Bob's Red Mill Launches Search for Best Porridge Maker in the United States

Bob’s Red Mill—maker of many of the flours I use in my gluten-free cooking and baking—is in search of some creative cooks to help them win a third title in the 20th annual Golden Spurtle World Porridge Making Championship.

 Recipes must feature the company’s steel cut oats as the star ingredient and must require no more than two burners used in its preparation. Other than that, however, the sky’s basically the limit for this international contest.

The grand prize is a trip to Scotland to compete in the competition but just for entering, you guys –my blog readers—are eligible to win some of Bob’s Red Mill products. All you have to do is perfect your personal sweet or savory porridge recipe, enter the contest rules here and then email me at amy@amythefamilychef.com to let me know that you’ve entered. The first five of you who submit a video entry will be sent a prize pack from Bob’s Red Mill that includes the company’s Gluten-free Steel Cut Oats, Gluten-free Muesli, Gluten-free pancake mix and Gluten-free brownie mix. Your deadline is July 22 so it’s time to get cooking!

San Francisco Foodies: Open Casting Call with Soy Vay

Thank you to Soy Vay for providing complimentary samples for my review.

Guess what? I just found out that one of my favorite marinades has a gluten-free option. If you aren't gluten-free, you really should try the Soy Vay sauces. I used to love them. Use it for chicken skewers or beef skirt steak. Yum. 

If you are a foodie or just want to have some fun, here's something that might be of interest to you. Do you know what’s good in San Francisco cuisine? Do your friends constantly look to you for restaurant recommendations? Then Soy Vay, the delicious sauces and marinades company with a unique history, is looking for you! Starting this month, Soy Vay is headed out on a cross-country adventure to find one lucky local to be the face of a new web series – ‘Flavor Underground’ – to help discover the best neighborhood restaurants and chefs. First up— the city of San Francisco.

Beginning today, food lovers in San Francisco, Oakland and Berkeley are invited to create a short video review of their favorite neighborhood restaurant and upload it to www.flavorunderground.com any time before November 30^th, 2012. The top five applicants will be called back for a screen test and then one Bay Area foodie will be announced as the San Francisco host of ‘Flavor Underground.’

Why not give it a shot??

KitchenAid Kitchen Makeover

click here to enter

Are you interested in some new equipment for your kitchen? I sure am! What's funny is that where I live, in Northern California, I am more excited about a slow cooker right now than an ice cream maker; it's foggy, misty and about 55 degrees.

My friends at Red Tricycle have created a great opportunity to win some amazing prizes. I'm not sure if you know, but they have named me a Top Mom Blogger in the Bay Area. Look for my easy recipe for a basic coleslaw in an upcoming newsletter.

Red Tricycle is a website that organizes anything related to kids and families. From events and camps to stores and restaurants, their site has the hottest information all specific to a geographic area (currently San Francisco, Portland, Seattle, San Diego and Los Angeles with more to come).

So let's find out how you can win some stuff:

Red Tricycle is celebrating their newly-launched Food newsletter with a smokin’ hot giveaway. They want to treat one lucky mom to a Kitchen-Aid Kitchen Makeover. As you know, their mission is simple: to help you have more fun with your kids!

They are giving away five kitchen appliances that will rev up your kitchen and save you extra time so you can enjoy the summer with your family! Red Tricycle’s kitchen makeover includes:

• KithchenAid Summer favorite Ice cream maker
• KitchenAid Artisan Series 5-Quart Mixer
• KitchenAid 7-Quart Slow Cooker
• KitchenAid 700-Watt 12-Cup Food Processor
• Easy Bake Oven

Here is how to enter:

* If you haven’t already, sign-up for Red Tricycle’s free newsletter with 5 fresh picks on things to do, eat, and see with your kids.
* If you are already a Red Tricycle subscriber, send an email to promo@redtri.com with “Food” and your city in the subject line to enter.
* Make sure to enter The Family Chef in the "Referred by" box or in the email.

Want to get an extra entry?

* Like your local Red Tricycle Seattle, Red Tricycle San Francisco, Red Tricycle LA, Red Tricycle Portland or Red Tricycle San Diego Facebook page and leave a comment.
* Follow us on Twitter and tweet this story simply by clicking on the twitter icon below.
* Refer a friend! If your friends sign up for Red Tricycle’s free 5-fresh-picks and mention your name/email in the “referred by” box, you both get an extra entry. The more friends you refer, the more chances to win!

Click here to read official contest rules. Good luck. If you win, send me an email (look under my photo on the left) and I'll send you some recipes!