others how to grow, harvest, and cook healthy foods! This is one of the reasons that Derek, the owner, went back to school to study Horticulture at LSU.
Denhan rd. 1 mile from Greenwell springs. They have signs in the yard.
Connect: Online | Facebook | (225) 939-2998

Caring for Berries

Store unwashed berries in containers or gallon-sized zip-top bags layered with paper towels. Refrigerated berries will last about two days. Frozen blueberries can last from season to season or beyond, do not wash berries for the freezer THEY MUST BE DRY BEFORE FREEZING, you can wash before use. Serve at room temperature after washing with a spray of cool water. Whole berries can be frozen in zip-top freezer bags for jams, smoothies, and homemade ice cream. Add berries to cereal, smoothies, or snacks straight from the refrigerator or freezer. Berries are fat-free, low in calories, and have fiber, vitamin C, and disease- fighting antioxidants.

Lastly, be sure to check out our list of 30 Things To Do in Baton Rouge & Beyond to fill the summer with fun, local adventures! #BRMSummerBucketList

Top 5 Baton Rouge King Cakes

January 10, 2017 by Baton Rouge Moms

The holidays may have ended for some, but Louisiana continues to celebrate with Mardi Gras! King Cake truly is the demise of many New Year’s resolutions, but how can we resist this buttery danish pastry, sweetened with dusted sugar, icing and a plethora of flavored fillings? Not us! Here are the top 5 King Cakes in Baton Rouge according to YOU, Baton Rouge moms! Enjoy this trail of delicious King Cakes, try them all to decide the best for yourself.

Top 5 Baton Rouge King Cakes:

Thee Heavenly Donut – Home of the BOUDIN kingcake and Pecan praline, Banana Foster, Turtle, LA Cajun Mud, Strawberry and famous Fried King Cakes! Welcome to THEE HEAVENLY Donut’s mission is to offer the Best, Freshest (made daily), Handmade Donuts, Kolaches, King Cakes, Cupcakes and Specialty Cakes– all year round. Owners Kara and Shane Castille have a passion for Great Customer Service and treating their customers like family. Their products are like no other in the greater Baton Rouge area and truly believe in the quality and deliciousness of these products.
Randazzo’s King Cake – Your source for the original Randazzo family mardi gras king cake. You can get your Baton Rouge Randazzo’s at Carnival Mart off Florida BLVD and at Capital City Crawfish! Every cake is “hand-braided” and baked fresh daily. Their traditional King Cake is cinnamon flavored, colored with Mardi Gras colors of purple, green and gold, iced with our just made icing and festively decorated with candy non-pariels. Each cake contains a baby. king Cakes are complemented by Cream Cheese, Strawberry Cream Cheese and Pecan Praline. They pump the filling into the braids of the cake before it is baked.

Carnival Mart
8696 Florline Blvd.
Baton Rouge, LA 70815
225-248-9720
Ambrosia – There are many options when it comes to The Ambrosia King Cake! The Traditional King Cake (shown here for an “In-Store Pickup”) has cinnamon and sugar inside of our family secret King Cake dough. Purchase a “Mardi Gras King Cake Kit” and take your King Cake home for the kids to decorate and have a Mardi Gras Party!
Ralph’s Market -A locally owned business, Ralph’s Market wants the best for our families and yours. That’s why we always offer a large selection of fresh, high quality products that includes many grown right here in Louisiana! We‘d love to serve you at any of our three convenient and friendly locations in Gonzales, at Pelican Point, and on Jones’ Creek in Baton Rouge.
Gambino’s – In New Orleans and around the world, Gambino’s Bakery is a household tradition that offers over sixty five years of experience with delicious baked goods.

Honorable Mention:

Rouses – Rouses oval-shaped king cakes are made with our exclusive gourmet cinnamon dough, iced, and sprinkled with decorative sugars in the carnival colors of purple (for justice), green (for faith), and gold (for power). Your choice of traditional or one of our tasty fillings.

Calandro’s King Cake– With over 50 flavors, you’re sure to find the perfect King Cake at Calandro’s, learn more in the video below!

Oak Point Fresh Market – You can stop by both Watson and Central to grab a specialty King Cake!! Baked fresh daily.

LeBlanc’s – Said to have bigger cakes with more filling, you can get your fresh Kings Cakes at all LeBlanc’s stores or have them shipped!

Another Piece of Cake

Alexander’s Highland Market

Be sure to check out our complete Mardi Gras Guide with parade schedule, full list of King Cake locations, Mardi Gras tips for the family and more!

