Spar for the Spurtle – First Five Entries Get a Special Gift

Porridge always reminds me of the fairy tale “The Story of the Three Bears” who take a walk in the woods as they wait for their porridge to cool. As a child, I had no idea what porridge was, despite the fact that oatmeal was one of my favorites for breakfast. I had porridge nearly every day, and didn’t even realize it. But enough about fairy tales...

You have a real life opportunity to enter a porridge making contest. It’s called Spar for the Spurtle, and is sponsored by Bob’s Red Mill.

As I’ve mentioned in the past, Bob’s Red Mill makes some of the best gluten-free oat products out there – including their gluten-free steel cut oats. While gluten-eating participants would likely choose Bob’s Red Mill Golden Spurtle Steel Cut Oats for their recipe, entries can also be made with Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-Free Oats.

To enter, you need to create a recipe and a short video. Click here for all of the details.

Three finalists will be flown to Portland Oregon to compete in a live cook-off. In addition to a chance to compete for the grand prize, these finalists will receive some great goodies. The winner of the cook-off will receive a trip for two to Scotland to help represent the Bob's Red Mill team at the 18th annual Golden Spurtle World Porridge Making Championship in October 2011.

But you don’t have to win the competition to win a prize. The first five readers of Learning to Eat Allergy Free who enter the contest, and leave a comment here that they have entered will receive a special gift pack from Bob’s Red Mill including:

1. A bag of Bob’s Red Mill Steel Cut Oats (gluten-free, if you choose)
2. A wooden spurtle
3. A Bob’s Red Mill cookbook

Are you wondering what a spurtle is? A spurtle is a Scottish kitchen tool dating back to the 15th century. It's a rod-like instrument that is traditionally used to stir porridge and prevent it from becoming lumpy.

Updated July 30th: The contest deadline had been extended until August 7th. You have an extra week to get your entries in!