Hungry? A GF Coupon Give-away: Jennie O

Gobble. Gobble.  (Or so my sister’s Thanksgiving phone calls always begin.  But it’s April and I’m gobbling like a turkey.  While you might be thinking  I’ve gone ’round the bend (almost!), I’m just happy to find a flavorful, speedy GLUTEN FREE dinner staple!

I avoid marinated meats, etc in the meat department for obvious reasons.  But more than once, I’ve checked out the ingredients listed on some Jennie O products.  I have avoided them in the past – if it has things listed that I cannot pronounce and/or do not know for SURE that they be gluten free, I don’t buy it.  Better safe than sorry.  If not for just me, than for the rest of my family who has to suffer through my foggy-brain and other aftereffects (crabby! painful! etc!) with me.

At Thanksgiving, my Love finds a fresh turkey from a local farm.  But throughout the year, I’ve been known to drive my chicken-eating family crazy by subbing in ground turkey for their chicken in several recipes.  And while they say they can “always tell”, I don’t believe them.  It’s all in how you cook it.

And the turkey roast of days gone by, the ones I remember from my younger days fondly.  The ones that I am CERTAIN they used for “mashed potato and turkey/gravy” at school.  (Yes, I know it grosses some of you out – but really, I love mashed potatoes and that turkey/gravy stuff!)  THOSE days are LONG gone.  The turkey roasts that they sell are NOT gluten free.

So, instead, I look for turkey breasts to roast myself.  Lately, I can only find them in the freezer section. Why, I do not know.  And it’s not too helpful – they take a bit to defrost and quite a bit more time to prepare for dinner.  (And I have dried them out trying to cook them in a slow cooker.  Really – my slow cooker hates me.)

Since the marinated turkey tenderloins were MARINATED, I didn’t give them much notice.  It looked delicious, but I just figured they had gluten in them.  But guess what:  THEY are GLUTEN FREE!  Jennie O has created a list of their gluten free products here for you to peruse.  And their marketing department is helping promote it by offering $5.00 coupons for bloggers to give away.

<DISCLAIMER:  I was not paid by Jennie O for this review.  I was given 6 $5.00 coupons for a give-away.  This is the only “compensation” for this posting.  I am not keeping any of the coupons for myself.  All are up for the giveaway.>

PS.  Rory says the toy is not up for Give-Away (neither is she).

I love the Applewood Smoked turkey tenderloin.  I can easily prepare it in a dutch oven on the stove top while prepping veggies and fruit for dinner. It cooks quick enough to qualify for a speedy-weekday meal for us.  Since our day starts about 5:00AM and we don’t get home for dinner until 4:45PM or later, food that is easy to prepare and quick is all the rage in our house.  And really?  These tenderloin are perfect.  The girls like how moist they stay.  And the adults like the flavor and versatility.

I’ve used the tenderloin for tacos, just as is (sliced), salad topping, bi-bim-bap meat (rice, veggies, meat, fried egg = topped with spicy sauce (if desired) or as is), turkey-corn soup, Asian peanut salad, Asian Turkey + Mixed cabbage cole slaw, etc.  It’s easy.

Of the products listed on their page, I also tried the “natural” tenderloin.  But to be honest, I was completely put-off by the fact that they add sugar (!!!) to the tenderloin in the marinade.  Really – I didn’t expect it.  It basically listed sugar, baking soda and parsley.  Definitely not a marinade I make at home.  It wasn’t very flavorful for me either and we could taste the sugar.  Not my fave.  The Applewood Smoked version is hands-down the winner between the two.

I really wish Jennie O would put the INGREDIENT list on their web page.  That is a huge missing piece for me.  I know what their products are – but I’m not willing to go buy them until I know what the ingredients are.  It would be great if it was all listed on their page somewhere.  That is the one big missing piece for me on their site.

NOTE:  Jennie O uses allergen testing but is not certified gluten free.  Mainly main stream companies are in the same situation with their gluten free labeling.  Until the Food and Drug Administration passes at GLUTEN FREE LABELING LAW (which is languishing), the label can mean many things.  Shirley of GFEasily posted her comments about this on her page.  And you can always contact the company if you have specific questions or concerns.

AND NOW for the GIVE AWAY RULES:

For each ENTRY, post ONE comment below.  You may receive an “ENTRY” by doing any/all of the following.

Just remember to post a new comment for each – sorry, but it’s the easiest way to track entries!

• COMMENT BELOW and tell me your fave quick dinner meal.
• FOLLOW me on Facebook.
• FOLLOW me on Twitter.
• RETWEET this Post using the link and this hashtag:  #GFGOBSMACKED
• PIN IT on Pinterest.com.

GIVE AWAY ENDS Friday, April 13, 2012 at midnight.

Winners will be chosen using RANDOM.ORG.

Winners will be contacted via email to obtain mailing addresses for coupons.

Each person may only win one of the six coupons available.

Good luck!