The most cherished beverage of moms everywhere – National Coffee Day

September 29, 2016 by Tiany Davis

Today is National Coffee Day, it’s no surprise that the beloved and most cherished beverage of moms {second most favorite} has its own day. The first thing I did this morning was pop coffee capsules of Gourmesso in our espresso machine. The smell, the sound, the taste… always the preferred alarm clock. Oh the joy of the first sip of your delicious morning brew. Sensory overload in the very best kind of way.

Women grinding coffee, 1905 – Wikipedia

Coffee has fueled the mothers of the world for over a century. From being up all night with littles, to tending to sick children, working into the wee hours of the morning, getting up early to get it all done or waiting up for a post-curfew appearance, moms are awake at all hours for the first 20 years of their children’s lives. No. Joke.

It’s no wonder many of us dream about that first morning Cup o’ Java before our head hits the bed at night and it’s usually the first thought when we wake up in the morning. I think it’s safe to say coffee has a special place in the hearts of moms everywhere.

Our coffee is often our first positive experience of the day and can set the the tone for the morning. Our coffee mug collection tells a story; special memories unfold with a mug made by a child or a souvenir from a favorite time or place or just an inspirational quote that lifts our spirits. The kind of coffee we drink can also make a difference, my Gourmesso is saving me money, it’s fair trade and it tastes great… 3 wins first thing in the morning! Cha-ching!

Your love of coffee might even be genetic. According to researchers at University of Edinburgh, the amount of coffee we consume may actually be linked to our genetics. The study, published in the journal Scientific Reports, found that people with a DNA variation in a gene called PDSS2 tend to drink fewer cups of coffee than those who did not carry the specific variant. The researchers said that the gene might reduce cells’ ability to break down caffeine, causing it to stay in the body longer.

So the next time someone judges you for that fourth cup of coffee,you can blame it on your genes.

P.S. All too often, we’re subjected to drinking our coffee after it has cooled or warm it up 5 times before drinking half of it. Invest in a coffee warmer and treat yourself on this National Coffee Day!

I am hungry.

August 7, 2016 by Guest Contributor

I am hungry.

Not in a figurative sense. Not hungry for a new pair of shoes or hungry to achieve a new milestone in my career.

I am literally hungry. My stomach feels empty more than it feels full these days and my fridge and pantry are so bare it seems that they are taunting me each time I open them to inspect their contents. I save all non-meal food items for my kids because even though I am nursing a baby and need the nutrients, I can’t stand to hear the tiny voices of my children every time they go to the cupboard only to discover there’s nothing there to eat.

food-insecurity-Baton-Rouge

I hope that they don’t remember this. I pray that, instead, they remember the laughter we have shared as I try to distract them from their desire for food. I hope that they forget the tears that fill my eyes at the thought of their tummies growling, but remember the smile on my face as we have dance parties in the living room to Taylor Swift.

I don’t even know how we got here. It all happened so fast, when just months ago the thought of going without food seemed like something that could never happen to me. We work hard, we love Jesus and we serve Him to the best of our abilities. It’s crazy how one decision made even with the best of intentions can alter the course of your life in ways you never imagined. It’s eye-opening the compassion you can express for others when you are walking through a situation you could’ve never thought you’d find yourself in.

Lately, when we do get to buy groceries, it’s only the bare necessities. I hate that I fuss at the kids the minute they run to the pantry or to the fridge for a snack because they want to sample all the food they haven’t seen in days, but I know the sooner they eat it, the sooner it’s gone. And when it’s gone, I have to hear them cry about their hunger, and it kills me.

How do you explain rations to small children? How do you tell them “If you eat this now, you will be hungry later?” How do you live with yourself as a mother when you’re digging sugar soaked fruit out of a donated can from the food pantry to feed it to your children for lunch and they beg for more but it’s all you have?

I try to thank the Lord for His provision. I try to smile while I shop at the store while I furiously calculate every penny we are spending and simultaneously determine if we will be able to keep our water running once I buy these items. I try not to cry when a friend orders us a pizza for dinner because she knows otherwise we would not have anything to eat.

Hungry in Baton Rouge

I try not to hate politicians who say that people like me should be drug tested when we are already living in overwhelming grief and humiliation. I try not to be offended by fellow church members and Christians who want to withhold government programs that we need just to survive. I try not to resent my husband- who works tirelessly and without complaint, often three jobs at once- for us being in this position.

