Saturday, July 31, 2010

Mary's Gone Crackers Review & Giveaway

~~~THIS GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED~~~



I just can't believe how many food allergies there are nowadays! I hear about so many people who have a wheat or gluten sensitivity. I know my husband is among one of the gluten sensitive ones, but he is the type who lives with it and will probably never do anything about it. Frustrating for me, yes! As I am finding out more about wheat and gluten sensitivity I realize so many foods have these hidden allergens. This can be frustrating to those who have to totally cut out all of sources in foods that cause flair ups. There has been an increase of ready made gluten free, wheat free foods for those with sensitivities.  These ready made foods and snacks make it much simpler for those with allergies when the packaging clearly states they are free from these ingredients. Mary's Gone Crackers is a company that manufactures strictly wheat free, gluten free products in a variety of sweet and salty snacks.

Mary's Story!
Information from website.
In 1994, I discovered that my lifelong battle with digestive pain and fatigue had been caused by an inability to digest gluten--a protein found in wheat, barley, rye and most oats. Once I eliminated those grains from my diet, the symptoms I had struggled with disappeared. (My son was found to have the same intolerance). As excited as I was to have found the source of my pain, I was also faced with the difficulty of finding things to eat in a culture that bases much of its food on the grains I couldn't eat. Having been a creative baker my whole life, I started experimenting in my kitchen. I knew I could live without bread, but the thought of not having my brownies was intolerable. I played with the alternative flours--rice, corn, garbanzo bean, tapioca, potato starch and potato flour, and others--until I was able to reproduce my brownies to my satisfaction. Pancakes, waffles, muffins, cookies and other essentials soon followed. I got better and better at blending the different flours into something that resembled the texture and consistency of wheat flour and produced different, but delicious results.

Going out in the world was a different matter. While my friends sat in restaurants filling up with warm sour dough bread slathered with sweet butter, I sat hungry. When I went to parties with tables full of cheeses and dips, there wasn't a cracker or bread stick that I could eat. I got an idea for a base for baked goods using brown rice. I played with it in my head for months and then started working with it in my kitchen. I tried it in a variety of forms before I hit on the cracker. That took many tries as well before I eventually developed the recipe for my unique rice cracker--brown rice, quinoa, flax seeds, sesame seeds, salt and wheat free tamari. I made them in small batches for myself, took them in little bags when I went to restaurants and parties, and felt less deprived. Then I watched as others started eating them. Everyone, from finicky teens to young children, to adults with a range of palates, loved them. I had to make more, so that when I went out, there was enough for everyone, not just me.

Soon I was making ovens full, buying sealable bags and giving them away. I took them with me everywhere and never brought any back home. They tasted great and stayed fresh for a long time. And there was nothing like them on the market. In 2000, I decided that these crackers needed to be mass produced. I think it was after I had taken a big batch with me on a trip to the Caribbean. My friend told me not to bother because everything gets stale and soggy in the warm, humid tropical air. I brought them anyway, hoping that they would withstand the environment and they did! One night while I was there we invited a few people from my friend's new neighborhood to have hors d'oeuvres and wine and I put out my crackers. Once again I watched as a room full of adults (from all over the world) tasted my crackers for the first time. A quizzical look would cross their faces as they took their first bite, and then they would look at the cracker and say, "wow, these crackers are delicious, where did you get them?."

We now have nationwide distribution and are reaching new fans every day. (We are also distributed in Canada under the name "Mary's Organic Crackers.") I am VERY happy not to be making them in my kitchen anymore! I'm looking forward to bringing you my other delicious, organic, gluten-free baked goods also developed in my home kitchen.

Our Mary's Gone Crackers Experience! 
We were sent a sampling of various Mary's Gone Crackers products. All of Mary's Gone Crackers products are certified organic and contain all healthy ingredients with no hydrogenated oils added. Since toddlers love to snack, Mary's Gone Crackers were great products to try out. I knew that Ethan was eating healthy food and not junk food. 

I loved the cookies or I should say WE loved the cookies! My favorite flavor was the Ginger Snap Cookies because I love ginger cookies. Ethan liked them all because he just has a big sweet tooth and 1 was not enough for him ;-) 

Next we tried our variety of Sticks & Twigs. Wow, these are so good and different too! Sticks & Twigs are made with a unique blend of seeds and whole grains. They are super crunchy, but since I love really hard thick pretzels these were right up my alley. I was worried they may be too hard for Ethan to eat, but he did just fine and he really loved them. Our favorite flavor was the Curry. I have never had curry before so I was a little skeptical about this flavor. It's so spicy and yummy that our little bag was gone in no time. Ethan appears to like spicy food and I thought it would be too much for him, however, he loved it!

