Grand prize winners, Jimmy and Maureen Moloney, of Chicago, who baked Smookies, a gluten free graham cracker inspired cookie for Jimmy's gluten free friend at school. (Photos by Kelly White)
Smookies win Pass Health Foods gluten-free baking competition
By Kelly White
A local health food store provided a twist on a friendly baking competition this past weekend.
Pass Health Foods, 7228 W. College Dr., Palos Heights, hosted a gluten-free baking contest on November 11.
“We chose to have the contest gluten free because we have a large amount of gluten-free customers, both people who have been diagnosed with Celiac, an autoimmune disease where people can’t eat wheat or gluten, as well as a number of people with gluten intolerance, who have found that they feel better when they avoid eating wheat or gluten or feel like they have digestive issues when they eat gluten,” Carolyn Johnson, co-owner of Pass Health Foods, said.
Johnson co-owns the establishment along with Liz Ryan. Johnson’s aunts, Joanne Callahan and Theresa Van Loon, opened the store in 1995.
The entire community was invited to participate in the contest by entering a dish along with a recipe. The only rule being that the item must be entirely gluten free and that the recipe must come with a full ingredient listing.
“We like having events just as a fun thing for our customers,” Johnson said. “Also, November is Celiac Disease Awareness Month, which is why we always do our do our gluten free contest in November. It’s also nice for people to try things and get recipes to make for the holidays, since you can’t always picture how something will taste just by reading the recipe. After the judging, everything is available for people to sample.”
There was no pre-entry to participate in the contest. All entries had to be on disposable plates or platters and could be dropped off at Pass Health Foods on the morning of the contest. There were no particular categories, although everything presented consisted of a different type of baked item that was entirely gluten free. Just as in the past, the contest featured plenty of cakes, breads, muffins, and pies.
“I like seeing our customers getting excited about the contest,” Johnson said. “We have a mom with a younger daughter who came into the store saying they were working on something together and how excited they were about doing it. I also like that a baking contest has almost like a small town feel to it, that it’s something that doesn’t really seem to happen anymore, so it’s neat for that reason. Looking ahead to next year, we’re planning on doing a vegan baking contest, maybe in the spring, since we have a large group of dairy free and vegan customers.”
Judging for the friendly competition took place at noon.
Entries were primarily judged on taste, looks counted as well, but since baking without gluten can be difficult, taste was the main factor, Johnson said.
The grand prize winner received a $50 gift card to Pass Health Foods and will have their recipe published in the store’s newsletter.
Other winners received canvas bags full of gluten-free foods with a value of $50 to $100 per bag.
Palos Heights Mayor Bob Straz, who has been a popular judge returned to voice his vote again this year.
“This gets people from the community out in a friendly competition,” Straz said. “Who knew gluten free could actually taste good?”.
Johnson’s daughter, River Johnson, 13, served as the Kid’s Award Judge. Honorable mentions were selected by Pass Health Foods associates and special guest judge, Emerson Schweikert of Palos Heights.
“I want to be a chef when I grow up,” Emerson, 7, said. “This was so much fun to taste all the desserts, guess the ingredients and pick my favorite.”
Taking home the grand prize was Maureen Moloney and her son, Jimmy, who made “Smookies,” a graham cracker inspired cookie. The cookies were inspired by Jimmy’s gluten-free friend at school.
“I entered the contest because we love Pass Health Foods and they always have unique items,” Maureen Molony, of Chicago, said. “I think gluten free shouldn’t have a stigma of tasting bad or not being fun. Just because something is missing gluten it doesn’t mean it’s missing that flavor. I have family who are gluten free, so I always try to make something everyone can eat so no one is excluded.”
The Moloney’s win was followed by 10-year-old Olivia Damico’s Oak Milk Chocolate Chip Cookies with Peanut Butter Morsels.
“When I grow up, I want to open up my own bakery,” Damico, of Alsip, said. “This was a great experience for me to be able to make my special cookies for everyone to try.”