I try to understand what it’s like for other moms who never get a reprieve from this reality. I try to imagine what it’s like for families who don’t have electricity or comfortable beds or adequate shelter. I try not to get angry at those who have excessive amounts of money but want to hold on to it for dear life, because they somehow deserve it more than I do. More than my kids do.

I try to keep it together and to put on a happy face for those around me, but most of all for my kids. The hunger pangs screaming from within my hollow stomach burn so strong that they turn me into a person I don’t like, a mother I don’t recognize. I try so hard to be what they need me to be, but…

I am hungry.

The above is written anonymously by a fellow Baton Rouge mom, a mom living in our community, this mom could be anyone’s neighbor. Hunger is everywhere: It’s in every community, it can also be invisible. Some 47 million Americans live in poverty. All told, 17.5 million households and 16 million children—one out of every five—struggle with hunger. Visit the Baton Rouge Food Bank to learn how you can help those hungry in our community.

Sweet & Savory Picnic Potato Salad Recipe #RescuedMoments

July 27, 2016 by Tiany Davis

Never could I have imagined the reality of a growing boys escalating appetite until I was faced with feeding two teens and two preteens. We are officially in that season where our boys are eating us out of house and home, proclaiming that they are hungry 20 minutes after their last meal. I’m always in search of quick, protein packed meals with healthy carbs and fiber. My boys are active, with high metabolisms, they need the protein and healthy carbs to sustain them while fiber keeps them feeling full. This summer, I concocted the perfect, boy approved, picnic potato salad with the perfect potatoes.

Tasteful Selections potatoes have a very unique flavor, the ruby sensation potatoes are sweet with a creamy texture and tender skins. The bite size potatoes make the perfect option for kids and they’re mom friendly too. They are easy to eat and easy to cook as they are pre-washed and have an especially fast cook time. My picnic potato salad was not only easy to make but quick, allowing me to spend less time in the kitchen while still making a healthy, robust meal for my family. This is how Tasteful Selections is helping moms in the kitchen reclaim time to enjoy more family moments, rescued moments! As moms, we often feel guilty when work, house chores, and or cooking take us away from the family. I popped the potatoes in the oven for twenty minutes while I prepped the rest of the ingredients and just like that I prepared a twenty minute meal.

Sweet & Savory Picnic Potato Salad Recipe

2016-07-31 23:19:54

A picnic classic, this Italian inspired potato salad is a well balanced, robust, complete meal.

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Ingredients

• 24 oz. Tasteful Selections™ Ruby Sensation potatoes, cut in half
• 1½ cups of asparagus, cut into 1 inch pieces
• 1 can (14 oz.) artichoke hearts or dip, drained and chopped
• 2 small Honeycrisp Apples, diced
• 1/4 lb. hard Salami or pancetta, chopped
• 1⁄2 cup bacon bits
• 4 green onions
• 1⁄4 cup chives, minced
• black pepper
• sea salt
• vinaigrette dressing of your choice

Instructions

• Pre-heat the oven to 425 degrees.
• Cut your Ruby Sensation potatoes in half, toss in a Ziploc bag with your vinaigrette of choice. Line your cookie sheet with nonstick foil, place potatoes face down on baking sheet and bake for 25 minutes at 425.
• Toss the asparagus with a tablespoon of oil and lay out in a single layer on a baking sheet. Roast for 10 minutes until the asparagus is tender but still slightly crispy.
• Allow the potatoes and asparagus to cool completely. While they are baking and cooling, chop your artichokes, apples, green onions and chives.
• Gently toss together all ingredients except chives and drizzle with a ¼ cup of your favorite vinaigrette. Toss to coat. Top with chives.
• Serve warm or at room temperature.

Baton Rouge Moms http://batonrougemoms.com/

Whether you’re cooking for the family or serving your favorite guests, you want to “Make Every Meal Simply Amazing,” the kind of meal people will talk about long after the plates have been cleared.

To learn more about Tasteful Selections simply amazing potatoes, or to find cooking and kitchen tips and hacks and a plethora of quick and easy recipes be sure to visit http://www.tastefulselections.com/rescuedmoments/

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With all the amazing time saving tips and recipes that Tasteful Selections has to offer, there may just be one thing that will really save you time–an updated kitchen! Enter to win the #RescuedMoments Sweepstakes for your chance to win a kitchen makeover that is sure to Rescue your Moments.

Disclosure: This is a “sponsored post.” The company who sponsored it compensated BRM via a cash payment, gift, or giveaway. Opinions expressed herein are that of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of the sponsor.