We really enjoyed Mary's Gone Crackers products and look forward to purchasing more (especially the Curry Sticks & Twigs!).

BUY IT! You can order directly from Mary's Gone Crackers or find a retailer near you.


WIN IT! Mary's Gone Crackers is giving away 1 prize pack to a Take Time to Smell the Rose reader! The prize pack includes a full sized box of the Original Crackers, Sea Salt Sticks & Twigs, and Chocolate Chip Cookies. 


You have the chance to enter several entries by the doing the following. Each one counts as 1 entry unless otherwise specified. I am now making it a requirement to follow my blog publicly on Google Friend Connect to enter my giveaways.
  • MANDATORY ENTRY(You also must be following my blog publicly on Google Friend Connect)-counts as 1: AND Look around at Mary's Gone Crackers and tell me something you learned about the company or products that I did not mention in my review.
    • Subscribe to my blog via email with Feedburner (on right side bar).
    • Blog about my giveaway before Aug 3rd, linking back to this giveaway. Leave the URL where you blogged.
    • Did you earn the extra 10 entries for blogging & adding my button? Read here for details. Leave a comment for each entry below as "Qualified for 10 extra entries #1", "Qualified for 10 extra entries #2", etc. 
        • Grab my  Take Time to Smell the Rose button. Leave URL where it is posted.
        • Grab my Take Time to Share Your Giveaway Sunday button. Leave URL where it is posted.
        • Grab my Healthy Living Event button. Leave URL where it is posted.  
        • Grab my Outdoor Fun Event button. Leave URL where it is posted. 
            • Follow Smell_the_Rose AND GoneCrackers on Twitter AND tweet about this giveaway. After initial "tweet" you may gain an extra entry each day. Limit 1 tweet a day.  Leave URL where you tweeted in your comment. 
            •  'Like' Mary's Gone Crackers on Facebook and leave a message on their wall that I sent you. 3 entries!
                  • Make a comment on any non-giveaway Healthy Living Event post. (one comment per post- but unlimited posts). Click here to see the list of posts. There will be lots of non-giveaway posts throughout the month! One comment on a post can qualify for all giveaways.

                                    Please copy and paste this for your tweets: 


                                    Marys Gone Crackers Prize Pack from @GoneCrackers & @Smell_the_Rose. #organic #glutenfree #HealthyLivingEvent #giveaway http://bit.ly/9Uxz1e
                                    **Leave your email on each comment. You must do this in order to win!**

                                    Giveaway ends Wednesday, August 11, 2010 at 9:00 p.m.(CST) Winner will be drawn by the random number generator at Random.org and will be notified by email. Winner will also be announced on this blog. Winner will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be drawn.

                                    This giveaway is open to USA & Canadian residents ONLY . Must be 18 years old or older to win.

                                    Thank you to the Company or/and PR firm who provided me with the products mentioned in the review. The thoughts and opinions expressed on my blog are my own and are not swayed by any monetary or product compensation. My personal health experiences may not be a typical result for others. The information I share on my blog may not be the views of the sponsors participating in my Healthy Living Event. 
                                     
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                                    ~~~THIS GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED~~~

                                    91 comments:

                                    llinda29 said...

                                    I follow

                                    llinda29 said...

                                    I want N'Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

                                    littlelatina said...

                                    the sea salt sounds super intriguing

                                    Cynthia said...

                                    I learned that the snack stixs are gluten free and they sound yummy

                                    boris dot cynthia @gmail.com

                                    Jennifer T. said...

                                    I follow via Google Friend Connect. I learned that Mary’s Gone Crackers Original was awarded the Sofi Gold for the most outstanding cracker at the New York Fancy Food Show in 2008.

                                    Jennifer T. said...

                                    I'm an e-mail subscriber.

                                    Jennifer T. said...

                                    I'm a facebook fan of Mary's Gone Crackers under username Jennie Tilson. Left comment. #1

                                    Jennifer T. said...

                                    I'm a facebook fan of Mary's Gone Crackers under username Jennie Tilson. Left comment. #2

                                    Jennifer T. said...

                                    I'm a facebook fan of Mary's Gone Crackers under username Jennie Tilson. Left comment. #3

                                    Missybeez said...

                                    follow. I like the Black Pepper crackers.

                                    honeybeez80@yahoo.com

                                    pickledseeds said...

