Gookies Giveaway

Yay - I'm excited to announce that it's giveaway time! My first one of the year. Gookies has generously offered rolls of their fresh, gluten and wheat free cookie dough for me to giveaway to one lucky reader. All I want from you is to be able to reach 400 likes on my facebook page and to also 'like' (if you haven't already!) the Gookies facebook page. 

The good news is that this giveaway is open to all residents here in Ireland AND the UK - woohoo! How cool is that! I'm really delighted to be able to offer a giveaway to a broader audience.

So to reiterate - to enter into the draw all you have to do is:

1 - 'Like' & share my facebook page http://www.facebook.com/TheGlutenFreePhotographer (I need to get to 400 likes before I run the draw)

2 - 'Like' the Gookies facebook page and leave a comment on their page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Gookies/110103285717377

and that's it!

If you already like both pages, to enter all you have to do is leave a comment on my facebook page here http://www.facebook.com/TheGlutenFreePhotographer that you'd like to be included in the draw. If you're feeling generous, I'd love if you could also follow me on my blog page here too - all you need to do is click the 'Join This Site' tab *points over there on the left hand side above the pictures of all my fabulous followers* and follow the instructions and voila - you're following me here.

The competition will run up to and including Friday 30th March, 2012. The draw will take place on Saturday 31st March and the winner will be announced on Monday 2nd April.

So to those of you who may not know what Gookies are yet - they are officially my favourite convenient gluten free dessert. Gookies are an award winning, fresh, wheat free, gluten free cookie dough roll that you bake fresh in your own home. Gookies comes in a variety of flavours - milk chocolate chip, triple chocolate chip, white chocolate & cranberry and natural. It is beyond simple to bake. Literally you cut the dough into pieces and place onto a tray and bake in the oven. Simple as that. No preparation needed and they are soooo good! You can now find where to buy your Gookies at this link here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Gookies/110103285717377?sk=info

So what are you waiting for? Get clicking and liking. Good luck to everyone who enters!

Moo-ving On

I was sitting at my computer on Saturday evening, 18th February checking my emails, when I saw an email from Siobhan Woods - she who is the creator and maker of the delicious Missy Moo's ice cream. Once I opened the email and read it, I realised it was one of sad news. Missy Moo's café and ice cream parlour was closing its doors on Friday 24th February at 5:00pm. I was absolutely gutted. The first thought that went through my head was one of complete selfishness, 'Where am I going to go for ice cream now?', the next one was a little less selfish, 'How am I going to tell my 5 year old daughter that her favourite place in the world is closing down?' and finally, 'It's unfair that the miserable economy we are all suffering through has just made the world a little less bright for yet another Irish business to have to close its doors to the general public.'

On the bright side, the business is not completely closing down. Missy Moo's is restructuring, so that they can sell their ice cream wholesale to trade customers. You can thankfully still contact Siobhan at: missymooireland@gmail.com or phone 087 260 3247 to order ice cream cakes directly from her. There just won't be any chance of going for a scoop and a cuppa at the shop anymore.

I made a point of visiting Missy Moo's with my family as often as we could during the last week it was open. Everyday we went, it was extraordinarily busy. All the regulars, school kids (and their parents!) would literally be queuing up out the door to get their ice cream fix before it was too late. It was a great priviledge to be able to regularly visit and it was brilliant to see so many coming by to get their goodbyes in and express their support to the Missy Moo's team. Heartening really. 

What I take away from Missy Moo's closing its doors is that if you have something good on your doorstep, a business that provides a quality product/produce, that is local, Irish and something of true value, then get out there and support it. Shop local. Buy Irish. I am grateful that I can still pick up a tub of Missy Moo's ice cream in shops (such as Avoca), but I am saddened that I (and the public at large), have lost a wonderful niche ice cream parlour and café that had great atmosphere and good food. 

Thank you Missy Moo's for the milkshakes, ice cream sundaes, cups of tea, gluten free treats, birthday celebrations and fond memories that your shop has provided me and my family over the years. I wish you every success in your future and long may I see Missy Moo's ice cream on the frozen shelves in shops various.