Gluten Free Labeling Info for Mompreneurs

May 26, 2016 by Jodi Stewart

I recently met the owner of Andi Lynn’s Elderberries, a local business that produces herbal syrups, tinctures, glycerites, and tonics. Her supplements are made with farm sourced, wild harvested, and organic ingredients then handcrafted according to traditional herbal preparations.

And her product contains no gluten ingredients, but she was wondering how a small business should go about labeling products as gluten free. I researched a little bit and I hope this info can help her and other mompreneurs.

If you label your product Gluten Free it means that:

None of the ingredients is a gluten-containing grain. Gluten-containing grains are wheat, rye, barley or spelt.
None of the ingredients is made from a gluten-including grain without the gluten removed. Wheat flour and malt are just two examples of ingredients that are made from gluten-including grains.
If an ingredient is made with a gluten-including grain with the gluten removed, it must test below 20ppm (parts per million) gluten. Wheat starch is an ingredient made from a gluten-including grain that has had the gluten removed.

Should you test?

You are not required to test your ingredients, but you are responsible for ensuring that your finished product contains less than 20ppm from any source of cross contamination. If you want to have laboratory testing done, ELISA Technologies will test a sample for $75.

The FDA encourages you to use effective measures to ensure that you are complying with their requirements such as: laboratory testing, requesting certificates of gluten analysis from your ingredient suppliers, or seeking third party certification from organizations like the Celiac Sprue Association or the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness.

What should your label look like?

The “Gluten Free” label can be anywhere on your package and can look however you’d like it to look.

You must comply by these rules if you make any gluten free claim such as “free of gluten” or “no gluten.”

You are not required to use “may contain” or “produced in a facility that also uses” warnings on your labels.

You are not required to label your product “Gluten Free”, even if it is gluten free, unless you want to.

Even if you don’t label gluten free, you ARE required to list the top 8 allergens that your product contains. These are: Milk, Eggs, Fish, Shellfish, Tree Nuts, Peanuts, Wheat and Soybeans.

For more info:

Guidance for Industry: Gluten-Free Labeling of Foods; Small Entity Compliance Guide

Food Allergies, what you need to know: A guide for consumers. (Includes information on May Contain statements.)

Gluten Free Testing Laboratory

Three ways to Fight Hunger and Spark Change

April 14, 2016 by Tiany Davis

Disclosure: I am participating in a paid campaign on behalf of Walmart and The Motherhood to share information about the “Fight Hunger. Spark Change.” campaign.

When most people think about hunger, they think of a starving child in a third-world country or the homeless in our communities. Sadly, hunger is all around us. Nearly one in five children in America lives in households that struggle to put food on the table. Louisiana has the fourth highest rate of children living in poverty in the country. You might never know this because child hunger in America is often invisible.

As a mother of 4 and the owner of a community that strives to serve mothers, this is heartbreaking and it’s not OK. Thankfully, we have an opportunity to make a difference right here in our community. This spring, Walmart’s “Fight Hunger. Spark Change.” campaign calls on customers and suppliers to join in the fight against hunger.

Through the “Fight Hunger. Spark Change.” campaign, Walmart is working with five suppliers — Campbell Soup Company, General Mills, Kellogg Company, the Kraft Heinz Company, and PepsiCo — to give millions of customers an opportunity to fight hunger in their local communities.

The goal is to help Feeding America secure 75 million meals on behalf of its member food banks. As the nation’s leading hunger-relief organization, the Feeding America network provides food to more than 46 million people in communities across America, including the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank! My sons and I took a trip to our local Walmart to help Feeding America by purchasing participating items as well as donating at the register for our local food bank. I was pleasantly surprised to find many of our everyday items are included in the campaign. While our store did not have signage up, we did find the “Fight Hunger. Spark Change.” logo on the boxes. If your store does not have signage with information about participating products, you can find a full list of Walmart’s “Fight Hunger. Spark Change.” products here.

In 2015, The Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank distributed more than 8.7 million meals to the hungry in its 11-parish service area, generated 4 meals for every $1 donated, provided food to more than 115 charitable agencies and had more than 2,500 volunteers donate time, the equivalent of more than 13 full-time employees.

