Rudi's OH-some Onion O's

My entry for Rudi's Gluten Free Cooking Contest:
Rudi's OH-some Onion O's
Gluten free, Baked, Kid and Adult Tested and Approved!

I am so excited to share with you my entry for Rudi’s Gluten Free contest. I have come up with a recipe that can be used as an appetizer, snack, or side. It can be dressed up for the party with its accompanying dipping sauce, or hang out beside you on a casual football Sunday. Whichever you choose, I can promise you that these little O’s are oh so delicious.

I wouldn’t necessarily call fried food a foe, but it is certainly not a friend of mine. For one, those oils can be contaminated and two they don’t often sit well in this Indie’s tummy. So, since I have been mastering the art of using cooking alternatives I have come up with a gluten free, healthier onion ring. Now, who can resist the leaning tower of crispy onion goodness glistening from my menu? Especially if you take out the frying and replace it with baking. A classic southern concoction that cuts calories and adds flavor is something I know that I personally cannot resist!

I experimented in the kitchen with many different ingredients and recipes. One of the challenges I ran into was deciding on which milk would bring the best flavor to the rings. I decided that since I feel better when I do not indulge in a lot of moo-cow dairy that I would use soy milk in my recipe, however please feel free to use whatever milk your little heart (or tummy!) desires.

These little O's were so delicious! I had to beat away my husband and inlaws so I could snap a picture for the contest before they gobbled them up. Yum to the last crumb!

Please go online to Facebook and vote for my recipe! The first round is based on facebook votes and I would love to have the chance to be considered by the panel of judges!




Rudi's OH-some Onion O's

Ingredients:
•2 slices Rudi's Orginal Gluten Free Bread
•2 Vidalia Onions
•1/2 cup rice flour
•Kosher Salt
•Black Pepper
•Cayenne
•Italian Seasoning
•1 tbs Canola Oil
•Olive Oil Spray
•Ground Chia or Flax seeds
•Soy Milk (or milk of choice)

Instructions
Preheat your oven to 450 degrees F.

Place 2 slices of day old Rudi's Gluten Free Bread in your food processor with 1/4 cup of rice flour. Add a pinch of salt, pepper, itlaian seasoning and cayenne. Pulse a few times then add oil. Process for about 30 seconds or until crumbly. Place your delicious homemade breadcrumbs in a shallow dish.

In a bowl combine 1/4 cup rice flour, chia egg (1 tbs ground chia and 3 tbs water), and 1/2 cup soy milk. Whisk until combined and formed into batter consistency.

Slice your onions into 1/2 inch circles and separate into rings. Wipe tears away from handling onions! Keep the larger rings and save the others for later. Place all your rings in a bowl and cover with milk, letting them soak while your oven finishes heating.

At the sound of the 'beep' dip your onion rings into the batter then the bread crumbs. Spray a cookie sheet with olive oil spray and place your little O's on the sheet. Spray the top of the rings as well so they crisp nicely.

Bake for 8 minutes then flip and bake for another 6-8 or until they are golden brown.
Serve warm and enjoy the compliments!

Rudi's Gluten Free Cooking Contest!

Oh yes. I feel like I am ready to put my gluten free cooking skills to the test. I was tickled when I recieved an email from Rudi's telling me all about the new Gluten Free Cooking Contest they are launching! A thousand thoughts ran through my head. Oh the opportunities, the recipes, the taste testing! I knew I needed to get started right away. Also because the contest began on April 18th. Times tickin' till June!


Here is the lowdown:

Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bakery, maker of unbelievably good gluten-free baked goods, announced the Unbelievably Good Gluten-Free Recipe Contest on April 18th. Inspired by the passion and creativity of gluten-free foodies everywhere, Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bakery fans are encouraged to share their gluten-free culinary masterpieces in the Unbelievably Good Gluten-Free Recipe Contest for a chance to win a free trip to Boulder, Colo., star in their own online cooking show and be featured in a national media advertisement for Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bakery!