                                    I learned the following:
                                    We are on a hunt for one of Mary’s trucks! They’re driving all over the country! Snap a picture as you see it on the road, email it to us along with the location, and we’ll send you coupons for some FREE crackers and Sticks & Twigs!

                                    katybaby said...

                                    Follow on GFC (katybaby)

                                    I learned Mary developed the recipes for her delicious gluten-free products beginning in 1994 when both she and her son were discovered to have a gluten intolerance

                                    katyjv1988(@)yahoo(dot)com

                                    katybaby said...

                                    Email subscriber: katyjv1988(@)yahoo(dot)com

                                    ky2here said...

                                    Google friend connect follower kycouple2000. I'd like to try the sticks and twigs chipotle tomato flavor.

                                    ky2here at msn dot com

                                    ky2here said...

                                    Following both on twitter as ky2here1, here's my tweet:

                                    http://twitter.com/ky2here1/status/20588005314

                                    ky2here at msn dot com

                                    Misusedinnocence said...

                                    I learned that I can purchase them at my local cub foods. I follow on gfc.

                                    misusedinnocence@aol.com

                                    Terra Heck said...

                                    I follow your blog and I learned that the facility is gluten-free so they do not bring gluten containing ingredients in their building. I also learned that there are plans for more products in the future. Thanks.
                                    partymix25(at)hotmail(dot)com

                                    Terra Heck said...

                                    email subscriber
                                    partymix25(at)hotmail(dot)com

                                    rah267 said...

                                    higgs.rachel at gmail.com
                                    I GFC follow you
                                    I learned that I can get Marys Gone Crackers at my local health food store as well as HEB

                                    cheercfa07 said...

                                    GFC follower and I learned that they add no sweetners to their sticks and twigs

                                    --Meagan
                                    cheercfa07 at aol dot com

                                    cheercfa07 said...

                                    I follow you and Cone Crackers on twitter @vivalameaganx3

                                    Tweet:https://twitter.com/vivalameaganx3/status/20728829119

                                    --Meagan
                                    cheercfa07 at aol dot com

                                    Unknown said...

                                    I'm a follower. I want to try the Onion Crackers.


                                    hafner611{AT}gmail{DOT}com

                                    Kimberly said...

                                    I'm a google follower. I learned that even though I've never heard of this brand, there are 5 stores within 5 miles of me that carry it!
                                    kirbycolby at gmail dot com

                                    Kimberly said...

                                    I follow you both and tweeted http://twitter.com/Aerated/status/20796943088
                                    kirbycolby at gmail dot com

                                    Pheobie said...

                                    Find their truck on the highway, snap a picture and note the location to receive coupons!

                                    pheobiejenkins @gmail.com

                                    Becky said...

                                    Follow via GFC! I learned that they have a fun contest where, if you see one of their delivery trucks, take a picture of it, and email it with the location, they'll send you a free item! : )

                                    beckyspoolstra at gmail.com

                                    Steph said...

                                    I like the Caraway crackers and the Original cracker.

                                    Tracysweetangl said...

                                    I follow on GFC and I like the Caraway crackers.

                                    Tracysweetangl said...

                                    subscriber to blog

                                    Louis H said...

                                    fun fact:
                                    their crackers are baked in ovens at temperatures in the 350 degree Fahrenheit range

                                    Louis H said...

                                    I subscribed to your feed via mail (same as in my profile / this post)

                                    and Following publicly as Louis on Google Friends Connect

                                    jandsfox_143 said...

                                    I would like the chipotle tomato sticks.
                                    jandsfox_143@msn.com

                                    Louis H said...

                                    following you both on twitter at rosidentevil
                                    http://twitter.com/rosidentevil/status/20845778096

                                    Renee G said...

                                    I learned that Mary's products are wheat-free and gluten-free and baked using the highest quality, organically grown ingredients.
                                    rsgrandinetti@yahoo(DOT)com

                                    kimbly said...

                                    I'm a GFC follower and I'd love to try the Black Pepper Crackers

                                    Valancia said...

                                    Prior to co-founding Mary’s Gone Crackers, Waldner practiced as a psychotherapist for 26 years; she holds a master’s degree in clinical psychology and is a licensed marriage and family therapist.

                                    Valancia said...

                                    I have Your Sunday button http://skyxsky27.blogspot.com/

                                    Valancia said...

                                    I have Your Healthy Event button http://skyxsky27.blogspot.com/

                                    Valancia said...