How You Can Help Fight Hunger and Spark Change

“Fight Hunger. Spark Change.” will run in all U.S. Walmart stores through April 25, and offers three easy ways to participate:

PURCHASING: Purchase participating products in Walmart stores to help provide meals for families who struggle with hunger in your local community. For every participating product purchased at Walmart between March 28th and April 25th, 2016, the manufacturer will donate $0.09 to Feeding America – enough to secure one meal on behalf of local food banks – up to each manufacturer’s maximum donation, which is provided on the participating packages. See package or Walmart.com/FightHunger for details.
DONATING: Donate to a local Feeding America food bank at the register.
ONLINE: Generate donations for Feeding America food banks through online acts of support!
- Facebook: Use of the hashtag #FightHunger and likes, shares or clicks on Walmart’s Fight Hunger. Spark Change. posts
- Instagram: Use of the hashtag #FightHunger and likes or shares of Walmart’s Fight Hunger. Spark Change. posts
- Twitter: Use of the hashtag #FightHunger, retweets of the hashtag #FightHunger and favoriting or clicking on Walmart’s Fight Hunger. Spark Change. posts
- Snapchat: Use of Fight Hunger. Spark Change. filters accessible in select Walmart stores
- Walmart.com/FightHunger: Visit the website and click the support button to activate a donation

For each online act of support, Walmart will donate enough to help Feeding America secure 10 meals (an equivalent of $0.90) on behalf of its member food banks, up to $1.5 million. To kick off the campaign, Walmart will make an initial donation of $1.5 million to Feeding America. Based on the public’s social engagement, we aim to reach a total donation of $3 million.

Please help us raise awareness of hunger in America and join us in-store and online now through April 25!

Semi-Homemade Death by Chocolate Cake

February 13, 2016 by Tiany Davis

Our family’s favorite dessert is anything with chocolate, especially if it’s warm and ooey gooey. It took me years to find the perfect recipe for chocolate cupcakes but after much trial and error, lots of error, I have finally found this recipe to be a keeper. This recipe is decadent, super moist and warms up well days after the cake has been made. The key, as with any cake, is to not over bake your cucpakes or cake. The sour cream {or plain Greek yogurt} does wonders to make this cake moist and somewhat dense.

Bring your eggs to room temperature when baking as they mix into the flour much better and produce a better cupcake. You can quickly warm eggs by placing them in a bowl of warm water for a few minutes.

Semi-Homemade Death by Chocolate Cake

Death by Chocolate Cake

2015-01-27 15:08:52

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Ingredients

1 package chocolate cake mix
1 package instant chocolate pudding mix
1 cup sour cream or Greek Yogurt
2/3 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
1/2 cup warm water
1 to 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips (dust these in flour to keep them from sinking to the bottom of the cupcake or cake.

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
In a large bowl, mix together all ingredients except the chocolate chips. Stir in the chocolate chips and pour batter into 24 lined muffin cups or in a bundt pan.
Bake 16 to 18 minutes if making cupcakes or 40 to 45 minutes if making a bundt cake, or until top is springy to the touch and a wooden toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool completely before frosting.
I usually make a cream cheese icing or chocolate cream cheese icing or both. For the cake, I like to fill the center of the cake with fresh berries and drizzle chocolate over each layer. Once I have the fruit overflowing onto the top of the cake, I drizzle entire cake with both flavors of cream cheese frosting.

Baton Rouge Moms http://batonrougemoms.com/

Bon Appétit

Gumbo 101- Recipes, Tips, Video and more.

January 12, 2016 by Tiany Davis

This post was featured on Today.com – Louisiana Cajun gumbo: Today_Show_logo1

{Updated version} With more cold weather on the way, it’s the perfect time to make a nice big pot of Gumbo {originated in southern Louisiana during the 18th century} for your family. Living in Cajun country, this is the stable meal that most want to know how to make, it can also be the most intimidating. However, it need not be so, you can whip up a delicious gumbo in 30 minutes or try your hand at an elaborate gumbo from scratch that takes a bit longer. Whether you go for the traditional gumbo or a quick an easy version, you don’t have to sacrifice taste for time.

Gumbo is often cited as an example of the melting-pot nature of Louisiana cooking, but trying to sort out the origins and evolution of the dish is highly speculative. The name derives from a West African word for okra, suggesting that gumbo was originally made with okra. The use of filé (dried and ground sassafras leaves) was a contribution of the Choctaws and, possibly, other local tribes. Roux has its origin in French cuisine, although the roux used in gumbos is much darker than its Gallic cousins. – Dr. Carl A. Brasseaux

Gumbo 101

Every good gumbo begins with a roux. In Cajun cuisine, roux is made with bacon fat or oil instead of butter. Clarified butter, vegetable oils, bacon drippings or lard are commonly used fats. There are varying degrees of the color of a roux beginning with blonde to dark. Blonde is for an etouffee and the darker roux is usually for gumbo, however, some do prefer a lighter roux.