April 18th through May 20, aspiring gluten-free chefs are invited to visit the Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bakery Facebook page and click on the recipe contest tab to enter. Rudi’s wants fans to get creative with gluten-free bread and some ter-RUDI-ific gluten-free recipes. There are only two recipe requirements:

1. The recipe must be gluten-free.

2. The recipe must include at least one product from the Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bakery line (Original, Multigrain and Cinnamon Raisin Breads, Multigrain Hamburger Buns and Hot Dog Rolls, and Original Pizza Crusts).

All types of recipes are welcome, from kid-approved options to fine dining fare. Along with the recipe, Rudi’s wants to hear why gluten-free cooking is important to the aspiring chef.

“We created Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bakery to help people suffering from celiac disease and gluten intolerances enjoy great tasting, healthy baked goods that have the same taste, texture and appearance of regular options,” said Doug Radi, vice president of marketing for Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bakery. “We’re continuously amazed by the culinary creativity, passion and inspiration within the gluten-free community, and we can’t wait to see the exciting ideas our fans cook up. We’re looking forward to meeting the top three finalists in June for a gluten-free recipe showdown and celebration.”

Recipe submissions will be accepted until May 20, 2011, and online voting will continue through June 6, 2011. The top 10 fan favorites, determined by the number of Facebook votes, will each receive a $250 gift card to Williams-Sonoma, an assortment of Rudi’s products and swag, and a chance for their recipe to be chosen as a top three finalist.

From the top 10 fan favorites, three finalists will be determined by a panel of judges including:

· Chef Jeffrey Barbour, Restaurant 4580

· Martin Hammer, owner of Restaurant 4580

· Chef Dan Kohler from Renegade Kitchen and Alternative Appetites

· Jane Miller, CEO of Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bakery

The top three finalists will receive a trip for two to Boulder, Colo., home of Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bakery, where they will compete in the Final Recipe Cook-Off at Restaurant 4580 on June 24, 2011. The grand prize winner will star in a National Foundation for Celiac Awareness – Alternative Appetites cooking show with Chef Dan Kohler of Renegade Kitchen and be featured in a national media advertisement for Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bakery. For complete contest and prize details, visit the Rudi’s Gluten-Free Facebook page and click on the Recipe Contest tab.

Dates to Know:

· April 18 – May 20: Recipe submissions accepted on the recipe contest tab on the Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bakery Facebook page

· April 18 – June 6: Online voting open to the public

· June 7: Top 10 fan favorites announced

· June 7 – June 13: Top 10 fan favorite recipes reviewed by panel of judges

· June 13: Top 3 finalists announced

· June 24: Top 3 finalists compete in Final Recipe Cook-Off at Restaurant 4580 in Boulder, Colo.


A bit about Rudi's...

Rudi’s Organic Bakery, Inc., founded and headquartered in Boulder, Colo., is the only nationally available brand offering a full line of certified organic bread and baked goods. Rudi’s Organic Bakery has a long history of baking bread a better and brighter way, by using simple organic ingredients that contain no artificial ingredients, preservatives, high fructose corn syrup or trans-fat. Since 2005, Rudi’s Organic has been a part of Charter Baking Company, Inc., a portfolio company of Charterhouse Group, Inc. Rudi’s Organic is a premier organic brand with distribution throughout the U.S. in both natural foods stores and mainstream supermarkets. Founded in 1976, Rudi’s Organic offers small batch organic artisan breads, sliced sandwich breads, wide pan sandwich breads, hamburger and hot dog buns, wraps and a popular line of organic spelt breads, buns and tortillas. In July 2010, Rudi’s Organic Bakery launched a new line of natural gluten-free products under the Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bakery brand. Follow Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bakery on Facebook, Twitter, and Rudi’s Gluten-Free Blog, Baked on the Bright Side.
 
If you want to learn more about the contest, company or products, you can visit them online at http://www.rudisglutenfree.com/
 
 
I am very excited to concoct some gluten free goodness in my kitchen and enter my recipe! I will be leave for Europe in a couple days and cannot WAIT to bring back some recipe souvenirs ;) Hope to have all your support in my endeavour and I look forward to providing you with a delicious new recipe!