Third-place prize went to Christ Makris with his Gluten-Free Carrot Cake. The Staff Pick was Gluten-Free Focaccia Bread by Debbie Cutrone. The Kid’s Choice Award was Jena Oyervides with her Healthy Carrot Zucchini Bars and the Honorable Mention went to the Flourless Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies by Julie Pietrzak.
The winning recipe
Smookies
A gram cracker-inspired cookie with a zest of holiday magic by Maureen Moloney
Ingredients:
½ cup of butter
1 cup of brown sugar (or sugar substitute)
1 large egg (applesauce can be used too)
1 ½ cup cram crackers crumbs* and about 4 tablespoons for dusting
½ teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons of vanilla***
¾ cup Almond Flour – extra fine
¼ salt
1 cup mini chocolate chips**
½ cup chopped marshmallows****
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350.
In bowl, cream together, butter and sugar until creamy.
Beat in vanilla and egg.
In medium bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs, flour, baking soda and salt. Slowly add butter mixture until it’s combined.
Stir in choc chips and marshmallows.
Using a cookie scoop, form into balls.
Roll ball in cookie crumb crust.
Place balls on parchment lined cookie sheet and bake for 8-12 minutes.
Cookies will look slightly underdone, but will set once they are cool.
Eat and enjoy!
Cooking Notes
*I used Pamela’s Gluten-Free Cinnamon Gram Style Crackers – just place in blender to crush into crumbs. If you are not a fan of cinnamon, honey is a nice flavor too 🙂
**I used Enjoy Life Mini Chocolate Chips – mini chip, big flavor
***I used Nielsen-Massey Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Extract
****Most marshmallows are gluten free, but produced in factories that may be exposed to gluten contamination. I have used dehydrated marshmallows (which work great) but I haven’t found ones that are certified. I used Dandies, which are certified gluten free so you know they are safe.
I cut up the marshmallows into little squares with scissors and let them harden so they bake better.
Local News
Man charged with child abduction in Stickney Township
Spread the loveFrom staff reports A Chicago man was charged last week with child abduction and luring of a minor after Cook County Sheriff’s Police detectives found he attempted to lure a minor into his vehicle, said Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart. According to police, about 4:43 p.m. on Monday, April 22, officers responded…
Worth Library celebrates 60th anniversary
Spread the loveBy Kelly White The Worth Public Library has been around for decades. Resting in the heart of the village at 6917 W. 111th St., the library held an event focusing on its rich background story on April 23 with a historical photo exhibit. “It’s amazing because this library is still so important to…
Rose Zubik, Woman’s Club veteran, installed as 3rd District president
Spread the love Rose Zubik, of Palos Heights, the new president of the 3rd District General Federation of Women’s Clubs-Illinois, lights a candle during the installation ceremony held April 27 at Fox’s Restaurant in Orland Park. Heather Linehan, the outgoing president, is beside her.By Dermot Connolly A longtime member of the Palos Heights Woman’s Club…
Shots fired in Chicago Ridge Commons parking lot
Spread the loveFrom staff reports Shots were fired Wednesday night in the parking lot at Chicago Ridge Commons mall. Police said they received reports of the shooting about 9:45 p.m. No injuries were reported. Multiple witnesses told police four men were walking through the parking lot from the XSport Fitness area. They approached two vehicles…
Hair salon with a ‘flair’ marks first year in Chicago Ridge
Spread the loveBy Joe Boyle Melissa Kowalski wanted to do something meaningful to mark the first-year anniversary of her Flair With Hair Salon in Chicago Ridge. “We did not have a grand opening last year so I wanted to do something really special,” Kowalski said. “We wanted to say thank you to our clients.” Kowalski,…
Palos East fifth-grader wins Scholastic Storyworks writing contest
Spread the loveGabriel Chowaniec, a fifth-grader at Palos East Elementary School, has been named a winner of the Scholastic Storyworks Magazine writing contest. Gabriel, who is a student in Cathy Casey’s fifth-grade classroom, was named one of only five winners nationally for the December 2023/January 2024 competition. Garbriel’s submission for the nonfiction story “The Shattered Land,” “showed a strong understanding of the text along with the ability to author a well-organized…