                                    I Like Mary's Gone Crackers on Facebook and left the required message. #1
                                    id Valancia Arrelya

                                    Valancia said...

                                    I Like Mary's Gone Crackers on Facebook and left the required message. #2
                                    id Valancia Arrelya

                                    Valancia said...

                                    I Like Mary's Gone Crackers on Facebook and left the required message. #3
                                    id Valancia Arrelya

                                    Sahm Lee said...

                                    I follow on google and learned that they have onion crackers. Yum! thanks for the contest!
                                    airalynn2gmail.com

                                    jenny said...

                                    i follow you on gfc

                                    jenny said...

                                    i found out that theregluten free

                                    jenny said...

                                    i subcribe to your blog also

                                    Chrystal said...

                                    Follow publicly via Google Friend Connect (Chrystal)

                                    I learned that their crackers are baked at temperatures in the 350 degree Fahrenheit range.

                                    chrystaljns @ gmail dot com

                                    Chrystal said...

                                    Follow both on Twitter- @chryskay

                                    Tweeted-
                                    https://twitter.com/chryskay/status/20873122856

                                    chrystaljns @ gmail dot com

                                    jennifer57 said...

                                    following on GFC

                                    I learned: Mr. Rodrigues is married to Mary Waldner, with whom he created Mary’s Gone Crackers. He resides in Paradise, CA.

                                    jennifer57 said...

                                    i guess i was to split my first entry for a total of 2.

                                    Kimberly said...

                                    daily tweet. thank you! http://twitter.com/Aerated/status/20881841753
                                    kirbycolby at gmail dot com

                                    susansmoaks said...

                                    i would like to try the cracker crumbs
                                    susansmoaks at gmail dot com

                                    susansmoaks said...

                                    their fb fan tony l smoaks #1
                                    susansmoaks at gmail dot com

                                    susansmoaks said...

                                    their fb fan tony l smoaks #2
                                    susansmoaks at gmail dot com

                                    loni broesch said...

                                    I saw the gone crackers crumbs-original

                                    trippyjanet at hotmail dot com

                                    susan1215 said...

                                    I follow via GFC I would like to try the Black Pepper crackers

                                    Clarke & Lewis said...

                                    The products won a fancy Food awards. I also follow on gfc
                                    rmartinclarke at gmail dot com

                                    faithfullyfrugal said...

                                    I am a gfc public follower as Nikki Davis.

                                    I would love to try the Onion Crackers. Do they come with a breath mint? HeHe! Thank you for the entry,

                                    Nikki
                                    nikkidavissells at gmail dot com

                                    faithfullyfrugal said...

                                    I am an email subscriber.

                                    Thank you,

                                    Nikki
                                    nikkidavissells at gmail dot com

                                    Michelle B said...

                                    Following your blog publicly on GFC

                                    I have learned that if you see
                                    one of Mary’s trucks! Take a picture as you see it on the road, email it to us along with the location, and they will send you coupons for some FREE crackers and Sticks & Twigs

                                    angelsspot(at)hotmail(dot)com

                                    faithfullyfrugal said...

                                    I have your Take Time to Smell the Rose button,

                                    http://faitfullyfrugal.blogspot.com/


                                    Thank you,

                                    Nikki
                                    nikkidavissells at gmail dot com

                                    faithfullyfrugal said...

                                    I have your Take Time to Share Your Giveaway Sunday button,

                                    http://faitfullyfrugal.blogspot.com/


                                    Thank you,

                                    Nikki
                                    nikkidavissells at gmail dot com

                                    faithfullyfrugal said...

                                    I have your Healthy Living Event button,

                                    http://faitfullyfrugal.blogspot.com/


                                    Thank you,

                                    Nikki
                                    nikkidavissells at gmail dot com

                                    faithfullyfrugal said...

                                    I hve your Outdoor Fun Event button,

                                    http://faitfullyfrugal.blogspot.com/


                                    Thank you,

                                    Nikki
                                    nikkidavissells at gmail dot com

                                    faithfullyfrugal said...

                                    I follow you both on twitter and tweeted giveaway,

                                    https://twitter.com/NikkiDavis05/status/20899497152

                                    Thank you,

                                    Nikki
                                    nikkidavissells at gmail dot com

                                    Unknown said...

                                    i learned that i can purchase these products at danny's organic market in mentor ohio.