Roux á la Microwave – Combine oil and flour in a microwavable cup. Start your microwave for 3 minutes. Take out and stir. Every time you take out be sure to stir completely. Then microwave 1 minute, take out and stir. Do this about 3 times. You must stir between minutes! Then go down to 30 second intervals and stir after each 30 seconds. Do the 30 seconds until the roux is the color of a copper penny or dark golden brown. Patience is key!

Stove top Roux – Put even parts oil and flour in a cast-iron or enameled cast-iron pot over medium heat. Stir slowly and constantly. After 5 minutes, the mixture will begin to foam. This foaming may continue for several minutes. The roux will begin to darken as it cooks and will have a nutty aroma. For a blond roux, cook for 10 to 15 minutes. For a medium brown roux, cook for 30 to 35 minutes. For a dark brown roux, cook for 40 minutes.

When finished, roux can be cooled, then stored for 1 month in an airtight container in the refrigerator. When it cools, the roux will separate. Before using, stir to blend and bring the roux to room temperature.

Ready made roux – Yes, you can find roux in a jar {this is my personal favorite, please don’t judge} I like Savoie’s ready made roux best. It’s simple to use and the flavor is most similar to homemade roux.

My two favorite Gumbo ingredients

Recipe: SAVOIE’S® AUTHENTIC CAJUN TASSO, SAUSAGE & CHICKEN GUMBO (you can also make a seafood gumbo by adding shrimp and crab)

Ingredients: 4 quarts water 4 heaping tablespoons of SAVOIE’S Roux (I add more) 1 large chicken (seasoned / a rotisserie chicken will work) 1 lb. smoked sausage or andouille 12 oz. tasso (optional) 1 large onion, 1 bell pepper, 2 pods garlic 2 stalks celery 1/2 cup diced green onions 1/2 cup chopped parsley (I buy the trinity diced up and ready to go}

Instructions: Dissolve roux in water over medium heat and let boil for 1/2 hour. Add cut-up chicken, sausage, tasso and chopped vegetables. Bring to a boil, lower to medium heat and cook until chicken and vegetables are tender (about 1-1/2 hours). Add green onions and parsley about 15 minutes before done and season to taste. Serve over cooked rice.

“Holy Trinity” is even parts of bell pepper, onion, and celery, finely diced. This combination is the base of most savory dishes, more often than not added to roux as the beginning of stew, soup, sauce, jambalaya, sauce piquant or almost any other Cajun main dish.

Traditional Gumbo Recipe

Louisiana Cajun Gumbo

2014-01-20 18:32:29

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Ingredients

3/4 cup vegetable oil (canola)
1 cup flour
1 cup chopped onions
1 cup chopped celery
1 cup chopped bell pepper
3 pods diced garlic
3 quarts water or chicken stock
1/2 cup chopped green onions (scallions)
2 teaspoons Creole seasoning
1/2 to 1 teaspoon hot sauce
4 green onions, sliced
Filé powder (optional)
Hot cooked rice
salt, black pepper, & cayenne to taste
Meat of your choice (see below)

Instructions

Use a whole cut up fryer cut into serving pieces or use chicken breast or thighs, duck, wild game or sausage or shrimp. The meats can all be used in combination, one with the other or individually.
Make your roux (see above for recipe). Add onions, celery, bell pepper and garlic and cook approximately three to five minutes or until vegetables are wilted. Go slow and stir continuously so it won’t burn, the roux mixture is very hot.
Bring your stock to a boil and add the roux mixture with vegetables gradually. Stir until roux is completely dissolved. Cook on low to medium heat about 20 minutes.
Add chicken. If adding fresh or smoked sausage, add now. Cook another 45 minutes to an hour or until chicken is cooked thoroughly. You may have to add more water depending on whether you like thick or thin gumbo. If adding shrimp or oyster, add them in the last ten minutes of cooking.
Blend in green onions and parsley in the last ten minutes of cooking. Remove gumbo from heat. Sprinkle with filé powder, if desired. Season to taste using salt and pepper and serve over cooked rice. Garnish if desired.

Notes

Gumbo gets better with age, it always tastes better the next day. Gumbo can be frozen.

Baton Rouge Moms http://batonrougemoms.com/

With the information and recipes provided in this article, you should be well on your way to making a fabulous gumbo for your family. If you have a favorite recipe, have tips or questions, please share them with us in the comments below!

Sources: http://www.emerils.com, http://www.realcajunrecipes.com, http://www.southernfoodways.org