Shepard celebrates Autism Week
Spread the loveBy Kelly White World Autism Acceptance Week is organized by the National Autistic Society in the first week of April and aims to raise awareness about the challenges autistic people face across all areas of society. Not missing out the opportunity to celebrate all-inclusion was Shepard High School, 13049 S. Ridgeland Ave., Palos…
Billions of cicadas get ready to raise a racket
Spread the loveBy Kelly White If you haven’t heard the buzz yet, you will soon. With 2024 marking a big year for periodical cicadas in Illinois, billions of the red-eyed buggers will soon be making an appearance. Periodical cicada broods XIII and XIX will be emerging throughout much of the state at the same time.…
‘A man of honor, a beacon of kindness’
Spread the love. Chicago weeps for Officer Luis Huesca . By Tim Hadac People across the Southwest Side shed tears earlier this week, as throngs of police officers and other filled the St. Rita of Cascia Shrine Chapel at 77th and Western for a funeral Mass for CPD Officer Luis M. Huesca. Officer Huesca was…
Neighbors
Mother Mac unveils new lights and scoreboard
Spread the loveBy Kelly White Across the nation, women’s sports are on the rise in terms of viewership, enthusiasm, sponsorship and excitement. Mother McAuley is no stranger to the impact that women’s athletics has on the development of an individual, strengthening of a team and key skills and attributes developed along the way. South Side…
Cicadas in the park in Palos Park
Spread the loveBy Kelly White Cicadas are coming and the Village of Palos Park is ready. The village hosted its 31st annual Arbor Day Celebration on Sunday, May 5, themed, “The Wonder of Trees” at The Center in the Lodge, 12700 Southwest Highway, with featured speaker, Tricia Bethke of The Morton Arboretum who presented, “Cicadas…
Palos Heights SD 128 sees enrollment boom
Spread the loveBy Kelly White Over the past few years, Palos Heights School District 128 has experienced an explosive growth among incoming students. There has been a significant increase particularly at Indian Hill Early Learning Center, 12800 S. Austin Ave. Chippewa Elementary School, 12425 S. Austin Ave; Navajo Elementary School, 12401 S. Oak Park Ave;…
Comings & Goings: Orange’s Pancake House now open in Palos Heights
Spread the loveBy Kelly White Palos Heights is the home of a popular new breakfast café. Orange’s Pancake House, 11845 Southwest Highway, held a ribbon-cutting event on April 18. Owners, Elvia Briones, of Virgina, and Fernando Cruz, of Evergreen Park, said they were very excited to be in the heart of the Palos Heights community.…
Sisters make Chicago Lawn a world destination
Spread the love. Kathy Headley Your correspondent in Chicago Lawn and Marquette Manor 6610 S. Francisco • (773) 776-7778 . Earlier this month was the Fifth Lithuanian Documentary Film Festival, with distinguished guests from Lithuania and other parts of the United States visiting the neighborhood. They held a photo session in the editorial office of…
Happy Mother’s Day to everyone, everyone
Spread the love. By Mary Stanek Your correspondent in Archer Heights and West Elsdon 3808 W. 57th Place • (773) 517-7796 . Yet another Mother’s Day is upon us. I wish everyone a happy day. By everyone I do mean everyone. There are a lot of dads who do it alone, along with important mother…
Mother’s Day is truly a day to be celebrated
Spread the love. Peggy Zabicki Your correspondent in West Lawn 3633 W. 60th Place • (773) 504-9327 . Mother’s Day happens on Sunday, May 12. If this isn’t something to celebrate, I don’t know what is. Motherhood means new life, new beginnings, new possibilities. Even if you won’t be seeing your mom, you can still…
Saint Xavier men’s volleyball finishes historic season in nation’s top 4
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent The Saint Xavier men’s volleyball team made history by advancing to the semifinals of the NAIA Men’s Volleyball National Championship. But the Cougars fell to eventual national champion Georgetown (Kentucky), 25-21, 25-23, 22-25, 21-25, 15-10, on May 3 at Alliant Energy PowerHouse in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Although there was…