                                    Unknown said...

                                    https://twitter.com/neenee_is_me/status/20900488972

                                    Unknown said...

                                    i like them on fb fan i posted (1)

                                    Unknown said...

                                    i like them on fb fan i posted (2)

                                    Unknown said...

                                    i like them on fb fan i posted (3)

                                    Unknown said...

                                    non giveaway post:
                                    http://taketimetosmelltherose.blogspot.com/2010/05/announcing-my-healthy-living-event_28.html

                                    Forget Shyness Reviews said...

                                    I learned that they also make gone crackers crums

                                    my email is littleheathen9109 @ yah00 d0t c0m

                                    Forget Shyness Reviews said...

                                    I follow by email as littleheathen9109 @ Yah00 d0t c0m

                                    Forget Shyness Reviews said...

                                    i have your button on the rightside
                                    http://forgetshynessreviews.blogspot.com/

                                    Forget Shyness Reviews said...

                                    I follow both twitter accounts as @forgetshyness and tweet

                                    http://twitter.com/forgetshyness/status/20901586288

                                    Kathy P said...

                                    Traditional Asian cultures who have been eating soy products for a long time have always taken the time to ferment the soy before eating it. It’s only been a recent phenomenon in Western diets that whole unadulterated soy, in the form of soy flour, soy milk, soy beans, etc. has been eaten.

                                    Google Friend klp1965 klp1965@myfairpoint.net

                                    Kathy P said...

                                    1 http://www.facebook.com/MarysGoneCrackers?ref=search&v=wall#!/MarysGoneCrackers?v=wall&story_fbid=435228795232&ref=mf

                                    klp1965@myfairpoint.net

                                    Kathy P said...

                                    2 http://www.facebook.com/MarysGoneCrackers?ref=search&v=wall#!/MarysGoneCrackers?v=wall&story_fbid=435228795232&ref=mf

                                    klp1965@myfairpoint.net

                                    Kathy P said...

                                    3 http://www.facebook.com/MarysGoneCrackers?ref=search&v=wall#!/MarysGoneCrackers?v=wall&story_fbid=435228795232&ref=mf

                                    klp1965@myfairpoint.net

                                    Pamela S said...

                                    Follower GFC.
                                    I'd also like to try the Black Pepper Crackers. Thanks so much! pamelashockley(AT)aol(DOT)com

                                    Gloria's Bits and Pieces said...

                                    Prior to co-founding Mary’s Gone Crackers, Waldner practiced as a psychotherapist for 26 years; she holds a master’s degree in clinical psychology and is a licensed marriage and family therapist.

                                    follow as kngmckellar

                                    kngmckellar@hotmail.com

                                    Gloria's Bits and Pieces said...

                                    email subscriber

                                    kngmckellar@hotmail.com

                                    Gloria's Bits and Pieces said...

                                    http://kngmckellar-glorias.blogspot.com/

                                    take time to smell the rose button

                                    kngmckellar@hotmail.com

                                    Daniel said...

                                    I follow with google, and I learned that they officially have the most outstanding cracker... And I want to try it!

                                    brownhairgirl7 said...

                                    I learned that the soy they use in their crackers and Sea Salt Sticks & Twigs is from fermented organic gluten-free tamari. When fermentation takes place, the structure of the soy protein is altered, making it safe for 99% of people with soy allergies to eat.

                                    brownhairgirl7@hotmail.com

                                    brownhairgirl7 said...

                                    I subscribe to your blog via email.

                                    brownhairgirl7@hotmail.com

                                    brownhairgirl7 said...

                                    I follow Smell the Rose and GoneCrackers on Twitter, and I tweeted:

                                    https://twitter.com/MissJo1990/status/20927649836

                                    brownhairgirl7@hotmail.com

                                    Unknown said...

                                    I follow your blog publicly on google Friend Connect. I learned the products are sugar free. garrettsambo@aol.com

                                    Sand said...

                                    Their administrative offices and thier production facility are now located in Gridley, California-in northern California's agricultural valley.

                                    Donna said...

                                    I am a follower. I learned about her own struglles with celiac disease.
                                    donna444444@yahoo.com

                                    Donna said...

                                    I am a subscriber.
                                    donna444444@yahoo.com

                                    Donna said...

                                    Take Time to Smell the Rose button on my blog.
                                    http://greatblogsonline.blogspot.com
                                    donna444444@yahoo.com

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