As you may know, Grizzlies recently launched a gluten-free cereal, Gluten Free Cinnamon Nut Granola, that we’re very excited about. We’ve already received feedback that this new granola will be a real treat for our customers who, whether because of gluten intolerance, celiac disease, or other dietary restrictions, are eating a completely gluten-free diet.

With Thanksgiving less than a week away, we’ve been thinking about the holiday and the challenges that our friends on gluten-free diets may face when trying to prepare this traditional menu that features so many gluten-laden dishes. Traditionally, Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks for a bountiful harvest, but for someone struggling to figure out how to avoid gluten in stuffing, dinner rolls, pies and more, gratitude may not roll off the tongue quite as easily.

Fortunately, there are some fantastic bloggers writing about eating and cooking gluten- free for life. Whether you’re just beginning to research a gluten-free diet, or you’re looking to add some variety to your trusted gluten-free recipes, these bloggers have extremely useful tips, recipes, and guides to make gluten-free cooking fun. We found their most recent posts that offer complete menus for a gluten-free Thanksgiving that we would like to share in our first Grizzlies Great Links posts.

The Gluten-Free Girl and the Gluten-Free Thanksgiving

The Gluten-Free Girl blog is a fantastic resource for recipes and information about cooking and living gluten-free. Her latest post, “The Gluten-Free Thanksgiving” has answers to questions like, “how do I make gluten-free stuffing? Is there such a thing as gluten-free pumpkin pie?” An older post includes a fantastic discussion about creating new traditions at Thanksgiving, rather than longing for the taste of childhood recipes. Featuring plenty of recipes and links to additional resources, this is a must-see site on your path to eating gluten-free.

Elana’s Pantry Gluten-Free Thanksgiving 2010

The Thanksgiving menu featured on Elana’s Pantry is not only gluten-free, but a truly inspired collection of unique recipes. According to the author, the menu is also “CrossFit and Paleo friendly” for anyone on these very specific diets. With recipes like “Chestnuts and Brussel Sprouts,” “Rosemary Crackers and Goat Cheese” and “Tart and Tangy Cranberry Bars,” you’re sure to find something new to try this holiday season.

Gluten-Free Dinner Rolls

Perhaps the most difficult thing to imagine making gluten-free is the beloved dinner roll. A classic part of every Thanksgiving meal, dinner rolls don’t have to be tossed out just because you’re on a gluten-free diet. Here are a few links to recipes:

Bay Area Bites Dinner Rolls

Gluten Free Girl Dinner Rolls

Gluten Free Mom Crescent Rolls

Gluten Free Holiday Pies

With recipes for gluten-free pie crusts and fillings, you can have your pie, and eat it too. From a vegan walnut pie recipe to a classic pumpkin, gluten-free bloggers have the dessert-front covered:

Classic Gluten-Free Pie Crust

Walnut Pie (Gluten-Free, Vegan)

Vegan (Gluten-Free) Pecan Pie

Tabitha’s Gluten-Free Pumpkin Pie

We hope these resources will help make your holiday meal a success. We’d love it if you share this post with your friends and family. And if you decide to experiment with any of the recipes, please come back to the Grizzlies blog and let us know how they worked out. Happy Thanksgiving!

You may have noticed that Wildtime Foods and Grizzlies Brand has recently joined Twitter and Facebook, and we’ve started a new blog! We’re excited about connecting with our friends and followers. To celebrate, Wildtime Foods is hosting a great giveaway.

Just by helping us spread the word, you can win a Grizzlies Brand canvas shopping bag filled with our best granolas and trail mixes! All you have to do is tell us which four Grizzlies items you’d like in your bag.

You can enter to win four times, in four different ways. Here’s how it works:

1. Become a friend of Grizzlies Brand on Facebook by “liking” us.

2. Become a follower of Grizzlies Brand on Twitter. (We’ll send a DM (direct message) to the winner.

3. Share your enthusiasm for Grizzlies Brand on Twitter with a tweet about us and  a link to our blog: http//grizzliesbrand.com/blog (Must contain @GrizzliesBrand for us to track it.)

4. Share in the comments below, the four items you’d like in your Grizzlies bag. Will you choose delicious Oregon Trail Mix, Aunt Maple’s Crunchy Granola, or perhaps, Wildberry Muesli? It’s up to you! You can find all of our products here.

Deadline for all entries is Thursday, October 7 at Noon PST. The winner will be announced on Friday, October 8 on the Grizzlies Twitter and Facebook page.

(A random winner will be selected from all eligible entries. Contest is open to residents of the continental U.S. only.)

Good Luck!

It’s that time of year again. After a summer of sleeping in until noon, it’s time for kids to wake up early in the morning and head back-to-school. Time and time again, we hear that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but how do you squeeze in a healthy breakfast amidst the rush of a hectic morning?

As it turns out, the key to a healthy breakfast is actually a very simple nutritional formula that anyone can master. According to The Mayo Clinic, the core of a healthy breakfast is made up of the following components:

• Whole grains
• Low-fat protein
• Fruits or vegetables
• Dairy (optional)

Together, these core groups provide complex carbohydrates, fiber, protein, and a small amount of fat — a combination that helps you feel fuller longer while providing major health benefits.

With the right combination of nutritious foods, meal options are endless. Try these easy-to-assemble healthy breakfast ideas to get your morning started right:

• Oatmeal, flaxseed, blueberries and almonds
• Yogurt, granola and fresh berries
• Whole-wheat toast with almond butter and a grapefruit
• Protein shake with extras (berries, oatmeal, almond butter)
• Multi-grain waffles with nut butter and banana slices
• Swiss Style Muesli, served hot with a side of fruit
• Small whole-wheat bagel, almond butter and an orange
• Grizzlies Granola cereals with milk (dairy, soy, coconut) and strawberries

Do you have a back-to-school breakfast tip you’d like to share? We love hearing from you!

Who doesn’t love a delicious oatmeal cookie? Whether you’re baking cookies to enjoy at home, to bring to a picnic or pack in your child’s lunch, oatmeal cookies are a great way to sneak healthy ingredients into a treat. This recipe uses some of our favorite Grizzlies products to add heartiness and flavor to a classic recipe. The result is a deliciously wholesome cookie that you’ll want to make again and again.

What you’ll need:

• ¾ cup butter or soy margarine
• 1¾ cups unbleached or whole wheat flour
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• ½ cup sugar
• 1 egg or egg substitute equivalent
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• ¼ teaspoon baking soda
• 2 cups Grizzlies Divinely Organic Granola
• 1 cup Grizzlies Oregon Trail Mix

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375°F.

In a mixing bowl, beat butter or margarine with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add about half of the flour, the brown sugar, sugar, egg, baking powder, vanilla, and baking soda. Beat until thoroughly combined. Mix in remaining flour. Stir in Grizzlies Divinely Organic Granola and Oregon Trail Mix. Drop by rounded tablespoons, two inches apart, onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until edges are golden. Cool on a wire rack.

There you have it: good recipes made better by Grizzlies. Enjoy!